Slice of Japan

cafe

“Mondial Kaffee 328 serves lattes made using Osaka’s first Seattle-made Slayer Espresso Machine. Mondial Kaffee 328 uses specialty coffee beans that are roasted at the café’s own roasting facility. It is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious breakfast or lunch, or one of the many desserts.”

cafe

“Monzen Coffee, nestled in Osaka’s Sumiyoshi Ward, is a hidden gem celebrated for its exceptional coffee and inviting atmosphere. They offer a wide variety of sandwiches that pair well with the coffee. Monzen Coffee impresses with its superb food, excellent coffee, and exceptional service, rendering it a must-visit for both locals and travelers alike.”

experience

“Sumiyoshi Taisha has stood watch over Osaka Bay for almost 2,000 years. Founded by the legendary empress-regent Jingū in the third century, it honors four deities... People involved in fishing, shipping, and other maritime industries still come to pray at Sumiyoshi for safe voyages. The shrine offers spiritual protection for the port of Osaka...”

cafe

“SRM Coffee No.2 is a cafe located in front of the torii gate of Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. The coffee beans served are carefully hand-picked and roasted by people with disabilities at an employment support center. This coffee stand is the perfect place to take a break with a fragrant cup of coffee on your way to or from a shrine visit.”

cafe

“Sakimoto Bakery's bread is made using an original blend of flour and a manufacturing method for each type. They have several different locations and bakeries. This one in Abeno offers some breads to take home, or spreads to put on their bread. At the bakeries cafe you can enjoy some freshly baked bread and a coffee.”

outdoor adventure

“Keitakuen garden is immaculate and very relaxing, as well as having more than 200 species of plants, such as Japanese apricot, azalea, iris, water lily and maple, which vary dramatically in every season. A pond in the middle of the garden resembles the ocean with rocky banks and pine trees. The legendary Jihei Ogawa was the designer of this beautiful garden.”

cafe

“"YARD Coffee & Craft Chocolate" is a brand that, as the name suggests, offers coffee and chocolate. Nakatanitei, a renowned French pastry shop that has been popular for over 30 years, opened YARD in the Chausuyama entrance area of ​​Tennoji Park in April 2019. You can enjoy single-origin specialty coffee, craft chocolate, muffins, tarts, baked goods, and more. This is the only place in Japan where you can enjoy Nakatanitei's sweets and Glitch coffee in the same space.”

cafe

“A Korean inspired cafe that has only been open for a few years. It is spacious and relaxing, the perfect place to relax after some shopping in Shinsaibashi. Their sweets are all very pretty and cute, and of course delicious! Also a good place for breakfast, since they open early.”

cafe

“Pan Café Swallowtail is a bakery and café best known for its bread. This petite café is decorated in a pretty storybook aesthetic, complete with white walls, a wooden ceiling and many trinkets on display. Pan Café Swallowtail hosts live-music events and pastry-making classes a few times a month. Its french toast, in particular, is a popular choice, with fluffy bread served with syrup and dusted with generous amounts of icing sugar.”

shopping

“My number one recommendation is this store, called Bom. This store is the perfect place to get a personalized souvenir from your time in Osaka. From keychains, bags and pencil cases, you can decorate them all yourself with the many different kinds of patches. They have Japanese inspired patches, or Korean ones. There are too many to choose from.”

shopping

“If you only have a few hours to go shopping, I recommend going to Orange Street. It is filled with trendy shops, ranging from clothes to accessories. There is something for everyone here.”