Osaka consists of 24 wards, or “ku,” which are as varied as the people who live in them. Some are particularly popular with expats due to their available services and conveniences, such as easy access to international schools or common expat companies. These wards include: (Stars indicate a more information on these areas can be found below)
Abeno
Asahi
Chuo*
Fukushima
Higashinari
Higashisumiyoshi
Higashiyodogawa
Hirano
Ikuno
Joto
Kita
Konohana
Minato
Miyakojima
Naniwa
Nishi
Nishinari
Nishiyodogawa
Suminoe
Sumiyoshi
Taisho
Tennoji*
Tsurumi
Yodogawa
Destination Osaka Free eBook
Relo Japan is proud to bring you “Destination Osaka”, a special digital guide that incorporates inside knowledge of Osaka from the view of an expatriate. This invaluable resources has everything you need to know about living and working in Japan, including:
- Where to live
- Where to shop
- What to see and do
- Restaurants and nightlife
- A guide to services
- And much more!
iBook for your IpadPDF for other devices
More FREE city guides, including: Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe and Hiroshima are available in the Relo Japan website.
Japan Info Swap
Japan Info Swap is a part of The H&R Group, which provides a wide range of real estate, relocation, staffing and life-enrichment services. JIS was created to help communicate the information, knowledge, and expert advice of the H&R Group family of companies to their clients. Ensuring clients and the community at large access to a reliable source for all the tools needed to take full advantage of and fully enjoy the experience of relocating to, living and working in Japan.
You can find articles relating specifically to the City of Nagoya at this link.
morethanrelo.com/en/tag/osaka-city/
POPULAR OSAKA EXPAT AREAS
Having trouble working out which area is best suited to the type of lifestyle you would like to lead in Japan? See our comprehensive guide for information on the popular expat areas to live in Osaka.
The majority of people living in city areas in Japan use the name of the closest station to refer to their neighborhood. For example, those with an address in Chuo-ku in Osaka would say that they lived in Namba, or Shinsaibashi, whichever is the closest station to their home.
Kita-ku
Umeda and Osaka Station Area
Umeda is the business district of Osaka and has a number of tall buildings that are architecturally interesting. Yet despite all the concrete, the area around Umeda is remarkably pedestrian-friendly. Housing is primarily high-rise and this is an urban environment a more suitable for singles or couples who don’t have children. High-end serviced apartments are available in the newly completed Grand Front Osaka which also houses the InterContinental hotel on the north side of Osaka Station.
Shopping is abundant in the newly renovated JR Osaka Station which is full of restaurants, shops, department stores, and movie theaters as well as gardens on top of the north and south gate buildings.
Nishi-ku
This metropolitan area of Osaka sits slightly to the West of Shinsaibashi and contains a number of neighborhoods that have become quite hip places to live in the past ten years. Minami-Semba, Horie and the Utsubo Park area are all cosmopolitain yet maintain a low-rise neighborhood feel. This is the city life and everything is accessible by subway. Those with young children might find it a bit of a hassle as getting around by car can be a nuisance and school options are better elsewhere.
Chuo-ku
Shinsaibashi
Chuo-ku stretches from the Osaka Castle Area in the North to the Namba area in the South and encompasses Shinsaibashi, one of the city’s major nightlife districts. This area is busy and eclectic offering an almost limitless array of dining options with every cuisine imaginable. The area can get a bit gritty in places however, (imagine a cross between L.A. and New York) and things tend to go late in this part of town – very late.
Namba
Located in the very center of Osaka, Namba is the entertainment and shopping hub of the city, and is a bustling area with a mixture of commercial and residential buildings which tend to be mostly low-rise and accessible. Namba has a very exciting urban vibe with eclectic shops, bars, restaurants, and the neon lights of a thriving nightlife. Namba can be a fun, if intoxicating place to live. Like many areas of downtown Osaka, the lack of greenery may put some people off and the accommodation is at city prices and apartment sizes are small.
Tennoji-ku
Roughly ten minutes by train away from Namba at the southern end of Osaka city, Tennoji is a vibrant and bustling cityscape packed with department stores and shopping complexes. The area boasts a park, an art museum, a rather cramped zoo, and the historic Shitenno-ji Temple. The tallest building in Japan, the Abeno Harukas, is located here and contains the Marriott Hotel. The station area has Kintetsu, a high-end department store and the Hoop shopping complex which features GAP, Muji and LOFT, a popular Japanese stationery and household-goods store.
North of Osaka
If you are looking to live in a more residential area then you might consider one of the three main bedroom communities which are situated in the hills to the north of Osaka. Senri, Suita and Minoh are easy commutes into town and offer more greenery and space for families to live.
Senri City
Senri is about 25 minutes from Umeda Station via rail. Here you can find single family dwellings and apartments set in a greener, quieter environment.
Suita City
This small city was the site of the 1970 World EXPO and The J-League soccer club Gamba Osaka plays at the EXPO Stadium, located on the site of the former World’s Fair. The Expo City in Suita is one of Japan’s largest multi-use complexes, featuring entertainment facilities and a large shopping mall.
Minoo City
Minoo, Sometimes spelled as Minoh, is a relatively quiet part of Osaka Prefecture and the location of the highly regarded Osaka International School. It is also known for Meiji no Mori, one of Japan’s oldest national parks, which houses a large population of wild monkeys and has a picturesque waterfall.
