Hello there, nice to meet you! I'm Mihotan Tanukiyama.
Besides my regular job as a writer, I also perform as an idol in a unit called "Otafuku Girls"!

Being a self-produced underground idol means dragging a large carry case around for our live performances, which is quite the ordeal.

In my travels, what I'm always on the lookout for is a toilet with a spacious and clean powder room. I've memorized the locations of the toilets and my go-to powder rooms around the stations I frequently use.
I'm also keen on knowing every nook and cranny of the toilets around Osaka Station, which I often use for transfers.

So, this time around, I am excited to conduct a thorough investigation of the toilets in Osaka Station City.

What are everyone’s toilet troubles? While I am on the hunt for toilets with spacious and clean powder rooms, the ideal toilet surely varies from person to person, right?—be it men or those with children. With this thought, I've summoned additional members for this investigation! Introducing Maiko Kozuka and Takahiro Kitano!

Mihotan: Ms. Kozuka, you have a child, don't you? When you're with your child, what kind of toilet do you find ideal?

Maiko Kozuka: I have a 4-year-old daughter. When we were using a stroller, the presence of elevators or ramps was a fundamental necessity. I was always searching for the shortest route to the toilet that didn't involve using stairs.

Mihotan: So, it's not just about the toilet facilities, but the route is also important.

Maiko Kozuka: There are "priority elevators" for wheelchair and stroller users, but often these elevators are crowded. Also, there are "express elevators" which don’t stop at the floor you want to go to.

Mihotan: I see. Mr. Kitano, given your original workplace, are you familiar with LUCUA?

Takahiro Kitano: As for toilets, I mostly used the ones designated for employees, so not really... But I have a good grasp on where the elevators are located.

Mihotan: From a male perspective, do you have any preferences regarding toilets?

Takahiro Kitano: Men's toilets don't usually get crowded, so I haven't really thought about it. If I had to choose, I guess a place with chairs outside or a spacious waiting area would be nice, since there often forms a line of men waiting for their girlfriends outside the women's toilets.

Maiko Kozuka: It seems like it can be a problem for men with children when there are no diaper changing stations in men’s toilets.

Takahiro Kitano: True. Also, there are usually fewer stalls in men’s toilets. Like, five urinals to two stalls. Moreover, if there’s only one Western-style toilet, it gets competitive.

Mihotan: Ah, it happens in women's toilets too. Like when you think there’s an available stall but it turns out to be a Japanese-style one... Women also tend to feel a bit awkward when going to the toilet with a friend and ending up in adjacent stalls, so the more stalls, the better.

Maiko Kozuka: Also, have you noticed that many places don’t have trash bins nowadays?

Mihotan: I know, right! Besides, I’d like to know about toilets that are near the station and easy to access.

With various toilet preferences discussed, now we would like to introduce some recommended toilets within Osaka Station City!

First off, we investigated the toilets near the ticket gates of JR Osaka Station (1st floor Central Gate, 1st floor Sakurabashi Gate, and 3rd floor Connecting Bridge Gate)! We timed the walk from exiting the gates to the toilet entrance, verifying and introducing the closest one.

(*Note: There are toilets within the ticket gates as well, but for this investigation, we looked for the nearest toilets outside the gates.)

First up is the JR Osaka Station 1st floor Central Gate, which is close to the ticket gates and often used as a meeting spot. The nearest toilet from here was found to be the one located behind the Central Ticket Sales Area.

We actually measured.

1 minute, 34 seconds!

Mihotan: The space is ample, and there's a powder corner as well.

Maiko Kozuka: There might be more Japanese-style toilets here compared to other places.

Mihotan: There were notices posted outside for forming a line, so it might get really crowded when it's busy.

Close to JR Osaka Station 1st floor Central Gate!
The toilet behind the Central Ticket Sales Area.

Apart from the toilet near the 1st floor Central Gate, there's also a toilet in Eki Marche Osaka outside the gates.

It took 1 minute and 58 seconds from JR Osaka Station Central Gate. From the direct entrance to Eki Marche Osaka, it took 1 minute and 15 seconds, and from Sakurabashi Gate, it took 1 minute and 8 seconds, which is very close!

