10 Best Things to Do in Umeda
Explore Top Attractions in Osaka's Umeda Area
Umeda (梅田) is Osaka’s business district, that serves as a major commercial and entertainment hub. It’s renowned for its towering skyscrapers, including the iconic Umeda Sky Building, which offers panoramic views of the city.
Osaka is popularly divided into two parts, Kita (North) and Minami (South). Kita is centered around Umeda and it’s one of the city’s main spots for entertainment and shopping, along with Namba and Shinsaibashi in the Minami area. Osaka Station and Umeda Station are important train hubs here. It forms one of Osaka’s two major entertainment areas, with Osaka Station and Umeda Station serving as key transportation hubs.
In addition, the district includes Kita-Shinchi, known for its fine dining options. Unlike the popular Minami, with a lively and casual vibe, Kita is characterized by its sophisticated urban landscape dominated by high-rise buildings. So here we go with the best things you can do in Umeda!
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1. Umeda Sky Building and Kuchu Teien Observatory
The Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル) is a prominent landmark in Osaka, known for its striking architecture and panoramic views of the cityscape. Rising 173 meters above ground level, this iconic structure consists of two interconnected towers joined by the the Kuchu Teien Observatory (空中庭園展望台), also known as the Floating Garden Observatory. Located on the 39th floor, the Kuchu Teien Observatory provides stunning views of the city of Osaka with its open-air deck and glass-enclosed observation decks.
In addition to the views, the Umeda Sky Building offers various facilities, including restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops.
▶︎Umeda Sky Building & Kuchu Teien Observatory Ticket
2. Go Shopping
The Umeda district has several big shopping malls and debarments, making it an ideal place to spend a couple of hours shopping for souvenirs. Here you have some of the most popular ones, including some
Grand Front Osaka
Grand Front Osaka (グランフロント大阪) is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in Kansai area, with over 260 stores. Opened in 2023, Grand Front Osaka features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, office spaces and even a luxury hotel.
This modern and impressive building offers direct access to Osaka Station, providing an ideal shopping destination on rainy days without the worry of getting soaked.
Hankyu Umeda Main Store
Another popular shopping destination in Umeda area is the Hankyu Umeda Main Store, a prominent department store where you can find a wide range of products including fashion, cosmetics, household goods, and gourmet food.
Established in 1929 Hankyu Umeda Main Store is one of Japan’s largest department stores, known for its good quality merchandise and excellent customer service. Additionally, it’s conveniently located near Osaka Station.
Osaka Station City
If you are not still done with shopping, Osaka Station City is a huge shopping and dinning complex that surrounds Osaka Station. Divided into two buildings, the North Building and the South Building, Osaka Station City is another great option for a rainy day in Osaka, since you don’t need to leave the station.
3. Enjoy Osaka Food
Osaka is renowned for its diverse and delicious food scene. From savory street snacks to hearty comfort food and delicious desserts, no wonder why Osaka it’s know as the kitchen of Japan.
One of Osaka’s most famous culinary contributions is takoyaki, a popular street food made from batter filled with diced octopus, green onions, and pickled ginger. On the top of this, takoyaki balls are typically covered with a savory-sweet sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes and seaweed.
Another must-try dish in Osaka is okonomiyaki, often referred to as Japanese savory pancakes or Japanese pizza. The okonomiyaki is made from flour, grated yam, eggs and shredded cabbage, mixed wit a variety of ingredients such as pork belly, shrimp, squid or cheese. All of these topped with savory okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes and dried seaweed, as the takoyaki.
For those with a sweet tooth, the iconic fluffy and creamy cheesecake from Rikuro Ojisan is another essential.
Some personal recommendations in Umeda:
Negiyaki Yamamoto Umeda (Okonomiyaki restaurant)
Aburi Bokujo Kobe Wagyu Beef Yakiniku BBQ
4. Get a Ride at the Hep Five Ferris Wheel
Hep Five is a unique shopping center in Osaka known for its famous red Ferris wheel on top. At 106 meters above the ground and a 15-20 minutes ride, this Ferris wheel gives great views of the city. After shopping in the mall, visitors can ride the Ferris wheel and see Osaka from above.
In addition to the fashion shops, Hep Five offers numerous shops offering character goods, as well as anime and comic merchandise.
▶︎HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel Ticket
5. Tsuyuten Shrine
Located between buildings, Tsuyuten Shrine (露天神社) is a hidden gem in Osaka. This Shinto shrine it’s said to have been established over 1300 years ago, and named after a poem from Sugawara no Michizane, a prominent scholar and politician from the Heian period.
Today, Tsuyuten Shirne is popular spot for praying for a good marriage or success in love. This is because in the bunraku puppet play ‘The Love Suicides of Sonezaki,’ the two lovers who cannot be together commit suicide at the shrine.
