Umeda, Osaka is at the center of Osaka's latest fashion trends. The area around Umeda Station is home to a large number of spacious and unique shopping malls, world-famous brands, and various styles of restaurants and cafés, making it a popular shopping spot for both domestic and international tourists traveling to the Kansai region.

In this article, we'll take a look at some spots where you can take a rest, grab a bite to eat, or enjoy some afternoon tea when you're out shopping. We'll also take a look at some handy coin lockers in the Umeda area where you can leave your bags, and enjoy shopping hands-free!

A picturesque public space perfect for relaxing

Umekita Plaza

Directly connected to Osaka-Umeda Station and one of several locations that've become a symbol of the shopping center GRAND FRONT OSAKA, Umekita Plaza is a public space whose design was supervised by Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, a firm established by the world-renowned architect Tadao Ando - originally from Osaka. The plaza boasts an area of ​​approximately 10,000 square meters and features a water-centric design that blends in with the surrounding environment. The space is a transport center, and also provides a relaxing space with a large waterscape where people can stop on their way to shop or commute.

The water feature in the square has two zones: one with a stepping stone design, the other with a cascade of water that flows from the plaza level to underground. These features create dynamic scenery that shifts with the lighting and time of day, all with the oriental Zen spirit unique to Tadao Ando's architecture. The waterfall also helps to block out the traffic noise around Osaka Station, providing a soothing space.

TAMLO

Marked by its red ferris wheel, the shopping mall HEP FIVE is a popular hangout spot for young people in Osaka. In 2023, it's 7th floor was reopened as TAMLO, a new food floor and stylish rest space.

Here you can find fourteen of the latest and trendiest cafés and restaurants, divided amongst different themed zones: one that'll make you think of a luxury hotel lobby, one spacious and relaxing, one bursting with cuteness, and more! It's a popular spot where you can enjoy trendy sweets, drinks, and food, and also have fun taking and posting photos.

There are three sweets from TAMLO that we would especially like to recommend. First, the very eye-catching waffles from PINK WOO WAFFLE. Surrounded by varying shades of pink, you'll feel like a princess while you enjoy the cute presentation and the crispy, fluffy texture of the waffles.

Next, you'll want to check out coucou churros, a churros restaurant where you can enjoy the dipping churros that are so popular in Korea! The churros here are deep-fried to order, so you can enjoy them while they're hot, and savor a variety of textures with the combo of rich chocolate sauce and ice cream. There's also cafe&bar HUSH, which looks like a Parisian street corner café during the day, and at night transforms into a stylish and romantic bar.

3 cafés perfect for a rest between shopping

SOHOLM CAFE+DINING: A simple and clean Scandinavian-style café

The “SO” in the name of SOHOLM CAFE means “lake” in Danish, and “HOLM” means “a small island in a river." As the name suggests, when you visit this café, you'll be able to enjoy a relaxing dining experience, almost as if you were in a cabin by a Scandinavian lake.

The café interior is stylish and simple, with high ceilings and large glass windows that flood the restaurant with natural light, brightening the mood from the moment you enter. The dining environment and menu also have a distinctive Nordic aesthetic.

At lunchtime, you can enjoy a main dish with the salad buffet. Make sure not to miss Sønderholm's Special Meatballs, a traditional Scandinavian dish.

The desserts at SOHOLM CAFE are not only delicious, but also beautiful to look at! And since they're served all day while the café is open, you can satisfy your sweet tooth anytime. There are two types of waffles served here: European-style croffles and American-style pancakes. The croffles are crispy, and having them with a combination of fresh chocolate cream and ice cream is especially popular.

During dinner time, the restaurant offers an all-you-can-drink plan with 50 different drinks. You can also sit in the open terrace, where the shadows of swaying trees and the dim lighting create a romantic atmosphere.

Saint Marc Cafe +R, known for its super popular chocolate croissant

Saint Marc Cafe is a well-known café chain in Japan that offers a wide variety of freshly baked breads and coffee, the most popular of which is the "Choco-kuro" (chocolate croissant).

