9 Best Markets in Osaka

Held on the 21st and 22nd of each month, Shi-Tennoji Temple Market can be found in the grounds of sacred Shitenno-ji, one of the oldest Buddhist shrines in Japan. Here, shoppers can peruse stalls selling antique clocks, old-school kimonos and eye-catching porcelain sculptures of mythological dragons.

After you’ve found yourself a keepsake and feasted on octopus dumplings named takoyaki, venture further into the temple grounds to marvel at its beauty. We love the Gokuraku-jodo Garden. It’s inspired by descriptions of the Western Paradise of the Amida Buddha, and features flowering cherry blossoms, cascading waterfalls and a colourful 8-sided gazebo.

A leading tourist attraction that attracts millions, Osaka’s Ikuno Korea Town is one of Japan’s largest, celebrated for its unique cultural drawcards. You’ll love the K-pop shops, cosmetic retailers and street food stalls serving kimchi, shrimp pancakes and japchae, a stir-fried glass noodle dish. Delve deeper into this atmospheric district and you’ll find Miyukimoridai 2 Park, where you can sit under the cherry blossom trees and feed the resident pigeons.

Foodies seeking a hearty meal can head to traditional Korean restaurants like Egao no Buta for samgyeopsal pork belly and Osakaichi for braised short ribs and ginseng chicken soup. If you’re a BBQ fiend, then find the side street outside Tsuruhashi Station, which is dedicated to yakiniku: grilled meat.

The Expo Festival Square Garage Sale is the city’s largest, drawing over 400 vendors with their vehicles packed to the ceiling with all kinds of treasures. Here, professional merchants mingle with artisan traders and amateur sellers, flogging all kinds of used or handmade goods. 

Check the official website for the latest schedules, as the market runs on fluctuating days. The market is held at Osaka’s Expo Commemoration Park, which itself is a major attraction with its 5,000 cherry blossom trees, sculptural pond with rentable paddle boats and 70-metre artwork: the Tower of the Sun.

A sprawling indoor business park, Kuromon Ichiba Market entices with its 150 retailers selling fresh seafood, butcher-grade meats, kitschy keepsakes, Japanese sweets and discount kitchen appliances. Here, you can savour some of Osaka’s tastiest street food under one giant roof including takoyaki and oden, a simmering one-pot dish made with chikuwa fish cakes.

Kuromon Ichiba Market is only moments from Nipponbashi Station, on the Sennichimae and Sakaisuji lines, or a 5-minute taxi ride from the centre of Osaka. Admission is free, making this a budget day out for adventurous foodies who are looking for affordable Japanese dishes in a buzzing retail enclave.

Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shotengai is a 150-metre-long retail street that’s dedicated to cookware, ceramics and state-of-the-art kitchen tools. The city’s top chefs come here for the quality selection of lacquerware, knives and hard-wearing pans, which are equally adored by Osaka’s home cooks. It’s a bright and cheerfully decorated area, so even if you don’t plan on buying anything, you should still come and enjoy the vibe.

Every October, the gastro-focused Doguyasuji Festival delivers premium product discounts, street-side cookery classes and knife-grinding demonstrations. If all this talk of cooking is making you hungry, visit the nearby Harukiya for its freshly made sushi.

One of the biggest cosplay parties in the nation, Nipponbashi Street Festa is an unbridled celebration of Japanese pop culture, anime and wonderful costumes. Every year, in spring, over 200,000 people flock to Osaka’s Denden Town for its annual parade, dressed as their favourite comic book characters and manga heroes.

Denden Town is also famed for its OTT shopping experiences where you can cruise the stores for hours buying the latest electronic gadgets, finding coveted vintage comic books and playing a kitschy selection of gachapon toy machines. Visitors also come here to trade rare Pokémon cards, partake in Magic the Gathering competitions and browse zany wigs and outfits from the many theatrical retailers.

Dotonbori Night Market is an after-sunset spectacle that’s known for its neon lights, flashing billboards and boisterous Kansai street food vendors. Running along the canal in Osaka’s Namba neighbourhood, Dotonbori is an 8-block area that teems with traditional Japanese restaurants and fast-paced food outlets serving everything from yakisoba noodles to hotpot sukiyaki.

After catching a kabuki show at Shochikuza Theater, stroll around the market sampling gastro-curiosities like savoury pancakes called okonomiyaki and mitarashi dango, which are rice balls served with sweet soy sauce. For a sit-down meal, drop by the iconic Kushikatsu Daruma restaurant for deep-fried skewers speared with all things tasty like Kobe beef and Shiitake mushrooms. 

Rain, snow or sunshine, Osaka Christmas Market never fails to enchant with its warming mulled wines, fruit-filled stollen loaves and juicy Bratwurst sausages nestled inside homemade hotdog buns. Inspired by rich German traditions, this festive celebration brings a big slice of Europe to Japan’s third biggest city with its ornaments imported from Seiffen village and its photogenic Christmas trees.

Held in picturesque Tennoji Park, a botanical garden that’s only footsteps from the train station, Osaka Christmas Market is the perfect place to take the family from late November through to Christmas Day. Watch the carol singers, buy charming folk crafts from artisan vendors and try a heavenly slice of honey-sweetened lebkuchen cake.

Just a 3-minute walk from Daikokumachi Station, Kizu Market has been a hub for Osaka's culinary enthusiasts for over 300 years. This lively wholesale market brims with fresh seafood, fruits and produce, making it the go-to spot for both professional chefs and home cooks. Besides top-quality ingredients, the market offers local street food and restaurants.

The vibrant atmosphere buzzes with vendors energetically calling out their offers. Less commercial and touristy than other popular markets, Kizu Market provides an authentic local experience. It's the ideal place to explore Osaka’s culinary roots and savour delicious street food. The market is closed on Sundays and on irregular Wednesdays, so make sure to check their schedule before visiting.