Do you know about Nakatsu in Osaka?
It’s just one station away from Hankyu Osaka Umeda and one station away from the subway’s Umeda. Umeda has undergone significant development, and a new town opening was held in September 2024. Just a few hundred meters north of this new area lies Nakatsu. Despite being only one station away from the bustling downtown, the atmosphere changes drastically. Nakatsu retains the nostalgic feel of an old town, as if you’ve traveled back in time, offering a charming atmosphere.
Let’s take a train and get off at the next stop from Umeda!
Contents
Hankyu Nakatsu Station
This is Hankyu Nakatsu Station, famous for its narrow platform.
On train platforms in Japan, we wait for the train behind the yellow line, but the platform at this station is so narrow that there’s barely enough space for one adult to stand inside the yellow line.
As soon as you get off, you’ll be greeted by a retro landscape. Let me reiterate, it’s only one station away from the bustling metropolis of Umeda.
Now, let’s start exploring!
Nearby Shrines and Museums Around Nakatsu
Toyosaki Shrine
A short walk from Nakatsu station, you’ll find Toyosaki Shrine. Every second Sunday of the month, a market is held there. The market features stalls selling coffee, sweets, and food trucks, and there are also vendors selling natural yeast bread.
You can find handmade crafts and games for children, making it a small festival that families can enjoy together!
Tomishima Shrine
I walked through the shopping street and turned right. After passing the elementary school and a local supermarket, I saw a shrine. This shrine in the residential area is Tomishima Shrine, the guardian deity of this region. I entered the serene precincts through the south-side torii gate. There is a magnificent camphor tree that helps you forget the hustle and bustle of the city. You can feel a surge of energy from the large camphor tree. There are rows of red torii gates as well.
the Namban Culture Museum
Cross the Hankyu Railway overpass, and you’ll find the Namban Culture Museum. This private museum, focused on Namban art, houses the director’s collected works. The museum is only open for two months each year, in May and November, making it a rare treasure. It might not be well-known even among the locals. From the outside, you can see a statue of Ninomiya Kinjiro who was a Japanese agriculturalist and philosopher from the late Edo period.
Shops and Restaurants in Nakatsu
In Nakatsu, there are many highly-rated dining options on “Tabelog” such as curry shops, ramen shops, and bakeries.
Tabelog” (食べログ) is a popular Japanese website that serves as a restaurant review and rating platform.
New Babe
This restaurant is a highly rated tonkatsu place on Tabelog. They use carefully selected pork, cooked at a low temperature to produce beautifully pink tonkatsu. The cutlets are thick and extremely satisfying. The meat is tender, and the fat has a sweet flavor. You can enjoy a luxurious meal with ten different seasonings meticulously selected by the owner, along with rice, lettuce or cabbage, and pork miso soup.
Samurai Jeans
The wooden building next to the shrine houses a popular jeans shop on the second floor. This shop, Samurai Jeans, attracts many customers from overseas. They produce high-quality, 100% domestically made jeans using self-grown cotton. This unique store offers jeans and tabi shoes with samurai and Japanese themes.
Why not take a journey wearing Samurai Jeans?
Cante Grande
There is a curry restaurant located right next to Tomishima Shrine. When you descend the stairs to the basement, it feels like stepping into a forest.
The restaurant has an atmosphere that makes you feel as if you are traveling in an Asian country. Light streams in through large windows, allowing you to enjoy curry and chai while gazing at the greenery.
Nakatsu offers a unique blend of local charm and hidden gems waiting to be discovered. As you stroll from Umeda to Nakatsu, you’ll encounter a variety of interesting spots, from cozy cafes and quaint shops to historical landmarks and peaceful parks.
Take your time to explore the streets, enjoy the local cuisine, and soak in the atmosphere.
