Six Sightseeing Spots for the Six Stations in Umeda

"Umeda(梅田)" is one of Osaka's main districts. Most of the locals will agree to that. Umeda is an area in northern Osaka, where many department stores, hotels, and shopping malls are located, creating a lively atmosphere.

The Six Stations in Umeda

Many railway lines gather in this area, and there are six stations: JR Osaka, Hankyu Umeda, Hanshin Umeda, Osaka Subway Umeda (Midosuji Line), Osaka Subway Higashi-Umeda (Tanimachi Line), and Osaka Subway Nishi-Umeda (Yotsubashi Line).

The number of railway stations in a small area can be confusing, so I'll introduce places where you can easily visit from each stations.

1. JR Osaka Station

When you talk about Umeda, this station can't be left out.

The JR Osaka Staion is the largest station in western Japan, and it connects to the JR Shin-Osaka station, where you can board the Shinkansen（Japanese Bullet train）. Also, there are many sleeper trains and express trains that goes through this station.

Grand Front Osaka is the place to visit from here.

The largest multiple-purpose facility in Umeda, it opened in 2013.

It consists of North Building, South Building, and Umekita Square. There are many restaurants and shopping stores, along with various workshops, entertaining people of all ages.

■An oasis in Umeda: "Grand Front Osaka" and the Rooftop Garden of "Osaka Station City."

2. Hankyu Osaka Umeda Station

Hankyu Railway is the owner of this station. You can go to Kyoto or Kobe from here, and many people use this line.

You can visit Hankyu Sanban Gai, a shopping center built next to this station, from here.

There is also a vast underground mall, with restaurants and shops, along with a booth selling character goods, so you should check them out, too.

3. Hanshin Osaka Umeda Station

Hanshin Electric Railway, the owner of the Osaka-based baseball team Hanshin Tigers, known for its zealous fans, owns this station.

From here, Diamor Osaka is the place to visit.

Whity Umeda, an underground mall, is located right in front of the east ticket gate of the Hanshin Umada station. Diamor Osaka, second to Whity Umeda, is also connected to this station.

4. Osaka Subway Umeda Station (Midosuji Line)

The Umeda station of the Midosuji line is owned by the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau. It runs under Midosuji, Osaka's main street, and aptly named after it.

Osaka's subways each has its own line color, and the color of Midosuji line is red, an image of an urban main artery.

You can go to the Yodobashi Camera Umeda from this station.

Yodobashi Camera is a volume-sales store, supplying almost every electric appliance. It also has a restaurant floor, so many people also visit Yodobashi for that reason.

JR Osaka station is the closest to this store, but there's also a direct underground passage from the Midosuji line station.

After going through the ticket gate, take exit 5. It's very convenient in case of rain, or if it's too hot to walk outside.

5. Osaka Subway Higashi-Umeda Station (Tanimachi Line)

The Higashi-Umeda station of the Tanimachi line is also owned by the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau, and it runs through an area with many governmental offices and Buddhist temples. Its color is green, which is the color of "Kesa" a robe worn by Buddhist priests.

Taiyuji is the place to visit from this station.

This is a temple of Koyasan Shingon　(高野山真言） Buddhism, and it is said that Koubou-Daishi(弘法大師), who is also known as Master Kukai（空海大師）, founded this temple. It was ravaged by World War II, and scaled down during the post-war reconstruction. Twenty buildings, such as the main sanctuary, Taishido (a shrine for Prince Shotoku), stupa, have been rebuilt within the grounds, and many people come to this place of worship.

6. Osaka Subway Nishi-Umeda Station (Yotsubashi Line)

Yotsubashi line, which runs under Yotsubashisuji, is another subway line owned by the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau. Its line color is blue, the image of Osaka's vein, in contrast to the Midosuji line's red. It's also the image of the sea, as this line runs along the coastline.

The last recommendation is the Osaka Shiki Theater.

The theater is located on the seventh floor of the Herbis Plaza Ent building. The grand opening was 2005, and many famous numbers have been performed since then.

In the summer of 2014, "The Lion King" was on stage.

And in the End

Umeda is a maze-like area, where even the local people sometimes gets lost.

In this article, the sightseeing spots are alotted to their nearest stations. But Umeda is a compact area, and it's possible to walk to the places mentioned above from any of the six stations.

Information

Grand Front Osaka

Umekita Square Address: 4-1, Ohfukacho, Kita Ward, Osaka City
South Building Address: 4-20, Ohfukacho, Kita Ward, Osaka City
North Building Address: 3-1, Ohfukacho, Kita Ward, Osaka City
Station: JR Osaka Station
*Grand Front Osaka is connected to the staion with passages on the second and basement floors.
Store Hours:
Shops / 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Restaurants / 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Umekita Cellar / 10 a.m.to 10 p.m.
Umekita Floor / 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. (On Sundays and Holidays, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.)
Umekita Dining / 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Panasonic Center OSAKA / 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Payment: Credit cards are mostly accepted
Official HP：Grandfront Osaka

Hankyu Sanban Gai

Address: 1-1-3, Shibata, Kita Ward, Osaka City
Station: Hankyu Umeda Station
*You can also use the Osaka subway Umeda station (Midosuji line). Exit the north ticket gate, and turn right.
Store Hours:
Restaurants / 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Shops / 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Payment: Credit cards accepted
Official HP:http://www.h-sanbangai.com/

Diamor Osaka

Address: Osaka Ekimae Diamond Chikagai #1, Umeda 1-chome, Kita Ward, Osaka city
Station: Hanshin Umeda Station
*Three minutes' walk from the station.
Telephone: 06-6348-8931
Store Hours:
Shops / 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Restaurants / 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Payment: Credit cards accepted

公式HP:DIAMOR OSAKA

Yodobashi Camera Umeda

Address: 1-1, Ohfukacho, Kita Ward, Osaka City
Station: Osaka Subway Umeda Station (Midosuji line)
*Directly connected to exit 5
Telephone: 06-4802-1010
Store Hours:
Yodobashi Camera (from the Second Basement to the Fourth floor) / 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Fashion Floor (from the Fifth to the Seventh floor) / 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Restaurant Floor (Eighth floor) / 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Payment: Credit cards accepted
Official HP: http://www.yodobashi-umeda.com/

Taiyuji

Address: 3-7, Taiyuji-cho, Kita Ward, Osaka City
Station: Osaka Subway Higashi-Umeda Station (Tanimachi Line)
*Seven minutes' walk from the station, located across the Tokyu Inn Hotel.
*Taiyuji is open to visitors, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
*Crdit cards are not accepted.
Official HP: http://www.taiyuji.com/

Osaka Shiki Theater

Address: Seventh Floor, Herbis Plaza Ent, 2-2-22, Umeda, Kita Ward, Osaka City
Station: Osaka Subway Nishi-Umeda Station (Yotsubashi Line)
Telephone: 06-6343-7500
Herbis Plaza Ent Hours:
From the Second Basment Floor to the Fourth Floor / 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Fifth Floor / 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sixthe Floor / 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Payment: Credit cards are mostly accepted
Official HP: Shiki Theatre Company