Nipponbashi, also known as Den Den Town, is one of Osaka’s underrated neighborhoods. “Den Den” comes from the shortened word “Denki no Machi,” which means electric town. It’s often compared to Akihabara, Tokyo’s electronics and anime district. Even if you’re not into these, Nipponbashi Den Den Town is still worth a visit. It’s the mecca of pop culture in the West of Japan!
If you love fun activities, shopping, and, of course, good food, then this guide is for you. We’ve put together some of the best stuff to do in Nipponbashi to make your stay worthwhile, as well as how to get there. Let’s find out what makes Nipponbashi Den Den Town a must-visit!
How to get to Nipponbashi?
Photo by Steven Marcellino on Unsplash
First things first, let’s figure out how to get to Den Den Town. Just like any place in Osaka, the easiest way to get there is by metro. 🚊
Nipponbashi Station is accessible through the Sakaisuji Line (brown line) or the Sennichimae Line (pink line). If you’re taking the Sakaisuji Line, just walk north from Ebisucho Station or walk south from Nipponbashi Station.
If you’re coming from Namba, Nipponbashi Station is just two minutes away through the Sennichimae Line. In fact, if you’re coming from Dotonburi, Nipponbashi is just a bridge across via the Dotonburi River.
If you’re coming from Umeda, you can take the Midosuji Line (red line) south and transfer at Namba station. From there, everything in Nipponbashi is walkable and within reach.
Things to do at Nipponbashi
1. Explore Ota Road
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Ota Road—short for “Otaku Road”—is the heart of Nipponbashi Den Den Town. This street is lined with anime, manga, and gaming stores, each overflowing with figurines, posters, and collectibles. From Nipponbashi Station, take Exit 5 and walk south until you reach Nipponbashisuji Shopping Mall, which runs parallel to Ota Road.
If you’re an anime fan, this place feels like paradise—you could easily spend hours here hunting for your favorite series merch.
2. Hunt for Vintage Gadgets
Photo from Ryutaro Tsukata on Pexels
Feeling nostalgic? Nipponbashi is a treasure trove for retro tech lovers. You can score classic Game Boys, vintage gaming consoles, and rare retro games. Some shops also stock antique radios and vinyl records, perfect for collectors.
3. Play Gachapons & Claw Machines
Photo from G N on Pexels
You can’t leave Japan without trying gachapons (capsule toys) or claw machines, and Nipponbashi has them almost everywhere. The thrill of scoring a tiny collectible is part of the fun, and they make for easy, budget-friendly souvenirs.
Klook Tip: These toys are small enough to slip into your luggage and cost just spare change—perfect for bringing home to friends.
4. Join the Nipponbashi Street Festa
Photo from Quyn Phạm on Pexels
Every spring, the streets come alive with the Nipponbashi Street Festa. Thousands of cosplayers gather, dressed as characters from anime, manga, and video games. Expect street performances, live music, and plenty of photo opportunities—it’s the most colorful time of the year in Den Den Town.
5. Eat ’til You Drop at Kuromon Market
Kuromon Market is one of Osaka’s most famous seafood hubs. Here, you can feast on fresh sushi, grilled meat, and exotic bites like pufferfish, sea urchin, and octopus. Sweet tooth? Treat yourself to tanghulu (candied fruit), ice cream, or traditional rice cakes.
Beyond food, Kuromon Market is also great for souvenir shopping—pickles, dried goods, textiles, matcha whisks, and Japanese-themed keychains and chopsticks are just some of the finds.
If you want to explore everything the market has to offer, join a Kuromon Market tour!
Klook Tip: Skip sitting down at one spot, eat while you explore! Sampling from different stalls means you get a true taste of Osaka.
6. Go Kart Through Osaka
If walking feels too slow, level up your sightseeing with Osaka go-karting experience. In 1–3 hours, you can zip past Dotonbori, Osaka Castle, Namba, and more—dressed as your favorite character for that extra fun factor. Think Mario Kart, but real life.
Klook Tip: Bring your driver’s license and an International Driving Permit—you won’t be able to join without them.
Nipponbashi FAQs
Is Nipponbashi worth visiting?
Yes! If you’re an anime fan, foodie, thrill seeker, old soul, or someone who just loves to wander, Nipponbashi is a cool and interesting place to check out.
How do you get to Den Den Town?
Take the metro to Nipponbashi Station through the Sakaisuji Line (brown line) or the Sennichimae Line (pink line). Take Exit 5, and walk south once you’re out of the station. Nipponbashi Den Den town begins one block south of your walk.
What is Nipponbashi known for?
Also known as Den Den Town, Nipponbashi is known for being the Akihabara of the west. Here, you can find a selection of electronics and merchandise for anime fans as well as themed cafes. Once a year, the Nipponbashi Street Festa is held here, a large cosplay parade. This is also where Kuromon Market is located, one of Osaka’s best seafood markets!
What is the famous street in Nipponbashi?
Ota Road (short for Otaku Road, meaning “anime fan”) is Den Den Town’s famous street. You can find all sorts of anime goodies here, like manga, posters, figurines, toys, collectibles, you name it. There are also cafes and vintage shops along this street, it’ll definitely keep your eyes busy.
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