The toilet in Eki Marche has a clean powder room, and there's a vending machine in the waiting area outside the toilet, which is quite convenient. However, it can get crowded depending on the time since it's located near a dining area.

Next, the JR Osaka Station 3rd floor pedestrian bridge entrance. The nearest restroom from here was located on the 3rd floor of Daimaru.

When you measure the time...

1 minute 48 seconds!!

Mihotan: It's nice to have a clean toilet close to the station gates. There's a powder room, and it's quite spacious!

Maiko Kozuka: Eh!! The multi-purpose toilet is surprisingly large!!

Mihotan: Oh, really! It's even bigger than my single-person apartment!

Close to the JR Osaka Station 3rd floor pedestrian bridge entrance! The restroom on the 3rd floor of Daimaru Umeda Store.

Takahiro Kitano: Speaking of toilets close to the Connecting Bridge Gate, may I introduce one as well? The toilet next to the office tower entrance on the south side of LUCUA 1100 is close to the gates and often unoccupied.

Mihotan: Let's measure the time for this one too!

Mihotan: 1 minute and 18 seconds!! That's the fastest, isn't it? You really know your way around as a former LUCUA employee! Plus, there are fewer people on the route, so you can get there smoothly.

Mihotan: It's not very spacious, but the powder corners are partitioned for individuals, which seems comforting.

Maiko Kozuka: I didn't know there was a toilet here! There are multi-purpose toilets for both men and women, so it seems easy to use for men with children.

Takahiro Kitano: We talked about the absence of trash bins in toilets at the beginning, but there are trash bins along the way here.

Mihotan: Wow! Grateful for the trash bins!

The toilets behind the Central Ticket Sales Area and next to the Office Tower are a boon as they can be used even after Daimaru or LUCUA have closed for the day.

The toilets inside Daimaru are indeed clean, and once you are inside the building, there are signs directing you to the toilets, so you can reach them without getting lost. Depending on the ticket gates or the floor you are on, there are toilets that are easier to access, so it's beneficial to know which toilet you can reach the fastest at any given time.

Next, we will look for toilets that are easy to use for those with children!

In the case of strollers, ease of access was mentioned as important. Additionally, we will check for the presence of baby chairs and changing tables, and whether the toilets are user-friendly for men with children as well.

Maiko Kozuka: My recommendation is on the 7th floor of LUCUA EILE! LUCUA EILE has a baby room on the 7th floor, and the elevator on the Umeda side is usually less crowded.

Maiko Kozuka: The elevator on the Umeda side is more convenient because the one near the entrance at the Atrium Plaza side tends to take longer to arrive. Even if the 7th-floor restroom is crowded, it's easy to use this elevator to move to another floor. It's really helpful!

Maiko Kozuka: It's nice that there are stalls big enough to fit a stroller.

Takahiro Kitano: There were stalls in the men's toilet that could fit a stroller as well.

Maiko Kozuka: In spacious stalls, you don't have to worry about your child reaching the lock while sitting in the baby chair. Usually, baby chairs are placed next to the door, and children often end up touching and unlocking the door. In such toilets, it's really hard to divert the child's attention away from the lock.

Mihotan: With this much space, their hands definitely won't reach, which is reassuring.

Mihotan: Ah! They've placed good quality diffusers and hand soap!

Mihotan: The baby room is also well-equipped. There's a hot water dispenser for preparing formula, a sink, and a changing corner for children.

Maiko Kozuka: It's great that you can quickly buy water from a vending machine!

Maiko Kozuka: Also, on the 2nd floor of LUCUA 1100, the multi-purpose toilet is often vacant, so I use it when I'm nearby.

Mihotan: It's a hidden gem for those with children or those in wheelchairs!

Maiko Kozuka: Since there are multipurpose restrooms on most floors in EILE, even if this one is crowded, you can just go to another floor. You won't have any trouble if you go to EILE!

Mihotan: Let's remember, "You won't have any trouble if you go to EILE!"

Maiko Kozuka: There is also a baby room on the 10th floor of Daimaru within Osaka Station City, and the toilet on the same floor is well-equipped. However, there's a point to note that requires caution......

