Whity Umeda is a vast underground mall that opened in 1963 connecting JR Osaka Station, Umeda Station serviced by the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, Higashi Umeda Station serviced by the Tanimachi Line, Nishi Umeda Station serviced by the Yotsubashi Line, and Osaka Umeda Station serviced by the Hankyu Line and Hanshin Line.

Aspiring to create an image of a "white-colored town," it featured extensive use of white lighting and coloring in the passageways, and this led to it being named "Whity." There are about 190 various kinds of shops, including restaurants, women's and men's apparel, jewelry, precious metals, sundries, cosmetics, drugs, shoes, and many other types of shops all gathered in this one location.

It is estimated that about 400,000 people frequent the place around the clock.

Whity Umeda is made up of five areas: South Mall, Center Mall, East Mall, North Mall, Petit Champs d'Elysees Mall, and Izumi-no-Hiroba Plaza which is the symbol of Whity Umeda.

The renovation this time was primarily centered around the Izumi-no-Hiroba Plaza area. This is comprised of three areas encompassing the Ogimachi Zone, a section of the East Mall that connects the Izumi-no-Hiroba Plaza with lines of the Osaka Metro Higashi Umeda Station, the Izumi-no-Hiroba Zone around the plaza, and the NOMOKA Zone bar area attached to the north side of the Izumi-no-Hiroba Plaza. Let’s take a closer look at each of these areas.

In Japanese, NOMOKA means “How about a drink?” There are plenty of unpretentious izakaya in this area where you can easily drop by after shopping, work, or when you want to bar hop.

There is a total of 17 establishments, including lively places mainly with counter seats, specialty beer bars, and bar stands. They all have a lively, laid-back atmosphere.

This is the first time this famous Sakai, Osaka tempura shop opened a restaurant in Umeda. The main shop in Sakai City is open from midnight (11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays) to 9:30 in the morning, and there is always a long line of people waiting to get in. One of the reasons for its popularity is the fact that you can easily enjoy this delicious tempura during the daytime at Whity Umeda.

The best way to eat this crispy tempura is with lots of grated white radish and tentsuyu (dipping sauce for tempura). What is amazing about this great combination of grated white radish and tempura is that it is so refreshing that even eating a large portion of it does not leave a heavy feeling in your stomach. Best of all, you can help yourself to as much of the grated radish and tentsuyu as you like, so don’t hesitate doing so!

・ Taishu Nomisho Tokuda Shoten
Enjoy the retro atmosphere of Japan.

・ Ryoshi Sakaba Araki
Shop operated by fishermen. Main attraction is the very fresh seafood.

・ Kankoku Sakaba Kokkio
Proud of its Takkanmari and Yannyom Chicken.

・ Okinawa Sakaba Ashibinaa
A pub where you can experience the ambiance of Okinawa.

・ Teppanyaki Hakata Tenjin Hormone
Juicy meat and offal with miso sauce.

・ Kawakita Shoten
A yakitori pub having a nice blend of retro and modern.

・ Taipei Gyoza Choki [Zhang Ji]
Famous Taipei, Taiwan shop specializing in stick-baked and boiled dumplings.

・ Yoshoku to Yoshu Eight
Western snacks and liquor.

・ Kyo no Kushiage Gionbayashi
Offers lightly basted crispy fried skewers.

・ YEBISU BAR
Beer bar offering flavorful Yebisu Beer.

・ Skewer and Pizza Mia Stand
Mixed Japanese and Western styles Italian bar.

・ Wasurenagusa
Reasonably priced tavern.

・ Tako to Highball
Enjoy top-quality Osaka style octopus dumplings.

・ Daidai Ponzu Seisakusho
Izakaya specializing in citrus fruits.

・ GRANDE POLAIRE WINEBAR OSAKA
Concept shop offering Grande Polaire label Japanese wine.

・ CRAFT BEER MARKET
30 kinds of foreign and domestic draft craft beer are available.

