Shopping at Shinsaibashi-suji, Osaka’s Shopping Epicenter for Cosmetics and Fashion!
I can guarantee you that Shinsaibashi is anything but “Super Dry”
Helloooo Osaka! Formerly known as the capital for Japanese merchants and trade goods, now known as the neon nightlife and street food capital of Japan! Right in the center of all that hustle and bustle is the Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping District filled with hundreds of stylish clothing stores, delicious street food, and chaotic karaoke clubs and bars.
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Osaka’s Shopping Epicenter
So many shops to explore, so much pain my wallet has to endure ;-;
While Shinsaibashi-suji is a massive place filled with plenty of things to eat and buy, I would say that this district is one of 3 areas which include Dotonbori, and Kuromon Ichiba that makes up the Osaka Shopping Epicenter, a term that I just made up right now.
The reason I am sharing with you these areas is because they are within walking distance, literally a 5-10 minute walk away from each other. So if you explore Shinsaibashi-suji, might as well visit the other 2.
Even though this article is about Shinsaibashi, I’ll share with you a brief description of the other 2 areas below:
Dotonbori Street Food Night Market
Dotonbori’s iconic giant king crab
When in Osaka, you cannot miss Dotonbori, Located literally right next to the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade, this road has a reputation for being the top foodie hotspot in all of Japan attracting both international tourists and locals who come here to try the delicious and diverse array of dishes.
Here you can find Iconic Osaka street food dishes like Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki, Fresh King Crab, and Kushikatsu. Needless to say if you are a huge foodie like I am, Dotonbori is your Japanese street food heaven.
Kuromon Ichiba Fish Market
A plate of absolute haven at Kuromon Ichiba Seafood Market
Out of the 3 Shopping and Street Food areas in Osaka, Kuromon Ichiba is my favorite because it’s more akin to your Street Food markets you’ll find in Thailand or other parts of South East Asia. Basically alleys upon alleys of street food vendors selling the freshest seafood AND meats you can find anywhere.
Here you can find ready to eat grilled King Crab, The freshest Sashimi you’ll ever have, the sweetest grilled scallops, and even the juiciest Wagyu beef skewer. This is my favorite place in all of Osaka and is definitely a a place you MUST visit if you love seafood.
Recommended Hotels in Osaka Near Shinsaibashi-suji
You won’t be able to fully explore all 3 of Osaka Shopping districts in one night, believe me I tried. So if you are looking for a hotel in the area here are 3 of the best hotels in Osaka that I recommend that are located close to Shinsaibashi to make exploring more comfortable.
The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi - Located close to a metro station, incredible amenities and facilities, great service, easy access to Dotonbori, and great value for price.
Nest Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi - Nice comfortable hotel that is about a 10 minute walk to Shinsaibashi, also probably the most friendly and attentive hotel staff in Osaka.
The Stay Osaka Shinsaibashi - Great budget friendly hostel with comfortable rooms. Great option to meet new friends.
Exploring Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade
ABC Mart is the best place to go for bargain shoes
The Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade is a 600 meter long street filled with a barrage of fashionable boutique stores such as UniQlo, H&M, Zara and so much more.
Mostly people who come here are looking to buy clothes and shoes, and Shinsaibashi has those stores in spades. ABC mart is a popular shop selling various shoes from Nike, Adidas, Timberland, and so much more for a bargain price.
I got myself a pair of Timberland Boots for a price that’s cheaper than it would’ve been if I purchased them at a luxury shopping mall.
So many options to choose from
On the subject of fakes, you can rest easy as these stores sell the real deal. The reason the prices are so cheap is because they’ll sometimes sell refurbished items or second hand goods.
If you’ve been in Japan for a while, you would know that second hand items are no joke, they are such high quality as the people here take real good care of them.
Anyone care for some face cream?
Japan is well known for cosmetic products, hand creams, face creams, um other creams. I’m not very into cosmetic products but they are there for those of you who want to purchase them in bulk to bring back home.
Walking through the streets of Japan you’ll notice that everyone, women, men, children even, have such clear white skin. That’s the magic of Japanese cosmetic products and you’ll definitely want to try them out for yourself.
Stores like Matsumoto Kiyoshi sell a wide variety of cosmetic products all at a bargain price as well, you’ll also get a tax refund if you purchase in bulk and over a certain amount.
Seriously, every time I travel to Japan with my mom should would bring back like half a dozen bags of cosmetic products to share them amongst her friends.
Anyone played Cyberpunk 2077? This is the closest I have felt to being in a Cyberpunk Dystopia
Shinsaibashi is truly a huge area to explore and you can easily run out of money here if you lack self control.
While the main Shinsaibashi Road spans 600 meters, there are multiple smaller alleyways branching off the main road that often get overlooked.
These alleyways contain some real hidden gems especially in regards to restaurants, I found some of the best Yakiniku restaurants in these alleys. So be sure to thoroughly explore the district.
The best part is that because these alleys are overlooked, there are very little tourists or crowds walking through them.
Osaka’s Iconic Glico Man Display
The Glico Man in all his glory
Shinsaibashi is also where you can find Osaka’s Iconic Glico Man, a large neon sign installed to advertise the Glico Candy company.
Over the years the sign changed graphics to commemorate various events such as the celebration of the World Cup.
Be sure to snap a photo with Mr. Glico here, cause you haven’t been to Shinsaibashi/Dotonbori if you didn’t meet the Glico Man.
Details About Shinsaibashi-suji
Shinsaibashi-suji is a major shopping district in Osaka, Japan and is nearby other major districts like Dotonbori and the Kuromon Ichiba Seafood Market.
This street is open from everyday from 11am onwards, though most shops close at around 8pm. Be warned though, there are a lot of people. A LOT of people. Mostly during the late afternoon and evening.
Location: 2 Chome-2-22 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0085, Japan
Opening Hours: 11:00AM - 8:00PM | Mon - Sun
How to get to Shinsaibashi-suji
Assuming you are already in Osaka, take the Metro to Shinsaibashi Station via the Midosuji Line. The exit of the metro station is literally right at the beginning of the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade. So from there, literally just a 1 minute walk.
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