Guidebook for Chūō-ku, Ōsaka-shi

Yuji + Yoko
Guidebook for Chūō-ku, Ōsaka-shi

Food Scene

Born in Osaka, kushikatsu is yet another home-grown Japanese food that’s wildly popular in Osaka. Kushi in Japanese means skewers, and katsu means breaded and deep fried things. The result of this popular street food is a bunch of vegetables and even meats, all skewered, coated in a light batter, and deep fried until golden brown. Kushikatsu Daruma is legendary when it comes to kushikatsu in Osaka.
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다루마
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Born in Osaka, kushikatsu is yet another home-grown Japanese food that’s wildly popular in Osaka. Kushi in Japanese means skewers, and katsu means breaded and deep fried things. The result of this popular street food is a bunch of vegetables and even meats, all skewered, coated in a light batter, and deep fried until golden brown. Kushikatsu Daruma is legendary when it comes to kushikatsu in Osaka.
Just like takoyaki, and even similar in ingredient makeup, is Osaka’s okonomiyaki, yet another food that originates from Osaka, and people passionately love to eat. Undoubtedly, the highlight of eating at Okonomiyaki Kiji (きじ), was the chef, who must be one of the friendliest chefs in Osaka. A very nice okonomiyaki restaurant, and a great chef.
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Okonomiyaki Kiji
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Just like takoyaki, and even similar in ingredient makeup, is Osaka’s okonomiyaki, yet another food that originates from Osaka, and people passionately love to eat. Undoubtedly, the highlight of eating at Okonomiyaki Kiji (きじ), was the chef, who must be one of the friendliest chefs in Osaka. A very nice okonomiyaki restaurant, and a great chef.
Takoyaki is almost a synonym of Osaka. These little golf ball sized batter balls stuffed with a piece of octopus are perhaps the most famous thing to eat in the city, and they are a big hit and food craze around the world as well. This food stand is a very well known, and very popular Takoyaki place :)
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Takoyaki Wanaka
1-chōme-21-2 Nipponbashi
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Takoyaki is almost a synonym of Osaka. These little golf ball sized batter balls stuffed with a piece of octopus are perhaps the most famous thing to eat in the city, and they are a big hit and food craze around the world as well. This food stand is a very well known, and very popular Takoyaki place :)
Ramen Yashichi (らーめん弥七) is a small restaurant, but they maintain a quality and flavor of ramen that blew me away. The broth is technically shoyu base, but it’s heavy and buttery, and perfectly salty and creamy, with both slices of chashu and a scoop of fragrant wok fried pork, to make the flavor even better. All in all, they serve a beautiful bowl of ramen, definitely worth waiting in line to eat.
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Ramen Yashichi
3-chōme-4-8 Toyosaki
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Ramen Yashichi (らーめん弥七) is a small restaurant, but they maintain a quality and flavor of ramen that blew me away. The broth is technically shoyu base, but it’s heavy and buttery, and perfectly salty and creamy, with both slices of chashu and a scoop of fragrant wok fried pork, to make the flavor even better. All in all, they serve a beautiful bowl of ramen, definitely worth waiting in line to eat.
It is in Kuromon Market, a small sushi bar. The Negitoro, minced fatty tuna sitting over a bite of rice wrapped in fresh seaweed, is my ultimate piece. And along with serving awesome sushi, their service was excellent, and all the staff were friendly and helpful.
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Toki Sushi
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It is in Kuromon Market, a small sushi bar. The Negitoro, minced fatty tuna sitting over a bite of rice wrapped in fresh seaweed, is my ultimate piece. And along with serving awesome sushi, their service was excellent, and all the staff were friendly and helpful.
Very popular store where you can enjoy freshly baked cheese tarts. It is always packed and a lot of people lining up ourside of the store. But it is worth the wait! Specially if you love sweets. There are also plenty of drink menu such as fresh smoothie made from fruits and originally roasted coffee which goes well with the tarts.
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Pablo Dotombori
2-chōme-8-1 Shinsaibashisuji
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Very popular store where you can enjoy freshly baked cheese tarts. It is always packed and a lot of people lining up ourside of the store. But it is worth the wait! Specially if you love sweets. There are also plenty of drink menu such as fresh smoothie made from fruits and originally roasted coffee which goes well with the tarts.
Japanese restaurant chain that specialises in crustaceans and other seafood. The restaurants are known for their traditional appearance and the large, mechanical, red crab that moves above the main entrance.
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Kani Doraku Dotombori Honten
1-chōme-6-18 Dōtonbori
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Japanese restaurant chain that specialises in crustaceans and other seafood. The restaurants are known for their traditional appearance and the large, mechanical, red crab that moves above the main entrance.
Kuromon Ichiba Market: With more than 190 years of history and tradition, Kuromon Ichiba Market, a very popular area known by locals as "Gastronome" and "Osaka' s Kitchen", is well-known nationwide. Famous for eat-in shops for sushi or fresh seafood over rice, also grilled fish, shellfish, meat and other food being served in or outside of shops give off mouth-watering aromas to an increasingly international crowd.
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Kuromon Market
Nipponbashi-1-chōme-16 Chuo Ward
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Kuromon Ichiba Market: With more than 190 years of history and tradition, Kuromon Ichiba Market, a very popular area known by locals as "Gastronome" and "Osaka' s Kitchen", is well-known nationwide. Famous for eat-in shops for sushi or fresh seafood over rice, also grilled fish, shellfish, meat and other food being served in or outside of shops give off mouth-watering aromas to an increasingly international crowd.

