There’s a reason for Osaka’s popularity as one of Japan’s top destinations. It’s an edgy city with an enviable modern lifestyle, but at the same time, it hasn’t lost any of its playfulness, as evident from the city’s love for everything pop culture. Whether you’re into the Japanese folklore of ninja and samurai, or something more current like the country’s world-conquering anime and manga franchises, you’ll find them all in this great cosmopolitan city.
Here are ten pop culture shops, cafés, and attractions to get you started on your fun-filled time in Osaka.
Cookingstudio Colore
Food shouldn’t just taste good— it should look good too, and Cookingstudio Colore can help you turn an ordinary sushi roll into an edible work of art. Better yet, you don’t even need to know how to cook, as you’ll be provided with all the ingredients.
At the cute sushi art workshop, you can learn to make one design (two hours) or two (three hours), and take your pick from flowers, animals, cartoon characters and more. And the best part is, you get to enjoy your beautiful sushi for lunch––just don’t forget to take photos of your creations first. à Ukida, Kita (address will be provided upon booking)
à 090 3927 5265
à Instagram @cookingstudio_colore
Tamashii Spot Osaka
What differentiates a children’s toy from a special edition, hobbyist collector’s item? You can find out at Tamashii Spot Osaka, the only official shop in Kansai operated by Bandai Spirits. More than your average figurine shop, Tamashii Spot Osaka boasts a curated selection of limited-edition items and character merchandise that are updated weekly. From the globally beloved Star Wars and Marvel series to classic Japanese franchises like Gundam, Dragon Ball, and Naruto, this specialist retailer is the go-to place for securing rare treasures and Japan-exclusive otaku
pieces for your collection. à JMF Bldg Umeda 01 (Urban Terrace Chayamachi) Bldg C 1F, 15-22 Chayamachi, Kita à 098 993 6093 à tamashiiweb.com/store/spot/osaka
Ninja-Do
Embrace your inner ninja at NinjaDo, a special interactive experience where you get to take part in a range of action-packed activities and, most importantly, learn some ninja skills. To totally immerse yourself in the world of ninja, you’ll wear an authentic ninja outfit while learning how to walk stealthily, hold a sword, and throw shuriken ninja stars.
The basic experience takes around one hour, and there are additional options that let you stroll around the neighborhood in your ninja gear as well as take part in a special VR experience, where you can put your newly learnt skills to use while fighting some samurai.
à Wakaba Bldg 4F, 1-1-18 Taishi, Nishinari à 06 6131 9768 à ninja-do.com
Japan Tatedo Association
Learn the way of Japan’s legendary warriors with a samurai experience class at Japan Tatedo Association. Under expert guidance, the hour-long session (¥8,000) will teach you how to master the art of katana swordfighting, and with an additional ¥500, you can even learn how to throw a shuriken (ninja star).
In addition to samurai swordplay, you can also partake in other Japanese cultural experiences including ikebana (flower arranging), traditional tea ceremonies and shamisen music lessons.
à 1-1-27 Kita-Horie, Nishi à 06 6536 8048 à nihontatedokyokai.com
Pink Kawaii Cafe
Immerse yourself in kawaii fashion, culture and food at Osaka’s Pink Kawaii Cafe. The highly Instagrammable space—feel free to take photos in here—is decked out with colorful artworks by popular Japanese illustrator and designer Project C.K. The walls feature the artist’s original characters, which make a great background for your photos.
You’ll find more cuteness on the menu, which offers rainbow-colored bread, vibrant blue curry rice, rainbow pizza, and much more. As for sweets, don’t miss the cutesy parfait or rainbow layered cake. Plus, you can ask for your favorite characters to be featured on the hotcakes. Please note there’s one minimum order per person (except kids three years old and under).
à Musou Bldg 1F, 7-8 Souemoncho, Chuo à 06 6213 5466
Kaiyodo Hobby Land
Kaiyodo Hobby Land is the passion project of a father-son duo who have been collecting plastic models for over 50 years. This amazing figurine museum features over 10,000 exhibits, divided into 13 areas.
However, it’s more than just a toy wonderland. Here you get to explore the museum’s humble beginnings as a small plastic model shop, stare wide-eyed at lifesized replicas of Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops heads, and marvel at the Japanese craftsmanship that goes into making immaculately precise miniature models. For a hands-on experience, keep an eye out for Kaiyodo Hobby Land’s regular figure modeling and painting workshops.
