Alternative Osaka: 7 Cool, Underrated Areas to Explore, Osaka, Japan

Osaka is one of my favourite cities on earth. I have visited three times now, and, every time I go, I always find new little pockets to explore.

Obviously, if it’s your first time there, you’ll want to see all the main sites, like I did – and I absolutely encourage you to do so! But if you still have some time after that, or fancy the odd offbeat interlude between the touristy stuff, here are a few of my recommendations for alternative Osaka districts to discover, based on my own personal travels.

To get around Osaka to visit all of these areas, I simply used the subway. And the best way to ride the subway is using an ICOCA card. I have listed the closest subway station for each of the districts to help you navigate your way.

You can also download my free quick guide to Osaka, which concisely summarises all the most important info about visiting Japan, and Osaka specifically.

If you’re only able to visit one alternative Osaka district, your best bet is to make it Nakazakicho. This is definitely one cool neighbourhood! Filled with hipster cafés (selling organic and artisanal food, of course), vintage shops and thrift stores, independent boutiques, quirky galleries and pre-war wooden buildings that miraculously survived the WWII bombings, it is an absolute vibe. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).