Recommended Residential Areas for Foreigners Who Want to Live Near Shinsaibashi

Shinsaibashi is a district located in the Minami area, one of the two main urban hubs of Osaka City. There is a Japanese saying that goes “Ginza in the east, Shinsaibashi in the west”, indicating the district’s status as a highly popular commercial area on par with Ginza in Tokyo. But this also means that Shinsaibashi is one of the most expensive places in Osaka in terms of land prices and property rentals.

If you want to live near Shinsaibashi without breaking the bank, here we list down some recommended areas that provide convenient access to Shinsaibashi Station (located within 30 minutes by train, accessible without transfers).

Tennoji Station Area

From Tennoji Station, you can reach Shinsaibashi Station by the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line in just around 11 minutes. Tennoji Station is a major terminal that is also served by the JR West Kansai Main Line, Osaka Loop Line, and Hanwa Lines. It is connected to the Osaka-Abenobashi Station which is served by the Kintetsu Minami Osaka Line.

The average monthly rent for a studio type apartment near Tennoji Station is 50,000 yen, and 57,000 yen for a 1K or 1DK type apartment. These rates are fairly reasonable considering the ease of access to Osaka’s two main urban hubs of Kita (Umeda) and Minami (Namba and Shinsaibashi).

Around Tennoji Station, there are plenty of shopping centers and food establishments, so shopping and dining can be convenient without having to go to Kita or Minami.

Tennoji used to have an image of poor safety, but redevelopment in recent years has significantly changed its atmosphere. High foot traffic and the establishment of new police boxes have improved safety around the station. The north side of the station is a quiet residential area that conducts neighborhood crime watches.

Nakatsu Station Area

From Nakatsu Station, you can reach Shinsaibashi Station by the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line in just around 11 minutes. Nakatsu Station is situated relatively close to the station of the same name on the Hankyu Railway, but it’s a bit of a walk and there are no free transfers between the stations.

Nakatsu Station is located within walking distance from Osaka Station and Umeda Station, but it has a more relaxed atmosphere that makes it an attractive residential area. There are also several convenience stores and food establishments around the station, but supermarkets are few.

The average monthly rent for a studio type apartment near Tennoji Station is 59,000 yen, which is quite reasonable considering the ease of access to Shinsaibashi and the Kita urban area.

In addition to its cozy atmosphere, the Nakatsu area is also quite safe, with reports of violent crimes being very rare.

Tanimachi Rokuchome Station Area

From Tanimachi Rokuchome Station, you can reach Shinsaibashi Station by the Osaka Metro in just around 4 minutes. This station is served by the Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line and the Tanimachi Line, which provide quick access to both Shinsaibashi and Tennoji.

The average monthly rent for a studio type apartment near Tanimachi Rokuchome Station is 62,000 yen. This is not too expensive considering the ease of access to Shinsaibashi and other major urban centers in Osaka.

Around the station, there are 10 restaurants and 5 supermarkets, including a Don Quijote discount store and one that operates 24 hours a day. There are also several drugstores, so daily shopping for necessities should not be a problem.

Tanimachi Rokuchome is relatively safe, with little reports of violent crimes or even bicycle thefts. The area around the station has high foot traffic and is well-lit, an important factor in its safety. However, many rental properties here are located along the main road, which may be an issue in terms of noise.

Morinomiya Station Area

From Morinomiya Station, you can reach Shinsaibashi Station by the Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line in just around 8 minutes. This station is served by JR West Osaka Loop Line, and the Osaka Metro Chuo Line and Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line.

The average monthly rent for a studio type apartment near Morinomiya Station is 43,000 yen, and 60,000 yen for a 1K type apartment. This is much cheaper than living in Chuo Ward in central Osaka City, or even the adjacent stations of Osakajokoen and Tanimachi Yonchome.

There are not many supermarkets in the Morinomiya Station area, but there is a shopping mall and several convenience stores, so shopping for food and daily necessities should not be an issue. There are also many restaurants, fast food chains, cafes, and other food establishments.

Violent crimes are rare in this area. It is well-lit and experiences high foot traffic. There are also many families living in public housing complexes, so awareness of safety and security is high.

Summary

In this article, we introduced some recommended residential areas that provide direct train access to Shinsaibashi Station in under 30 minutes. Being a popular commercial and business district, living in Shinsaibashi can be attractive but quite expensive. But Osaka has a well-developed train and subway network, so it is fairly easy to find a cheaper area that offers convenient access to Shinsaibashi.

Shinsaibashi Station is served by the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line and the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line. If you want to find other suitable residential areas near Shinsaibashi, you can try searching for properties near the stations along these railway lines within your preferred travel time.