When you don't have a lot of time and want to stop by for a quick bite to eat or drink, then Ogimachi Zone with its 14 shops at the end of the Izumi-no-Hiroba Plaza from the Osaka Metro Umeda Station and Higashi Umeda Station is the perfect place to find a place for a light lunch.

Both sides of the cobblestone-style street create a relaxing atmosphere. The ginkgo tree relief on the ceiling is also excitingly refreshing!

Yasai o Taberu Gochisou Tonjiru Gochiton is a pork soup specialty shop headquartered in Yoyogi, Tokyo and this is its first shop in Kansai. Popular shops are steadily opening branches in the Kansai area, lines forming outside of each during the lunch hour and at dinner time.

Tonjiru is soup dish made with pork and vegetables stewed in miso that is often cooked at home. At Gochiton the soup comes loaded with pork, large tofu, and slowly simmered onions.

The basic style of ordering is to select a tonjiru from the many types offered and then select either the Tonjiru Deep-Fried Horse Mackerel Set meal (290 yen) or the Tonjiru Meal Set (150 yen) to go with it. The ingredients, cut large, blend well with the miso soup creating a delightful and flavor-packed dining experience! It comes with a raw egg which you can either add to the rice or mix into the tonjiru, or dip the pork into the egg sukiyaki-style. Or you can devise your own way of eating it.

・ CAFE Eikokuya NORTH
Self-service cafe. Try the coffee and waffles.

・ Ramen and Gyoza Specialty Shop Kotan
Shop serving light ramen you could eat every day.

・ Soba Izakaya Gen
Shop serving authentic stone-milled soba.

・ Zen-ya
Serves well-balanced Japanese set meals.

・ Udon O
Osaka-style udon in a flavorful soup.

・ SHIBARAKU
Japanese dishes with an emphasis on soup stock, rice, and miso.

・ Osaka Tonteki
Famous thickly-sliced pork loin steak sautéed in sauce.

・ Daiki Suisan Kaiten Sushi Machi no Minato
A conveyor belt sushi restaurant popular with people of all ages.

・ Sao Dou Hua
First Taiwan-style sweets shop opened in Kansai area.

・ Yomen-ya Goemon
Spaghetti specialty shop where you eat it with chopsticks.

・ Soup Stock Tokyo
Shop specializing in soups.

・ Niigata-ken Kansai Joho Hasshin Kyoten Niigata Okome
Wide selection of famous Niigata products. You can do taste comparisons of Japanese sake.

The Water Tree, a symbolic monument of the plaza, is set beneath the center of the ceiling in the Izumi-no-Hiroba. The sparkling LED lights in this fountain create a healthy atmosphere.

In the Izumi-no-Hiroba Zone, there are a variety of convenient shops such as cafes that are convenient for meeting and a bakery that you might want to visit every day. This is an area where all sorts of people come and go throughout the day and night.

This beloved boulanger of Kyoto that has been in business for more than 30 years opened its first shop in Osaka here. Each type of bread is carefully prepared one at a time by craftsmen using carefully selected ingredients ensuring that each has a flavor so rich and delicious that you would not tire of eating it every day.

In addition to seasonal flavored bagels, there are also a wide selection of other types of bread such as those stuffed with ham, sausages, and vegetables. There is a corner where you can eat your purchases in the shop or if you prefer, take them out, perhaps to eat in your hotel.

・ Drip-X-café
Take a break here and relax with selected drinks and sweets.

・ Pop’n Fruit Café
Offers parfaits and pancakes that combine carefully selected fruits from all over Japan with milk and dairy products from Hokkaido.

・ Niku Bokujo Komatsubara Farm
Enjoy sake with your meat dishes which begin at 480 yen.

・ # CHIKAMISE @ Whity
Pop-up shop that changes after a limited time.

Whity Umeda has been popular with many people since it began and since its renovation has gained a broader range of popularity. The gourmet restaurants have been significantly renovated enabling you to spend a pleasant time over lunch, dinner, or cafe time.

This is a great place to explore all the various shops!

Text by Westplan