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Shopping in Osaka

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Osaka Shopping

Osaka is known for its vast underground shopping malls, which, even to the long-term resident, are notoriously difficult to navigate, especially the ones underneath JR Osaka Station. Seemingly the human equivalent of rabbit warrens, the various shopping malls merge with one another along ill-defined boundaries, but the wealth of shops makes strolling a pleasure, especially if it's raining or if you're seeking respite from the heat of summer. Everything from cafés and Italian restaurants to secondhand CD shops, fashionable clothing boutiques, and discount ticket outlets can be found underground. A good place to start exploring these malls is from JR Osaka Station in the northern part of the city or from Namba subway station in the south. Signage is in both English and Japanese in many places, and if you're ever not quite sure of your bearings, all you have to do is pop up to ground level, like some sort of urban submariner. More »