Drinks & Nightlife

This club is certainly not the biggest venue but it can get pretty wild on the weekends. The club plays all kinds of music, so you will probably get your jam sometime during the night. The entrance fee is relatively cheap, usually 1000-2000 yen (1 drink included). It’s also conveniently located very close to Giraffe and Club Pure. Time: PM22:00 – morning
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Sam and Dave One
2-chōme-7-20 Higashishinsaibashi
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This club is certainly not the biggest venue but it can get pretty wild on the weekends. The club plays all kinds of music, so you will probably get your jam sometime during the night. The entrance fee is relatively cheap, usually 1000-2000 yen (1 drink included). It’s also conveniently located very close to Giraffe and Club Pure. Time: PM22:00 – morning
Club Pure is known for primarly three things, Hip Hop, RNB & All You Can Drink. They charge a bit higher than the other night clubs but included in the price is free drinks all night. You can even exit the venue and come back. So if you like Hip Hop and don’t want to pay for drinks this could be for you. Price is usually around 3000-4500 yen for guys and about half price for girls. Finding the venue is quite easy even for non locals. Time: PM22:00 – AM5:00
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Pure Osaka
心斎橋筋-2-3 中央区
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Club Pure is known for primarly three things, Hip Hop, RNB & All You Can Drink. They charge a bit higher than the other night clubs but included in the price is free drinks all night. You can even exit the venue and come back. So if you like Hip Hop and don’t want to pay for drinks this could be for you. Price is usually around 3000-4500 yen for guys and about half price for girls. Finding the venue is quite easy even for non locals. Time: PM22:00 – AM5:00
Great atmosphere and music for R&B and hip-hop lovers! 600¥ w/one drink if you enter before midnight, and then you can dance all night.
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GHOST ultra lounge
2-chōme-17-3 Nishishinsaibashi
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Great atmosphere and music for R&B and hip-hop lovers! 600¥ w/one drink if you enter before midnight, and then you can dance all night.
Fantastic comedy club with great regulars on rotation, along with guest performers. Comedians are very funny, with a wonderfully cozy and intimate audience that allows you to feel to be part of the show.
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ROR Comedy Club
2-chōme-16-13 Nishishinsaibashi
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Fantastic comedy club with great regulars on rotation, along with guest performers. Comedians are very funny, with a wonderfully cozy and intimate audience that allows you to feel to be part of the show.

