The Nipponbashi district, often referred to as Nippombashi on maps, is an electrifying and lively place south of Namba Station.

Nipponbashi is one of the main hubs for anime lovers and toy shops, but there is also a huge concentration of electronics stores on the main street.

Book your hotel in Osaka in advance

The neighborhood is also known as Den-Den Town among locals, and often rivals Tokyo's much better-known Akihabara district in popularity.

What to see and do in Nipponbashi

The district is seamlessly connected to central Dotonbori. Therefore, at the northern end of Nipponbashi you will find several pedestrianised areas with restaurants and food shops.

Heading further south around Ota Road, you gradually reach the centre of Nipponbashi.

Ota Road is the centre of anime in Osaka and indeed in all of Japan. Here you'll find hundreds of shops and arcade houses with traditional Japanese anime themes.

But you can also buy lots of the usual toys for children in the huge department stores.

The area around Sakaisuji' s main avenue is mainly known for electronics shops, music stores and many small shops specializing in souvenirs and Japanese pop-related goods.

Sakaisuji is also home to Taito Station, an arcade game centre.

Accommodation at Nippombashi

In the centre of Nipponbashi, you will find several decently rated yet very cheap hotels with prices starting from 50 usd.

• Toyoko Inn Osaka Namba Nippombashi ***
• Hotel Hillarys ***

But there are also more luxurious hotels on the main street of Sakaisuji, such as Citadines Namba Osaka ****.

How to get there

Nipponbashi is south of the Namba and Dotonbori area in central Osaka.

Metro

• Nippombashi (northern edge of the district)
  • Brown Sakaisuji Line - direction Shinsekai and Zoo (Dobutsuen-mae Station), Kitahama Station
  • Pink Sennichimae Line - direction Nishi-nagahori, Noda, Tanimachi-9-chome (transfer to the purple line direction Osaka Castle)
• Ebisucho (southern edge of the district)
  • Brown Sakaisuji Line - direction Shinsekai and Zoo (Dobutsuen-mae Station), Kitahama Station

Railways

• Namba-Nankai
  • Nankai Electric Railway (JR Pass not valid, Kansai Railway Pass valid) direction Kansai Airport, Wakyama, Koyasan
• Namba
  • Kintetsu Railway (not JR Pass valid, Kansai Railway Pass valid) towards Nara, Toba, Ise-Shima National Park
  • Hansin Railway (no JR Pass, Kansai Railway Pass applies) towards Kobe

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Osaka.