Tenma Area Overview
East of Osaka's Umeda district lies the Tenma area, a place where you can glimpse the daily lives of Osaka's citizens. Centered around the Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street, a variety of sights and eateries are concentrated here, offering travelers a unique everyday experience.
The Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street is an arcade-style street stretching approximately 2.6 km from north to south. It's home to over 600 shops and restaurants. From everyday goods stores to old tea houses and affordable izakayas, it's a place where you can observe residents' daily lives up close.
In the evenings, in particular, the atmosphere becomes vibrant with locals and travelers mingling. You can enjoy popular Japanese dishes like ramen, sushi, and yakiniku at reasonable prices. Additionally, around the shopping street, there are attractions where you can experience Osaka's shrine culture and traditions.
Osaka Tenmangu Shrine (大阪天満宮), with 1,500 years of history, enshrines the god of scholarship. Every July, one of Japan's three largest festivals, the Tenjin Matsuri (天神祭), takes place, transforming the entire area into a festive atmosphere. At the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living (大阪くらしの今昔館), you can see the streetscapes of Edo-period Osaka and even experience wearing a kimono, allowing you to directly engage with traditional culture.
Access
From the Airport
- From Nankai Kansai-Airport Station (南海関西空港駅), take the Nankai Airport Line to Tengachaya Station. Then, transfer to the Sakaisuji Line and arrive at Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome Station.
Subway
- Tanimachi Line / Sakaisuji Line Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome Station (谷町線・堺筋線 天神橋筋六丁目 / T18·K11): If you plan to visit the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, Exit 3 is convenient. For Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street, Exit 8 is convenient.
- Sakaisuji Line Ogimachi Station (堺筋線 扇町 / K12): If you plan to visit Kids Plaza Osaka, Exit 2 is convenient. For Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street, Exit 4 is convenient.
- Tanimachi Line / Sakaisuji Line Minami-Morimachi Station (谷町線・堺筋線 南森町 / T21·K13): If you plan to visit Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street and Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, Exit 3 is convenient.
JR
- Osaka Loop Line Tenma Station (大阪環状線 天満): There is only one exit, which directly connects to Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street.
Good to Know
The Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street is an arcade-style shopping street stretching approximately 2.6 km from 1-chome to 7-chome. It is adjacent to several JR and subway stations. Among these, Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome Station (天神橋筋六丁目駅), located at the northern end of the shopping street, is directly connected to the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living via an underground passage, making it the most frequently used by travelers.
Holders of the Osaka Amazing Pass can enter the museum for free. Therefore, we recommend a route where you first explore the museum in the morning, then slowly walk south along the shopping street, enjoying various foods. Nakanoshima and Osaka Castle are about a 10-20 minute walk from the southern end of the shopping street, making it easy to arrange a relaxed day trip.
Meanwhile, the area around JR Tenma Station (天満駅), adjacent to the shopping street, is a hidden gem where you can experience Osaka's authentic local atmosphere. The alleys around the station are densely packed with reasonably priced izakayas and pubs. In particular, old-fashioned local izakayas coexist alongside stylish, modern bars under the elevated railway tracks and along the main street, creating a unique ambiance.
This area is relatively less frequented by tourists. Therefore, it is an ideal spot for travelers who want to experience a quieter and more genuine Osaka night.