Sightseeing

The 173 meter tall building consists of two main towers which are connected with each other by the "Floating Garden Observatory" on the 39th floor. The observatory offers a great view of the city for a 700 yen admission fee.
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우메다 스카이빌딩
1-chōme-1-88 Ōyodonaka
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The 173 meter tall building consists of two main towers which are connected with each other by the "Floating Garden Observatory" on the 39th floor. The observatory offers a great view of the city for a 700 yen admission fee.
The observation deck is called "Harukas 300" and occupies the building's top three floors (floors 58 to 60). The observation deck is accessed by elevators from the 16th floor. With large floor-to-ceiling glass panels all around, the 60th floor offers 360 degree views of Osaka, while the 58th floor features an attractively designed inner court with a wooden deck and cafe. A souvenir shop and restrooms with views are also available.
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아베노바시터미널빌딩
1-chōme-1-43 Abenosuji
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The observation deck is called "Harukas 300" and occupies the building's top three floors (floors 58 to 60). The observation deck is accessed by elevators from the 16th floor. With large floor-to-ceiling glass panels all around, the 60th floor offers 360 degree views of Osaka, while the 58th floor features an attractively designed inner court with a wooden deck and cafe. A souvenir shop and restrooms with views are also available.
Osaka Tenmangu is famous for its festival, the Tenjin Matsuri, which is held annually on July 24 and 25 and is ranked as one of Japan's top three festivals besides Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and Tokyo's Kanda Matsuri. During the festival, the shrine's deity is paraded in a divine palanquin (mikoshi) through the city in a joyful land and river procession, accompanied by fireworks.
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오사카 텐만구
2-chōme-1-8 Tenjinbashi
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Osaka Tenmangu is famous for its festival, the Tenjin Matsuri, which is held annually on July 24 and 25 and is ranked as one of Japan's top three festivals besides Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and Tokyo's Kanda Matsuri. During the festival, the shrine's deity is paraded in a divine palanquin (mikoshi) through the city in a joyful land and river procession, accompanied by fireworks.
In the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi chose Osaka as the location for his castle, and the city may have become Japan's political capital if Tokugawa Ieyasu had not terminated the Toyotomi lineage after Hideyoshi's death and moved his government to distant Edo (Tokyo).
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오사카 성
Ōsakajō-1 Chuo Ward
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In the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi chose Osaka as the location for his castle, and the city may have become Japan's political capital if Tokugawa Ieyasu had not terminated the Toyotomi lineage after Hideyoshi's death and moved his government to distant Edo (Tokyo).
Shinsekai (新世界) is Osaka's "new world," a district that was developed before the war and then neglected in the decades afterwards. At the district's center stands Tsutenkaku Tower, the nostalgia evoking symbol of Shinsekai. Many of Shinsekai's Kushikatsu(Osaka's best known specialties) restaurants are open 24 hours, but only truly come alive when the lights come on at night.
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신세카이
Ebisuhigashi-8-2 Chome Naniwa Ward
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Shinsekai (新世界) is Osaka's "new world," a district that was developed before the war and then neglected in the decades afterwards. At the district's center stands Tsutenkaku Tower, the nostalgia evoking symbol of Shinsekai. Many of Shinsekai's Kushikatsu(Osaka's best known specialties) restaurants are open 24 hours, but only truly come alive when the lights come on at night.
Tsutenkaku Tower was constructed in 1912 after Paris' Eiffel Tower. Although it was scrapped during WWII, the tower was reconstructed soon afterwards in 1956. The current tower is 103 meters high, with the main observatory at a height of 91 meters. A new open-air deck on top of the main observatory was opened in late 2015.
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쓰텐가쿠
1-chōme-18-6 Ebisuhigashi
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Tsutenkaku Tower was constructed in 1912 after Paris' Eiffel Tower. Although it was scrapped during WWII, the tower was reconstructed soon afterwards in 1956. The current tower is 103 meters high, with the main observatory at a height of 91 meters. A new open-air deck on top of the main observatory was opened in late 2015.
Originally installed in 1935, the sign depicting a giant athlete on a blue track is a symbol of Glico candy. The sign has been altered on several occasions to celebrate events such as the World Cup and to show support for the Osaka baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers. The current version is the sixth, which uses LEDs. The previous five incarnations of the sign used neon lights.
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도톤보리 글리코 사인
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Originally installed in 1935, the sign depicting a giant athlete on a blue track is a symbol of Glico candy. The sign has been altered on several occasions to celebrate events such as the World Cup and to show support for the Osaka baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers. The current version is the sixth, which uses LEDs. The previous five incarnations of the sign used neon lights.
One of the principal tourist destinations in Osaka, Japan, running along the Dōtonbori canal from Dōtonboribashi Bridge to Nipponbashi Bridge in the Namba district of the city's Chuo ward. Historically a theater district, it is now a popular nightlife and entertainment area characterized by its eccentric atmosphere and large illuminated signboards.
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도톤보리
Dotonbori-9-1 Chome Chuo Ward
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One of the principal tourist destinations in Osaka, Japan, running along the Dōtonbori canal from Dōtonboribashi Bridge to Nipponbashi Bridge in the Namba district of the city's Chuo ward. Historically a theater district, it is now a popular nightlife and entertainment area characterized by its eccentric atmosphere and large illuminated signboards.

