Many people know Japan for its anime, manga, games, and so on, right? In Osaka you might think that the place to go to enjoy all of these things is Ota-Road… and, well, you’re not wrong. Ota-Road is a great spot to enjoy all things otaku!! Of course, if you’re not as familiar with Ota-Road, we recommend checking out our blog here!
You can see our top picks for where to go. Ookini Hotels Ota-Road Apartment is located smack-dab in the middle of it all–making it a great place to stay if you want to be close to all things otaku. But don’t limit yourself to just Ota-Road–the sky is the limit in Osaka! There are so many places to go to and geek out. If you want more, more, more, well, we’ve got more suggestions for you to check-out during your stay.
First of all, what do you like to geek out over? There are all types of otaku! The most common are those who love: ① manga ② anime ③ idols
This year a study by the Yano Research Institute even proved it! A whopping 6.4 million people answered manga was what got them going, and 5.98 million people said anime, and in 3rd place 2.8 million people answered idols.
That’s a lot of otaku! If you want to grab goods for your favorite anime, manga, or check out your favorite idol group, you are certainly in the right place to do it.
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– MANGA & ANIME –
It doesn’t matter whether you like manga or anime or both, it can be hard to find official goods for your favorite show or comic when you don’t live in Japan, right? So here’s your chance to pick up official goods while in Osaka. If your lucky, you may even be able to get some limited edition items!!
Pokemon came out over 20 years ago and has been wildly popular ever since! Trading cards, game boy, anime, manga–it has covered all fields of media. More recently, Pokemon GO came out in 2016 which brought about a new surge of players, and this year “Detective Pikachu” came out, giving you a vision of Pokemon living in the real world. Whether you grew up with it or just got into Pokemon recently, you don’t want to miss the chance to visit the Pokemon Center in Osaka! Grab official goods for yourself or friends, play in the arcade corner, or see what toy or charm you will get from the gacha capsule machines! Every day the store is bustling with business. If your lucky, you might even go during one of the regularly scheduled events. Every day you can put your skills to the test and battle other trainers with your own Pokemon trading cards.
- Osaka Station – JR Lines – From the central ticket gate, take the central exit – ~5min. on foot - Osaka Umeda Station – Hanshin Lines – ~5 min. on foot from B1 west ticket gate - Nishi-Umeda Station – Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Lines – ~5min. on foot from Exit 1 - Umeda Station – Osaka Metro Midosuji Lines – ~5min. on foot from Exit 8
Opening for the first time in Osaka, “GUNDAM Café Osaka Dotonbori” arrived on the scene in March. This new shop is divided into 2 sections: the cafe area and the take out area. In the cafe area, you can enjoy original Gundam themed dishes–some only available at the Osaka location!!–as well as events tailored for fans. In the take out area make sure to grab original Gundam goods. What’s on the menu? Drinks (alcoholic and otherwise), snacks, and other dishes. You can even buy separately special Gundam themed cups for your drinks. To set the scene, the female staff members are dressed as your favorite characters. So make sure to drop by on your way home from work, school, or just when you have time.
No need to worry about coming up with topics of conversation when you visit OFF-KAi! At this beauty salon you can enjoy talking about your favorite anime and manga while getting your hair cut. That’s not all, in the salon, you won’t hear the radio or find the general magazines you usually hear and see when you get your hair cut. With anime songs playing in the background and plenty of manga or magazines focusing on your favorite anime or games, you can enjoy a full otaku experience while here! Want to try out a hair cut like your favorite character… no problem! OFF-KAi will be your new favorite place to go when you need a cut.
In the same study mentioned before, while there are more people who identify as anime & manga fans–it’s actually idol otaku who spend the most money on their hobby! Between concerts, membership fees, and goods there are so many ways to enjoy and support your favorite idols. Looking to grab your favorite idol’s goods while here? Catch a concert? Or just want to check out what all the hype is about? You’re in the right place!
Some of the most famous idol groups come from Johnny’s… and yet there are only 4 official shops: Harajuku, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka! You won’t want to miss the chance to pick up not only official goods but also limited edition collectible items including photograms and photobooks! That’s not all, you can grab T-shirts, jackets, and more so you can show your support for your favorite idols at any time. You can even grab the same items that your favorite members wear! Please keep in mind when there’s events, long holidays, and other busy times during the year, you may need to get a numbered ticket to enter the shop.
- Osaka Station – JR Lines (Midosuji South Exit) – 6 min. walk - Umeda Station – Osaka Metro Midosuji Line (Exit 6) – 4 min. walk - Osaka Umeda Station – Hankyu Lines (3rd Floor Ticket Gate) – 5 min. walk - Osaka Umeda Station – Hanshin Lines (East Exit) – 7 min. walk
You know AKB48 in Akihabara, Tokyo but there’s also SKE48 in Nagoya, and of course NMB48 in Namba, Osaka! At the NMB48 Theater you can enjoy songs, dancing, and talk events every day. These events last about 2 hours and on special occasions, there may be a chance for a full concert, a chance to shake your favorite idol’s hands or receive their signature. Get up close and personal with local Osaka idols here! It’s a great place to start if you’re interested in getting a taste of what the idol world is all about.
You know about maid cafes and otaku hair salons but we’re going to let you in on the best-kept secret… enjoy nightlife in Osaka at Bar Pixel: a bar just for otaku!
Here you can enjoy your favorite anime songs–old and new–sing karaoke, or play video games, feel free to grab a manga and read a bit. All of this while enjoying all-you-can-drink and snacks with other otaku. Not a big drinker? No worries, soft drinks are available too.
