The Top 10 Things To Do And See In Kyobashi Osaka

As one of Osaka’s major corporate areas, Kyobashi may be the haunt of the city’s white-collar workers, but it is also situated near several main tourist attractions, including Osaka Castle. Also, people have to let off steam somewhere after work, so there’s a wealth of bars and other nightlife spots. The area has a raffish charm to it that you just might fall in love with. Here are best things to see and do in and around Kyobashi.

1. Osaka Castle

Building

Osaka Castle was built as a stronghold by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the man who unified Japan’s warring clans and made the country what it is today. The castle grounds are beautiful in any season, its trees washed pale pink in spring by cherry blossoms and fiery red in autumn by fall foliage. The castle itself, which is a reconstruction as the original was destroyed by fire and war, houses a museum on the history of the castle.

2. Kema Sakuranomiya Park

Park

Home to around 5,000 cherry blossom trees, Kema Sakuranomiya Park is one of the best places to go in Osaka for cherry blossom viewing. The park is annually awash with pink-white blossoms, transforming the urban park into a fairytale wonderland. Don’t worry if you’re not visiting during cherry blossom season, as the park has a great view of the Okawa River and the opposite bank year round. For a leisurely afternoon, have a picnic under the trees on a bench or the grass.

3. Japan Mint

Museum, Park

japan-mint_osaka_japan_sakura_cherry-blossom

Across the Okawa River and directly opposite Kema Sakuranomiya Park is the Japan Mint. The Japan Mint Museum sits on its premises within a western-style building made from red brick. Learn the history of the Japan coin as well as the production process. Along with physical and audiovisual exhibitions, there are interactive displays in the Experience Corner that allow you to get hands-on learning experience. Furthermore, Japan Mint’s private gardens are open to the public for a week every April, so check their website to see if you’ll be lucky enough to see their 300 cherry blossom trees in bloom.

5. Keihan Mall

Shopping Mall

Located directly on top of Kyobashi Station, this shopping center features a great variety of shops, from fashion and shoes to food and books. Situated inside is the Keihan Department Store, a chain department store that sells pretty much everything you can think of. The basement level is a giant supermarket and food hall, where you can find snacks such as donuts and takoyaki.

6. The International Marketplace (IMP)

Shopping Mall

Situated above Osaka Business Park Station, The International Marketplace, known as IMP, is a shopping mall that occupies the Matsushita IMP Building. Unlike the Keihan Mall, IMP is much more local and filled with stylish independent boutiques and restaurants. The shopping mall takes up the first three floors of the high-rise office building, and the top floor is occupied by a chic bar.

7. Twin 21

Shopping Mall

A pair of skyscrapers connected to the IMP by a footbridge, Twin 21 is composed of a shopping mall, offices, and two restaurants on the top floor with spectacular views of Kyobashi and Osaka Castle. The 21st of every month is Twin 21 Day, when there are discounts and promotions featured in every store.

8. Izakaya Toyo

Bar, Restaurant, Pub, Japanese

Many Kyobashi office workers end their workday at one of the many bars that dot the district. For a chance to get to know the locals, or simply to unwind, visit one of Kyobashi’s cozy izakaya (Japanese tavern), which serve traditional food and sake. One of the best is Izakaya Toyo, a tachinomi (standing bar) with limited space, where you may have to share a table with strangers. This, combined with the delicious food and drinks, is sure to help you make friends. There may be a queue to sit, but the wait is worth it.

9. Osaka Tenmangu

Shinto Shrine

This 1000-year-old Shinto shrine has burnt down several times, so the current structure was built in the 19th century. However, it retains its historic charm. Dedicated to the deity of scholarship, it attracts thousands of students and their families each year to pray for academic success. The main attraction at the Tenmangu Shrine, however, is the Tenjin Matsuri, which occurs annually on the 24th and 25th of July. The festival includes a parade, with both land and river processions, and ends with fireworks in the evening.

10. Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street

Market

Osaka Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Arcade, Japan.

This is the longest shotengai, or covered shopping arcade, in Japan. Spanning multiple kilometers and neighborhoods, Tenjinbashisuji is a wealth of shops, restaurants, cafés, bookstores, and – best of all – affords a fascinating insight into the daily hustle and bustle of Japanese business owners and patrons. Stroll along the shopping street no matter what the weather and enjoy all the delicious food, souvenirs, and other goods Osaka has to offer.

Elizabeth Lee also contributed to this piece.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.