Nakanoshima is the neighbourhood to check out in Osaka
With its abundance of cool cafés, edgy design studios and magnificent museums, Japan’s second-largest city's downtown has turned sightseeing into an art form.
- April 2020
An island in the heart of the city, between the Dojimagawa and Tosaborigawa Rivers, Nakanoshima is Osaka’s cultural, political and business nerve-centre. It’s also a great place for visitors, home to everything from trendy cafes and design houses to pretty parks. Here are some of the coolest places to check out.
Nakanoshima Fishing Port
This port might not be as bustling as Tsukiji Market in Toyko but being relatively low-key has its advantages. For one, you can tuck into the seafood that is freshly delivered to the port without having to jostle through crowds. Autumn and winter are the best times for fish, as they tend to have higher fat content (which often translates to more flavour). Try monkfish liver, which is known as the “foie gras of the sea”, here.
nakanoshima-gyoko.jp opens in new window
Graf
Don’t be fooled by the unassuming building – it houses a leading design studio for home décor products. At the core of Graf’s minimalist designs is an obsession with function and a gratification of the senses, so take your time to appreciate the details (for example, glasses are 0.9mm thick to enhance the taste of your drink).
graf-d3.com opens in new window
Osaka City Central Public Hall
Inspired by stories of American businessmen in the early 1900s donating small fortunes to build libraries, museums and public halls, successful local stockbroker Iwamoto Einosuke decided to use his wealth to build a world-class arts and culture hub in his city, even if he didn’t live to see the completion of Osaka City Central Public Hall in 1918. (His dream did come true.) Today, the building, with its iconic red bricks and dome-shaped bronze roof, is an elegant fixture of Osaka’s cityscape and continues to host lectures and international performances.
The National Museum of Art
Your appreciation of art will begin the moment you lay eyes on this utterly unique building. Opened in 2007, the museum was designed to represent the shape of a bamboo plant. Inside are two underground floors showcasing Japanese and foreign contemporary art.
http://www.nmao.go.jp/ opens in new window
Nakanoshima Park,
Osaka’s oldest public garden literally offers up something new every season. In the Japanese summer, locals head to the riverside beer garden for a cold pint or lounge on the lawn. Come spring to early autumn, the east side of the park bursts into colour and sweet aromas as some 4000 roses are in full bloom. But perhaps the most magical time to visit is during Hikari Renaissance in December when the park is illuminated by 1.5 million lights and decorations.
1 Chome-1 Nakanoshima, Kita Ward
Brooklyn Roasting Company, Kitahama
From favouring third-party certified coffees that ensure farmers are paid fairly, to packing coffee beans in reusable cans of tin-steel, Brooklyn Roasting Company is a firm supporter of sustainable farming and trade practices. Grab a cuppa at Kitahama branch and kick back.
brooklynroasting.jp opens in new window
Museum of Oriental Ceramics
This world-renowned pottery museum houses about 4000 modern and antique pieces of Japanese, Chinese and Korean ceramics – including two registered National Treasures and 13 Important Cultural Properties. The museum has won awards for its use of both natural and LED lighting.