à Izumiya Kadoma Store 3F, 3-1-101 Shinbashi, Kadoma à kaiyodohobbyland.jp
à Adults ¥1,000, junior high and high school students ¥700, elementary school students ¥500, free for younger children
KAIYODO HOBBY LAND
Esports Ekichika
This massive, multi-level esports facility is equipped with 51 high-spec PCs. It’s open 24 hours and, rest assured, all devices are cleaned and disinfected after every use. There are multiple room configurations to suit every type of player, from communal play space to solo player rooms and even private rooms that can fit up to five people. You can purchase play time starting from three hours. If you’re playing in the communal space, any unused time can be carried over to your next session.
à 1-18-8 Shimanouchi, Chuo à 06 6258 8880
à esports-ekichika.net
Pop Culture at Parco Shinsaibashi
The youthful Parco Shinsaibashi shopping center has an entire floor reserved for some of Japan’s—and the world’s—most beloved characters. At Pop Culture Shinsaibashi on the sixth floor, you’ll find shops dedicated to homegrown icons including Godzilla, Crayon Shin-chan, and Ultraman, alongside beloved international names such as Snoopy. Most shops here offer tax-free shopping.
à Parco Shinsaibashi 6F, 1-8-3 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo à 06 7711 7400
à shinsaibashi.parco.jp
Japan Pop Culture at Daimaru Shinsaibashi
The ninth floor of the Daimaru Shinsaibashi department store doubles as a hub for Japanese pop culture with a handful of stores dedicated to popular anime and
manga franchises including Pokémon, One Piece, and My Hero Academia.
To start exploring, stop by the Pokémon Center Osaka DX & Pokémon Cafe where you can meet your favorite pocket monsters, pick up fun games and collectibles, and even enjoy a Pokémon-themed meal. Another must-visit store is Jump Shop, the official retail space of Weekly Shonen Jump, offering merchandise from popular titles including One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Dragon Ball, Demon Slayer, and more.
à Daimaru Shinsaibashi 9F, 1-7-1 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo à 06 6271 1231
à daimaru.co.jp/shinsaibashi
HacoStadium Osaka
This cosplay photo-shooting studio is the largest of its kind in Japan, featuring 35 fully equipped, themed photo booths to match with various characters from your favorite anime, manga or games. Some of the themes include a school classroom, antique office, garden, and performance stage.
To make the most of your visit, opt for the one-day pass, which gives you ten hours to freely use the studio’s numerous photo booths. In addition to the rooms, extra props, cameras and shooting equipment are available for use. However, do bring your own costumes and accessories. In need of a break? Stop by the on-site café space where you can enjoy a quick bite between shooting.
à AKI Namba Bldg, 3-11-10 Shikitsuhigashi, Naniwa à 06 6537 9519
à hacostadium.com/osaka
5 fun things to do in Den Den Town
An affectionate diminutive of Denki Machi (“Electric Town”), Den Den Town is a tech-geek wonderland sandwiched between Namba and Ebisucho Stations in the Nipponbashi area. The main area is bordered by two main streets, Sakaisuji Street (home to electronics superstores) and Otaku “Ota” Road. Between them are several blocks of shopping arcades and side streets chock-a-block with electronics retailers, hobby shops, and anime and manga specialty stores.
Attend the Nipponbashi Street Festa
You’ll find one of Japan’s most exciting cosplay festivals in Den Den Town and the surrounding Nipponbashi shopping area, which is one of western Japan’s largest otaku towns. Expect to see more than 10,000 fans dressed as their favorite fictional characters. Note that cosplaying and photography require a participation ticket. In 2024, the street festa is scheduled for Sunday May 12.
Build a vintage record and CD collection
Tucked away among the indie electronics stores of Den Den Town are a handful of shops catering to music lovers. More often than not, these specialists are sort of like a music culture time machine, stocking CDs and vinyls of everything from popular to obscure genres, as well as highly coveted Japan-only pressings.
Add to your anime merch and manga collection
With specialized superstores and independent shops galore, anime and manga fans are well catered for in Den Den Town. There are chain department stores dedicated to this genre and they make great one-stop shops for books, CDs, and merchandise from figurines to posters. It’s also worth checking out the independent stores for lesser known and underground cult titles.
Hunt for bargains on electronics
With dozens of electronics stores in the area, even the most seasoned shoppers will be spoiled for choice. Here you’ll find an extensive selection of customizable PC parts, second-hand equipment, and gaming-specific gadgets.
Explore Nipponbashi Shotengai
A complete contrast to the techgeek shopping paradise just meters away, this small labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways transports you right back to Showa-era Japan. Cafés, bars, kimono shops, hardware stores, electronics and audio equipment specialists, antiques purveyors –the businesses here are a mix of old and new, with something for everyone.