The toilet on the 10th floor of Daimaru. The "Baby Salon" is equipped with a nursing room, vending machine, microwave, and a hot water dispenser for preparing formula.

Maiko Kozuka: There's a row of gachapon (toy vending machines) near the entrance!! It's fine if your child hasn't developed an interest in toys yet, but mine is already 4 years old, so passing by this area is the end......

Mihotan: Ahh...

Mihotan: From a male perspective, is there a toilet where you can say "I can relax here"?

Takahiro Kitano: This is also one of my go-to toilets but......

Mihotan: It's adorable! The design is so calming, isn't it?

Maiko Kozuka: There's a trash bin inside the toilet!

Takahiro Kitano: There's a Tully's Coffee across, and the "Wind Plaza" is nearby, so it's a good spot for a little break.

Mihotan: It seems that the restroom at Ichiroku Gourmet is recommended for men too. There are two of them on the floor, so it's a nice find considering it's located on the restaurant floor and tends to be less crowded.

Takahiro Kitano: I might not have used this one much...? I'll go check it out!

Takahiro Kitano: There was also a changing table in the men's restroom. What is the purpose of having those in there in the first place?

Maiko Kozuka: For women, there are times when we suddenly need to change while we are out, like when our stockings get torn. This would be really handy. You don't want to stand barefoot on the toilet floor, so you change on top of this.

Takahiro Kitano: I see!

Mihotan: It seems like there are many relaxing restrooms on the upper floors of the building.

After going around all the toilets in Osaka Station City and checking the powder rooms, I'll introduce the good toilets!

On the 4th floor of LUCUA, there is a women-only powder room called "RELAQUA," and indeed, the ambiance, spaciousness, and facilities there were fantastic.

Restrooms within Osaka Station City are known for their well-equipped powder rooms, but finding a place where you can sit down and do your makeup is limited. So, having a spacious area with chairs is indeed appreciated! With a generous standing mirror corner as well, it seems like there's no need to worry about crowded spaces.

Mihotan: When you're exhausted from walking around, being able to sit and freshen up in a beautiful space is truly like an oasis.

Maiko Kozuka: It's very open and airy, isn't it?

Mihotan: Besides, in LUCUA, many floors have powder rooms and washbasin corners with nice views, which feels good.

Mihotan: From the washroom corner of the 10th-floor women's restroom, you can enjoy a view of the grand roof of Osaka Station. It's truly lovely!

Mihotan: Additionally, if I were to introduce another hidden gem, it would be on the 4th floor of LUCUA 1100.

Mihotan: This place also rivals RELAQUA in terms of the number of seats. And it's not crowded!

Maiko Kozuka: It's nice that they have small mirrors and individual trash bins.

Mihotan: LUCUA 1100 also has a large number of changing boards in men's restrooms.

Mihotan: As Ms. Kozuka mentioned while talking about recommended toilets for those with children, it's indeed, "You won't be troubled if you go to LUCUA 1100!".

Mihotan: Through this investigation, I've discovered some unique and beautiful restrooms, so I'd like to share them with you!

Mihotan: It feels like a model room for toilets.

Takahiro Kitano: It was the same specification for men's toilets, but it's unusual to have a handwashing area in each individual room, isn't it?

Mihotan: It doesn't seem crowded, so it's recommended to take a little visit!

Mihotan: Thank you both! Information from people who actually use these facilities often, like hidden gems or favored toilets based on different purposes, was very helpful.

Maiko Kozuka: Besides the toilets I often use, it was good to learn about toilets that are close to the station or have ample facilities, which I didn't know about!

Takahiro Kitano: I hadn’t paid much attention to the facilities in men's toilets, but most of them had baby chairs, and there were toilets that you could enter with a baby stroller, and changing boards were installed, so the facilities were well-equipped.

Mihotan: Having walked around for the investigation, I've felt the value of toilets with spacious and clean powder rooms and well-equipped waiting areas. Now that I'm more knowledgeable about the access to toilets, I want to share this information with people around me! I hope everyone reading this article will find it useful too!

Edited by: Human Editorial Dept.
Writer: Tanukiyama Mihotan

*Information was current as of January 31,2023. As some details may have changed, please check current information before visiting these locations.