Arts & Culture

The museum was designed with children in mind and takes visitors through displays on the universe, chemistry, electricity and energy. A science show is held three times a day (in Japanese only).
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OSTEC 전시 홀
1-chōme-8-4 Utsubohonmachi
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The museum was designed with children in mind and takes visitors through displays on the universe, chemistry, electricity and energy. A science show is held three times a day (in Japanese only).
The museum focuses on Japanese and foreign contemporary art, with exhibitions from the museum collection and special exhibitions.
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The National Museum of Art, Osaka
4-chōme-2-55 Nakanoshima
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The museum focuses on Japanese and foreign contemporary art, with exhibitions from the museum collection and special exhibitions.
The museum exhibits are visually oriented with several large models. They chronicle the city's history, beginning in ancient times when Osaka served as Japan's first capital and site of the Naniwa Palace and ending with exhibits on the city's bustling shopping arcades of the early Showa Period.
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오사카 역사 박물관
4-chōme-1-32 Ōtemae
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The museum exhibits are visually oriented with several large models. They chronicle the city's history, beginning in ancient times when Osaka served as Japan's first capital and site of the Naniwa Palace and ending with exhibits on the city's bustling shopping arcades of the early Showa Period.
The Shochikuza Theater is the prime location to see kabuki performances in Osaka. It is a Western style theater that opened in 1923 and has a seating capacity of just over 1000. English headsets are unavailable at Shochizuka Theater, but English program books can be purchased at the information counter.
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오사카쇼츠쿠자
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The Shochikuza Theater is the prime location to see kabuki performances in Osaka. It is a Western style theater that opened in 1923 and has a seating capacity of just over 1000. English headsets are unavailable at Shochizuka Theater, but English program books can be purchased at the information counter.
The complex was opened in 1984 as the fourth national theatre of the country, to become the headquarters of bunraku. Bunraku (traditional puppet theatre), Kabuki, Buyo (Japanese traditional dance), Hogaku (Japanese traditional music), Mizoku Geino(folk performing arts), Engei(traditional popular performing arts)
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국립분라쿠극장
1-chōme-12-10 Nipponbashi
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The complex was opened in 1984 as the fourth national theatre of the country, to become the headquarters of bunraku. Bunraku (traditional puppet theatre), Kabuki, Buyo (Japanese traditional dance), Hogaku (Japanese traditional music), Mizoku Geino(folk performing arts), Engei(traditional popular performing arts)

