The laid-back town has an interesting retro-style street view and occupies the area surrounding Nakazakicho Station, which can be reached in 10 minutes by foot from Osaka or Umeda Stations. Many wooden buildings and buildings with tiled roofs can be seen throughout town, and plenty of traditional bricks-and-mortar shops are still in business here as well. All of these come together to give the town a very calm and reposeful atmosphere.

Interestingly enough, it seems like the cafes and general stores here clearly strive to fit the mood of Nakazakicho as well. Many are small, private shops, and as you go around exploring them, you can't help feeling like you've found a space that feels at home. That's just how cozy the whole place is! The general stores carry goods such as vintage Japanese products that can't be found anywhere else, so each new discovery in one of these shops will feel personal and special.

As promised, here's a list of five cafes, restaurants, and general stores that you absolutely have to visit if you're in the area!

Kaya Cafe operates out of a small, renovated private house and is a hot favorite among local residents. Their signature item is a tiramisu made from cheese and tofu. The regular flavor is "Cocoa Tofu Tiramisu", but the shop also features matcha or other seasonal flavors from time to time. These healthy treats are surprisingly filling and the reduced sweetness makes it especially popular among health-conscious ladies.

The tiramisu is served in a traditional Japanese masu, or wooden box and the result is simply adorable! Tofu makes up the dessert base, and because it isn't heavy on the stomach even in generous helpings, this is the perfect snack to enjoy after a heavy lunch.

In this shop, orders are made at the counter and paid for in advance before the food is served. The menu comes with English labels to help international friends order with ease and confidence.

Inside, the shop is flush with antique furniture, making the mood endearing. The decor is perfect as background for great-looking photos of all sorts. Because of its popularity, this cafe often has a long queue, but is relatively quieter when it just opens at around 12 noon, so if you're hoping for a smooth journey from cafe entrance to table, consider coming around this time. As you relax away in the calm and peaceful environment of the shop while relishing some deliciously healthy dessert, you'll be glad you made the trip down after all.

Next on our list is Cafe Taiyonoto, yet another popular cafe in Nakazakicho with a colorfully retro look that's sure to captivate the hearts of fans of cute-looking things out there!

The lunchtime menu here is a lineup of two items: "Butter Chicken Curry (950 yen, tax excluded)" and "Side Dish Set With Choice of Main Dish (950 yen, tax excluded)".

"Butter Chicken Curry" blends the refreshing tartness of tomatoes and delectable richness of butter together, and the mixture goes very well with plain rice. It also comes with salad and pickles as a bonus.

Even the dessert and drinks here have a cute and retro feel to them, as highlighted by their names - especially this "Nostalgic Pudding (300 yen, tax excluded; 250 yen, tax excluded if bought along with a lunch set)" depicted in this picture. As you enjoy the visually pleasing food here to the full, don't forget to feed your camera too!

This restaurant is about a 2-minutes walk from Nakazakicho Station and its sophisticated old-style decor takes inspiration from New York eateries. The polished and professional aura of a New York-like interior matches surprisingly well with the retro townscape of Nakazaki, making the shop fit right in with the rest of the street.

The one item you simply have to try is "Rice Carbonara", which is exactly what its name says - a food item that combines rice with carbonara. This dish plops a domestically produced Ryunotamago egg - known for its rich flavor - onto the middle of the plate, which you can break up with a spoon and mix into the rice before starting on this delightful meal.

When the fresh cream, parmesan cheese, and egg yolk mix properly into the rice, you get an exquisitely mellow and creamy taste that soothes your soul with every bite. The coarse pepper's spiciness accentuates that taste even further. You won't be able to stop shoving spoonful after spoonful of this tasty treat into your mouth once you start! The slightly different taste it has from regular carbonara is bound to satisfy your curious taste buds as well.

Full of old clothes and general goods that were regularly sold between the 70s to 80s in Japan, Green Pepe features a matching vintage interior design that makes you feel as if you're searching for valuable hidden treasure while wandering through the rows of shelves in the shop!

The bright and vivid colors of the items on display greet you as you enter the shop, cheering you up immediately. Their unusual design is part of the reason for their popularity. Taiwanese customers especially love the home appliances and clocks being sold here.

The Japanese folk craft here is another popular genre that customers of Green Pepe pay attention to. These captivating items are uniquely Japanese and can't be gotten outside of Japan, so they're definitely worth a second look if nothing else!

Other items on sale here are things like accessories, bags, lights, furniture, ornaments, and even signboards. Fans of retro goods would do well to check this shop out.

Only Planet is a shop that specializes in general goods featuring animal designs. The products being sold here include items such as accessories, eating utensils, and ornaments. From simple and cozy-looking wares to stylish and trendy merchandise, it won't be hard for you to find something in the large variety of goods available here that appeals to your personal taste!

Being able to see all sorts of animals as you step into the store is a bonus point for sure, and just gazing at the adorable general goods available here is enough to soothe any frayed nerves as well. The shop allows customers to take photographs and write blog posts about the items here, so take as many pictures as you like to keep as memories of your trip to the lovely town of Nakazaki!

Other than the shops that made it into our list, all of Nakazaki's shops - whether situated along main streets or in small alleyways - are trendy as can be, making the town an excellent place for a bit of old-fashioned exploration. It's a great stop to drop by along the way to Osaka or Umeda Stations from other major sightseeing destinations as well, due to its fantastic accessibility from these major transport hubs.

Few shops in Nakazakicho open early in the morning (although Cafe Taiyonoto is open from 9:00 a.m. onwards), so we recommend coming after 12 noon to have a better chance of seeing a wider variety of things. You could start with a tasty lunch, then hang out at a relaxing cafe before going around the general stores in search of souvenirs. Whatever you choose to do, you're sure to enjoy your time in this pretty and peaceful little slice of vintage Osaka.

English translation by: Huimin Pan