Osaka’s vibrant Umeda district is the ideal setting for a day out with kids. Renowned for its accessibility and convenience, Umeda provides visitors with a wide range of family-friendly activities and attractions that are sure to keep hard-to-impress teenagers entertained, and which are also easily accessible for parents of young children with strollers. Best of all, all the activities mentioned are indoors, so your plans won’t be affected by weather conditions!

In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of activities, shops, and restaurants that welcome families, from impressive LEGO^® displays at the Hankyu Brick Museum to hunting for the best gachapon (capsule toys) at the Namco Bandai Cross store.

Umeda Activities and Experiences for Families

Ride the Ferris Wheel at HEP FIVE

One of Osaka’s iconic landmarks, the vibrant red Ferris wheel on the rooftop of the HEP FIVE shopping mall boasts 360-degree panoramic views of the downtown Osaka and Nara Prefecture’s Mt. Ikoma. A ride on the Ferris Wheel is an exciting experience for the whole family from 106 meters above ground!

Each car can accommodate up to four people and one ride takes around 15 minutes to complete – long enough to hold the little ones’ attentions! Riders can also be assured of a comfortable experience as the cars are provided with air conditioning and heating depending on weather conditions.

Strike a Pose with Purikura at Eggnam

A great activity for older children and teens, photo sticker machines involves posing for photographs in special booths to create photographs and stickers that are printed instantly, making unique souvenirs.

At Eggnam, one of the world’s largest print sticker specialty stores, visitors can choose from a wide variety of photo booths to pose infor some fun photo experiences. As an option, you can also take photos in several varieties of cosplay costumes!

Hunt for the Best Gashaponat Bandai Namco Cross Store

Gashapon are capsule toys that first became popular in the 1960s. Vending machines dispense small toys enclosed in a plastic capsule, including popular characters from anime, manga, movies, and video games, as well as animals, vehicles, and everyday objects.

The appeal of gashapon lies in the element of surprise, as the specific toy inside the capsule is usually unknown until it is opened. Gashapon are very popular with children in Japan, and at the Bandai Namco Cross Store, kids can choose from a selection of the latest toys to purchase.

Marvel at the LEGO^® Displays at the Hankyu Brick Museum

Parents and children alike are sure to be impressed by the displays at the Hankyu Brick Museum, located on the first floor of the HANKYU SANBAN GAI shopping mall’s North Building. Here, visitors will be delighted by the elaborate LEGO^® displays, built by Junpei Mitsui, Japan’s only LEGO^® certified professional builder.

The displays include a 50,000-piece recreation of the Arashiyama district in Kyoto which took 400 hours to build and a 40,000-piece recreation of Takarazuka Grand Theater with 800 figures making up the audience and artists.

Umeda Shopping Experiences for Families

Shop for Clothing and Snacks at MUJI

MUJI is a Japanese brand which sells clothing, household goods, and food. The store in Grand Front Osaka is the largest MUJI store in the western part of Japan.

On the second floor of MUJI, parents can shop for children’s clothing, whilst the third floor has a selection of snacks to purchase that the whole family can enjoy. On the fourth floor of the store there is a kids' “space" that you can enjoy with your children,
and when customers need a break, they can relax at the Café and Meal MUJI, a casual family-friendly restaurant with simple yet delicious seasonal dishes.

Search for Your Favorite Character Goods at the Disney Store

In this official Disney store located inside Umeda’s HEP FIVE mall, visitors can find a range of official character toys, clothes, and collectibles. From cute homeware items such as kitchenware, towels and stationery, to plush toys of your favorite characters, likeMickey Mouse, there is sure to be something special to be found that can release the inner child in everyone! Non-Japanese tourists can also benefit from tax-free purchases when presenting their passports.

Build Your Own World at the LEGO^® Store

After admiring the impressive displays at the Hankyu Brick Museum located in the same building, kids of all ages (including the kid at heart) can get inspired to create their own masterpiece by paying a visit to the LEGO^® Certified Store in the HANKYU SANBAN GAI mall. This is an official LEGO^® store, the Danish brand beloved worldwide, which features a play corner to enjoy building with the blocks in-store. It’s a wonderful place to experience the world of LEGO^®, with its broad lineup of LEGO^® branded products, including some you can only find in LEGO^® Stores, a Pick a Brick corner where you can pick out the color and shapes of the blocks you’d like, and more.

Umeda Dining Experiences for Families

Immerse Yourself in the Aloha Spirit at MuuMuu Diner

The wooden interiors and seating booths of this Hawaiian-themed restaurant offer a relaxed atmosphere. A restaurant that families can enjoy together, here, you can get your fill of authentic Hawaiian dishes that have been tailored to suit Japanese tastes. Popular menu items include dishes such as sirloin steak loco moco, fried garlic shrimp, and fluffy pancakes made with buttermilk.

For drinks, patrons can choose from a line-up of Hawaiian craft beers, colorful tropical cocktails, and fresh 100% Hawaii Kona coffee flown in from Hawaii. Children’s highchairs are also available, and the restaurant is non-smoking.

Feast on Italian Style Dishes at Pasta de Pasta

This family-friendly Italian restaurant has an English menu, separate kid’s menu, and highchairs available for the smallest family members. As the name suggests, pasta is the specialty here, with over 30 kinds to choose from, including popular dishes like their Watarigani (Japanese blue crab) cream sauce spaghetti.

Additionally, the restaurant offers set menus, à la carte options, and a delightful selection of desserts. Their pasta is prepared using seasonal ingredients, ensuring there is always a new flavor to try when you visit!

Enjoy Japanese Inspired Hamburger steaks at Hamburger Steak Kitchen Marburg

Japanese meets Western cuisine at this stylishly designed hamburger steak specialty restaurant, which also has a separate kid’s menu available. Their classic hamburger steak set includes a 180g hamburger steak in homemade demi-glace sauce, served with rice, miso soup, and salad.

Diners can also choose from a selection of ‘combo dishes’, where hamburger steaks join forces with popular side dishes such as fried shrimp, croquettes, and fried chicken.

Experience a Kids’ Lunch that Adults Can Enjoy too at Mia Kitchen

This restaurant specializes in yoshoku dishes – Western influenced cooking that has been adapted to suit Japanese tastes. The menu at Mia Kitchen includes a variety of sets pairing items such as hamburgers, shrimp, or fried chicken with bread or rice, salad, and soup.

Dessert items include a selection of parfaits and soft ice cream. A kid’s menu is also available and as the restaurant is located within the food hall, you can be assured of a relaxed and casual dining experience.

*Information in this article is accurate as of the date of posting. There is a possibility that details regarding these products and services have changed, or that some shops have since closed.