This time, we'd like to recommend you try out the Saint Marc Cafe+R in Diamor Osaka, one of Umeda's shopping malls. The "R" represents three meanings: [a little] rich, relax, and rhythm [of the everyday].

You'll find that little bit of "rich"-ness, or luxury, in the bright, spacious, and relaxing interior, made with a stylish and sophisticated design to create the best possible experience for its customers. With the café's signature menu item, the "choco kuro," or chocolate croissant, you can enjoy a gentle sweetness and plenty of crispiness. You should also be sure to try the Premium Choco-kuro D'amande, which has a large chocolate filling, and is topped with sliced almonds and almond cream, all baked to crispy, fragrant perfection. Crunchy, aromatic, and not too sweet, you'll be surprised at how delicious it is! The store also offers limited-time flavors depending on the season, and menu items are available both in-store and for take-out.

Convenience and quality at WIRED CAFE

WIRED CAFE is a café chain operated by CAFE COMPANY, and has high standards for the selection of coffee beans. The wooden interior of the Osaka Chayamachi location has a very textured feel, and the warm lighting and natural light coming in through the large 90-degree windows create a calm, but bright ambiance. This is what's made it such a favorite amongst Osaka locals for so many years.

The café has both sofa and table seating, so you can relax wherever you sit. It is the perfect place to relax after a long day of sightseeing or shopping! You can enjoy more than just coffee at WIRED CAFE, too: the menu is extensive, and lunch is especially popular. Try the Loco Moco Bowl or the Negitoro Ontama Bowl for a meal with plenty of veggies and meat. You can choose a la carte items or set menu items.

If you like dessert, try the amazingly delicious French toast. There are also plenty of drinks to choose from, including original juices, coffee, tea, and craft cocktails.

Make shopping easier and more convenient! Use these handy coin lockers near Osaka-Umeda Station

The area around Osaka-Umeda Station is a shopping paradise! If you're not careful, though, you may end up with a lot of baggage to carry around. To enjoy shopping empty-handed, first leave your suitcases and luggage in a coin locker.

GRAND FRONT OSAKA SHOPS & RESTAURANTS (South Building B1F)

There are small- and medium-sized coin lockers, as well as refrigerated lockers (cash only) on the basement floor of the South Building of GRAND FRONT OSAKA. If you've purchased souvenirs like pudding or cheese that need to be kept cold, you can leave them here and go on shopping or sightseeing at your leisure.

The lockers are also available early in the morning and late at night, so they're very convenient for travelers. Lockers cost about 300-400 yen for a day's use, but there are no money-changing machines onsite, and coin lockers don't give change, so be sure to bring the right amount of change with you.

HANKYU SANBAN GAI (South Building 1st & 2nd floors, North Building 1st floor)

Directly connected to Hankyu Osaka-umeda Station, HANKYU SANBAN GAI is a great spot for shopping and dining. You can find a wide range of coin lockers in small, medium, and large sizes on the first and second floors of the South Building, and on the first floor of the North Building. Prices for the lockers range from approximately 300 to 800 yen.

The lockers here are decoration with rabbits, horses, owls, and other animal stickers to make each one easily identifiable for non-Japanese speaking tourists, so you won't need to worry about forgetting which area you left your luggage in. In addition to cash, you can also pay for using these lockers with transportation IC cards.

*There is a possibility that the sticker design will be changed in the future.

Travelers to Kansai flock to Osaka's Umeda area for its shopping, and there's plenty to enjoy, even just around the station. Just be sure to take a break as you shop! We've taken a look at three rest spots very close to Osaka-Umeda Station here: Umekita Plaza, a spacious public space; the trendy TAMLO Food Hall, and several cafés where you can relax and enjoy some delicious meals and desserts. Don't forget to make use of the coin lockers for an even more comfortable and convenient Osaka shopping experience!

For more details on how to get to Umeda, see here.

For more information on Umeda, check out some of our Trip Ideas.

*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.