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If you’re new to Osaka and are planning to meet a friend in Osaka, where are the best places to arrange to meet up? Here are a couple of recommendations, if you have others feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll update the post.
In Umeda
Big Man (Kinokuniya Bookstore)
This is a big big tv screen that everyone knows. It is also where the kunokuniya bookstore is so if you arrive early you can browse through some of the English books available. One problem is it is an extremely popular place to meet up so on Friday and Saturday evenings it can be crowded to the point of obsurdity. It is also close to the Hankyu train station so convenient if one or more members of the party is travelling by Hankyu.
Yodobashi Camera
One of the largest electronics shops in Japan. If you are travelling by subway (Midosuji line), take exit 5 and you’ll see it. Best place to wait on someone is close to the main door on B1 or the cafe beside.
In Namba
Takashimaya Department Store
This is close to the Midosuji subway exit number 5. The best place to wait for someone is the ground floor, at the main entrance. You should see the big TV screen of Marui (1010) across the street. It will keep you entertained while you wait.
In Shinsaibashi
Sogo Department Store
Somewhere around Sogo department store is the best place to wait on someone. Either on B1 or, if you have time to kill, the roof garden. You can see a nice view of the south of Osaka from the top.
5 responses so far ↓
1 wh // Mar 22, 2007 at 4:19 am
I totally agree with Big Man in Umeda, I met our mutual friend, Eriko there on my last trip.
I’ll disagree with Takashimaya only because it’s stupid busy there. It’s actually stupid busy in all of Namba so I’d just don’t meet there at all
I will add a spot in Shinsaibashi. It’s pretty much at the end of the strip where The Loft, Starbucks and that big karaoke box place is (where the sadly departed Virgin Record store used to be). I met like 3 different times there and it’s great to watch people from that area.
2 Ian Cheung // Mar 22, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Ah yes, that is a good place. I’ll add it to my list of photos to take to add to this post.
3 wh // Mar 22, 2007 at 2:41 pm
My old neighbourhood of Tennoji is not a bad place to meet. It’s a big junction station with the Midosujia and other subway lines meeting there plus various JR lines.
Also has the huge MIO shopping centre building there as well.
Lots to do in Tennoji (and the neighbouring Abenobashi) itself as well.
4 Papigiulio // Mar 26, 2007 at 12:26 am
Ahh the first one is so right. I always used that bookstore as a meeting point or the front of GEP? ZEP? forgot the name hehe
5 Ian Cheung // Mar 26, 2007 at 12:50 pm
That would be Hep Five. Mad crowded in the evenings but also good.
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