Shopping

Built to resemble a natural canyon, Namba Parks is designed to be a break of nature amidst the sprawling urban landscape. It features a 120 tenant shopping mall including a cinema, amphitheater, and a rooftop garden. The 6th floor is made up of numerous restaurants including some Korean, Italian, and Vietnamese places. Shops are open 11:00-21:00. Restaurants vary but most are open 11:00-23:00.
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Namba Parks
2-chōme-10-70 Nanbanaka
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Built to resemble a natural canyon, Namba Parks is designed to be a break of nature amidst the sprawling urban landscape. It features a 120 tenant shopping mall including a cinema, amphitheater, and a rooftop garden. The 6th floor is made up of numerous restaurants including some Korean, Italian, and Vietnamese places. Shops are open 11:00-21:00. Restaurants vary but most are open 11:00-23:00.
Located in the Nipponbashi area, Den Den Town is an electronics district comparable to Tokyo's Akihabara, and you may be able to bargain to a better deal. Den Den Town is becoming known as an otaku paradise with numerous manga and anime retailers as well as maid and cosplay cafes located there. Hours vary by store; typically from around 10:00-11:00 to around 19:00-20:00.
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니혼바시
Nipponbashi Naniwa Ward
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Located in the Nipponbashi area, Den Den Town is an electronics district comparable to Tokyo's Akihabara, and you may be able to bargain to a better deal. Den Den Town is becoming known as an otaku paradise with numerous manga and anime retailers as well as maid and cosplay cafes located there. Hours vary by store; typically from around 10:00-11:00 to around 19:00-20:00.
Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade and the surrounding Shinsaibashi area is Osaka's premiere shopping center. Approximately 600 m long, this area is unique as it combines chain retail stores and trendy boutiques with expensive department stores and top designer fashion labels.
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Shinsaibashisuji
Shinsaibashisuji Chuo Ward
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Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade and the surrounding Shinsaibashi area is Osaka's premiere shopping center. Approximately 600 m long, this area is unique as it combines chain retail stores and trendy boutiques with expensive department stores and top designer fashion labels.

Entertainment & Activities

Marine life is displayed in 15 tanks, each representing a specific region of the Pacific Rim. The central tank, representing the Pacifc Ocean, is nine meters deep and home to a whale shark, the aquarium's main attraction.
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해유관
1-chōme-1-10 Kaigandōri
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Marine life is displayed in 15 tanks, each representing a specific region of the Pacific Rim. The central tank, representing the Pacifc Ocean, is nine meters deep and home to a whale shark, the aquarium's main attraction.
a shopping mall with multiple official Universal hotels and many restaurants and shops, including stores selling Universal Studios merchandise and Osaka souvenirs.
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Universal City Walk Osaka
6-chōme-2-61 Shimaya
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a shopping mall with multiple official Universal hotels and many restaurants and shops, including stores selling Universal Studios merchandise and Osaka souvenirs.
Universal Studios Japan (USJ) was the first theme park under the Universal Studios brand to be built in Asia.
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유니버설 스튜디오 재팬
Sakurajima
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Universal Studios Japan (USJ) was the first theme park under the Universal Studios brand to be built in Asia.
Spa World, a huge bath complex with a large number of pools on a European themed floor and an Asian themed floor (enjoyed naked and gender separated). The floors are switched between genders each month. Natural hot spring water is pumped up from far below the earth's surface.
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Spa World
3-chōme-4-24 Ebisuhigashi
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Spa World, a huge bath complex with a large number of pools on a European themed floor and an Asian themed floor (enjoyed naked and gender separated). The floors are switched between genders each month. Natural hot spring water is pumped up from far below the earth's surface.

Getting Around

Get off at Shinsaibashi station and you can get to Dōtonbori.
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신사이바시역
Minamisenba-3-chōme-12 Chuo Ward
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Get off at Shinsaibashi station and you can get to Dōtonbori.
Heart of Osaka!
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닛폰바시역
Nipponbashi-1-chōme-5 Chuo Ward
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Heart of Osaka!