Tenjinbashi-Suji Shopping Street

For those seeking a truly authentic experience while in Osaka, visit Tenjinbashi-Suji shopping street. At 2.6 kilometers, it’s the longest shopping street in Japan and spans the distance of nearly three subway stations, from 1-chome (district) to 7-chome. The street begins around the Tenjimbashisuji 6-chome Station and goes south, ending near the Tenjinbashi Bridge. It’s a far cry from the fancy malls of Namba and Umeda – here you can shop like the locals do, poking into the approximately 600 small shops, exchanging nods with local shopkeepers, exploring what the mostly independently-owned stores have to offer.

Tenjinbashi-Suji is one of the first shopping streets in Osaka. It began to form in the early Meiji era (1868-1912), and became more fully-formed by the beginning of the Showa era (1926-1989). As with many shotengai (covered markets) you can find anything and the kitchen sink here, and at rates that will match any traveler’s’ budget: clothes, medicine, shoes, books, magazines, souvenirs, groceries, fresh produce, electronics…the list goes on. Restaurants and cafes are tucked among the shops, and izakayas open when the sun sets.

Movie theaters and game centers offer a respite for the weary shopper. If nothing else, the street offers a retro vibe and unique experience to the traveler who wants to see what everyday life is for locals who are just trying to get some shopping done.

Located near Minamimorimachi Station just off Tenjinbashi-suji is Osaka Temmagu shrine, a Shinto shrine founded in 949 AD. It is known for holding the Tenjin Matsuri, Osaka’s biggest summer festival (and one of Japan’s three largest festivals) featuring a boat procession and huge display of fireworks. Despite its location in the middle of the city, the shrine’s grounds are quite large and offer a place of quiet contemplation in an otherwise loud and busy neighborhood.