Best neighborhoods in Osaka

Osaka's lively heart, known for the Glico Man sign, neon lights, and restaurants and bars serving signature Osaka dishes. It is best visited in the evening when the area lights up.

"Osaka's lively heart, known for the Glico Man sign, neon lights, and restaurants and bars serving si"

A neon-lit retro district that makes a great photo spot, with plenty of restaurants and bars. It is a good alternative to Dotonbori.

"A neon-lit retro district that makes a great photo spot, with plenty of restaurants and bars. It is "

Recommended as the best area to stay, at the heart of Osaka and close to the city's famous nightlife.

"Recommended as the best area to stay, at the heart of Osaka and close to the city's famous nightlife"

Central district recommended as a base for enjoying Osaka's vibrant nightlife.

"Central district recommended as a base for enjoying Osaka's vibrant nightlife."

An atmospheric stone-paved alley in the Namba entertainment district, recommended for a stroll.

"An atmospheric stone-paved alley in the Namba entertainment district, recommended for a stroll."

Osaka's most central and well-connected district around Osaka Station. It's a convenient base for day trips but can be confusing to navigate, with street-level, skywalk and underground routes.

"Osaka's most central and well-connected district around Osaka Station. It's a convenient base for da"

The centre of Osaka's youth culture, full of vintage and secondhand shops selling the latest fashion trends. It is worth exploring even if you don't plan to shop.

"The centre of Osaka's youth culture, full of vintage and secondhand shops selling the latest fashion"

Osaka's otaku and anime district, the local equivalent of Akihabara. It hosts the Nipponbashi Street Festa cosplay festival in spring.

"Osaka's otaku and anime district, the local equivalent of Akihabara. It hosts the Nipponbashi Street"

A cheaper downtown hub with great access and lots of shopping. It's walking distance to Shinsekai and is served by the Haruka Express from Kansai Airport.

"A cheaper downtown hub with great access and lots of shopping. It's walking distance to Shinsekai an"

A charming, walkable neighbourhood near Umeda filled with small cafes, handmade goods shops and vintage stores selling retro items from the 80s. Most shops open in the afternoon.

"A charming, walkable neighbourhood near Umeda filled with small cafes, handmade goods shops and vint"

A mostly office district along the south bank of the Tosabori River, lined with cafes and restaurants. Many have riverside decks that are especially pleasant in the warmer months.

"A mostly office district along the south bank of the Tosabori River, lined with cafes and restaurant"

A narrow island in the river just above Kitahama. It is home to the European-style Osaka City Hall, a Tadao Ando-designed library and a rose garden.

"A narrow island in the river just above Kitahama. It is home to the European-style Osaka City Hall, "

A lively, grungy neighbourhood just east of Osaka Station with narrow alleys of hole-in-the-wall izakaya and dirt-cheap food and drinks. It is likened to Osaka's version of Golden Gai.

"A lively, grungy neighbourhood just east of Osaka Station with narrow alleys of hole-in-the-wall iza"

A temple town of machiya townhouses and the only Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in Osaka Prefecture. Its Jonomon-suji Avenue, lined with temples and old houses, is listed among Japan's 100 best roads.

"A temple town of machiya townhouses and the only Important Preservation District for Groups of Tradi"