You may be wondering where to stay when sightseeing in Osaka. I have selected the areas I will introduce hereafter, focusing on areas that are easily accessible from Osaka’s sightseeing spots. I will now divide the list into the Shin-Osaka (新大阪) area, Osaka/Umeda(大阪/梅田) area, Shinsaibashi/Namba (心斎橋/難波) area, and Tennoji (天王寺) area, and introduce their features!
Contents
Shin-Osaka (新大阪)
JR Shin-Osaka Station is a very convenient area because it is a Shinkansen stop. When coming to Osaka from Tokyo, you must pass through this station. JR Shin-Osaka Station is a stop on the Shinkansen, providing easy access to Kobe (40 minutes) and Kyoto (15 minutes), and JR Osaka Station can be reached in about 5 minutes by conventional train. The Osaka Metro Midosuji Line also serves the area, which allows you to go to Shinsaibashi without changing trains, making it a convenient area when you want to go out to the south side of Osaka. However, there are few tourist attractions in this area. It is difficult to return to the hotel once during the day.
Osaka/Umeda (大阪/梅田)
The area offers convenient access to whole of Osaka. From JR Osaka Station, it is possible to go to Kyoto and the whole of Osaka. It takes about 30 minutes to Kyoto and about 35 minutes to Kobe by conventional train. This area has a wide variety of commercial facilities where you can enjoy shopping and dining. There is also a subway line that is convenient for going out to the Shinsaibashi/Namba area, making this area the very center of Osaka. However, hotel prices tend to be high because of its location in the center of Osaka.
Shinsaibashi / Namba area (心斎橋/難波)
This area is located between Umeda and KIX. Shinsaibashi is about a 10-minute train ride from Umeda. This area is lively until late at night and has a very Osaka-like atmosphere. If you are staying in the Shinsaibashi/Namba area, you can enjoy the center of the city, or you may prefer a more relaxed atmosphere in the office district (Honmachi), which is a little further away. You can also go to KIX without changing trains.
Tennoji Area (天王寺)
The Tennoji area includes JR Tennoji Station, Kintetsu Abenobashi Station, and Shin-Imamiya Station. Commercial facilities such as Abeno Harukas, Tennoji Park with Tennoji Zoo, Shitennoji Temple, and Tsutenkaku Tower are all within walking distance. The Tennoji area is an area where you can enjoy the traditional Osaka atmosphere.Access to other places from Tennoji is a bit poor, so it is recommended to come here for sightseeing instead of staying.
Conclusion
How was my special feature on good areas to stay in Osaka? The areas introduced here are all easily accessible from major sightseeing spots. There are many hotels near downtown and train stations where you can relax and enjoy your stay. I will post more about less well-known places that are not major sightseeing spots in the future.
