The HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel overlooks the city of Umeda, and has a unique appearance as it comes right out of the building as the red symbol of Umeda. Located in the shopping complex HEP FIVE, its highest point is about 106m. Each carriage can accommodate up to 4 people at a time, and it has a gorgeous panoramic view of Umeda's buildings and trains.

The Ferris Wheel is air-conditioned, so you can comfortably enjoy your 15-minute aerial tour above the city center. It feels just as if you had climbed to the top of the building for a better view! The cityscape as seen from atop the Ferris wheel is a rare sight in the city, and a great memory.

The Umeda Chair is a unique photo spot in Hankyu Sun Square, located near the HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel. It is very popular among tourists visiting Japan. Previously, there was only the kanji character at the Umeda Chair. But with its growing popularity, a second chair, 'Umeda' written in romanized letters, has now been added too!

The bright red visuals make it a great photo spot, and having the place name as part of the photo makes it a good memento. If you visit Umeda, be sure to sit in the Umeda Chair and take a photo yourself.

Umeda has an underground mall that is so complicated to navigate, the locals call it the 'Umeda Dungeon.' Despite the name, it’s fun navigating the maze and finding interesting shops and spots. One of the best places to sample Osaka cuisine is at the Whity Umeda Izumi-no-hiroba Area. Originally, there was a fountain and a variety of shops here, however, it was renewed as a foodie spot in 2019.

There are now about 35 unique restaurants, including shops that sell set meals, desserts, and izakayas that are perfect for lunch. However, before you pick your spot, spend a moment under the symbolic 'Water Tree' at the Zone intersection. Enjoy the gentle lights from the tree, which change with the time and the seasons.

Why not do your sightseeing around the city while wearing a kimono? Kyo-Aruki Umeda is a shop where you can rent authentic kimono, produced by a long-established kimono and hakama shop. You can rent a genuine kimono to enjoy your walk around the city at a reasonable price.

There is a professional dresser on-site who will dress you to photo-ready perfection. Choose your favorite from over 1,000 kimonos. Feel free to head to the Umeda Chair mentioned above for even cooler kimono photos. Reservations are required for kimono rental, which you can do online or by phone. (Same-day reservations are also possible according to availability). Rent one with your friends or significant other for even more great memories!

Sonezaki Ohatsutenjin-dori Shotengai is a shopping street with nearly 100 spots for great food. You can enjoy reasonably-priced local dishes such as sushi, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu. At the entrance is the Tsuyuten Shrine (also called the Ohatsu-tenjin Shrine), which acts as the setting for the ‘Love Suicides at Sonezaki’ Bunraku puppet play, the Setsubun Festival in February, summer festivals in July, and a flea market held on the first Friday of every month.

The flea market has a casual vibe that is easy for tourists to enjoy. You can find many retro toys and antiques there, so why not search for your favorite item?

Check out the spectacular, open-air view from the Sky Walk on the rooftop of Umeda Sky Building. The observation deck is connected to the 35th floor via a long, see-through escalator with an extraordinary atmosphere.

From its height of 173m, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of many famous sights, including Osaka Castle, the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel, and the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge and Awaji Island in the distance. At night, the phosphorescent stones on the Skywalk floor light up for an ambient vibe. For a more relaxed visit, we recommend visiting in the morning when there are relatively few people.

The Tenku Cafe is a cafe on the 27th floor of the Umeda Sky Building, and a part of the Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum. To visit the cafe only, simply tell the receptionist you'd like to see the Tenku Cafe.

There are drinks, such as coffee and soda, as well as snacks, such as sandwiches and muffins. The space is decorated with Koji Kinutani prints on the walls, colorful pigmented bottles, and stylish looking chairs. There are also nice couple seats for two. Enjoy the scenery at this great cafe and lose yourself in the passage of time.

SAORI Toyosaki Nagaya is a hands-on workshop where you can enjoy making Osaka's hand-woven Saori crafts in a renovated, 100-year-old tenement house. It is located about 5 minutes from Osaka Metro Nakazakicho Station. You can weave your own scarf or table center in about 120 minutes. Many visitors come from overseas, and many visit more than once!

English-speaking staff are usually present, so you don’t need to worry about the language barrier. The town of Nakazaki-cho retains its traditional culture with nagaya, or tenement houses, that have survived since the prewar period. There are many stylish cafes as well, so you may want to take a walk after the workshop.

The Hankyu train line connects Osaka Umeda to Kyoto and Kobe. Inside the Hankyu Osaka Umeda Station ticket gate is the Tully's Coffee Hankyu Osaka Umeda Station 3F. Because it is inside the ticket gate, it's a great place to take a break while waiting for the train.

The shop is above the platform, so you can watch the trains when you sit by the window. The scenery, with trains coming and going, and the maroon color of the lined-up Hankyu train cars, is a splendid view that makes everything feel like a small diorama. It's a spot anyone can enjoy, whether you’re a train fan or not.

Mizu no Tokei, or the Water Clock, located in the South Gate Square of JR Osaka Station, is a popular spot thanks to its mysterious water show. Within a space of 6.5 meters in width and 3.9 meters in height, the time, as well as seasonal patterns, are drawn out with falling water droplets.

The threads of water that fall out from the nozzle at the top are controlled with a computer mechanism in order to display the characters and images that you see. The popular and mysterious water performance occurs when it plays as a video. It plays once every 5 minutes. Because it is located in the square outside the station, you can see it from 6:00AM to 12:00AM.

Umeda is a place adored by locals with convenient transportation. There are plenty of trains running, including the JR Line, subways, and private railways. Many tourist facilities, shopping areas, and gourmet foods are also within walking distance.

There are buses and rental bicycles in the area, so you can easily spend a whole day in Umeda alone. If you visit Umeda, be sure to check out as many places as you can.

*Some places may be closed due to the spread of coronavirus. Please check individual websites for updates and details.

Written by: Niki Shigemi

*The above article is based on information from May 2020

We also recommend these restaurants in the Umeda area. Save time and hassle - book your table online today!