What other travelers are saying about Tsuruhashi Shopping Street
Amazing place to walk through as a tourist. Tons of shops and food places directly connected to the station in super narrow, semi-roofed streets. However, a lot of shops close fairly early so it has to be visited before sundown if you come for shopping. Feels like the backrooms of Osaka.
Tsuruhashi Market,around Tsuruhashi Station,is a Korean community market in Osaka City of Japan. Right outside Tsuruhashi Station on the JR Osaka Line, Kintetsu Railway, and Osaka Metro Line are hundreds of shops and stalls and restaurants.
We went to Tsuruhashi Shopping Street, which is said to be like a postwar black market. The children who accompanied us were scared of the atmosphere, as it was like a dead end, but there were stores that you could walk through. There were quite a few stores with their shutters down. There were many restaurants, and the signs all had the same menu.
Located at 3-16-6 Higashikobashi, Higashinari Ward, Osaka City, this shopping district stretches in front of Tsuruhashi Station on the Osaka Loop Line.
The name "Tsuruhashi" first appears in the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan). It is the oldest bridge in Japan, spanning the Hirano River. Its name comes from "Tsuru no Hashi" (crane bridge), a reference to the many cranes that would gather at the riverbed after the river dried up.
Tsuruhashi Shopping Street began as a black market that spread in the fall of 1945, shortly after the war.
Tsuruhashi, where the Kintetsu and JR (formerly Japan National Railways) lines intersect, was a key transportation and logistics hub even before the war.
The fact that these railways were spared from devastating air raids during the war is what allowed Tsuruhashi to function as a black market.
Around 1946, several shopping districts were formed, and the prototype for today's shopping districts began to take shape.
With a wide variety of stores selling a wide range of goods lined up, it became common to say, "You can find anything you want in Tsuruhashi."
It is easily accessible from Tsuruhashi Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line, Kintetsu Osaka Line, and Subway Sennichimae Line.
It's been said for a long time, "If you want delicious yakiniku and kimchi, head to Tsuruhashi."
Directly connected to Tsuruhashi Station, this retro shopping district stretches across from the yakiniku area.
It's been a while since I last visited Tsuruhashi Dungeon!
It's always so lively!
The narrow alleys are packed with shops, and even with a map, I still get lost.
No matter how many times I go, I can't figure out where everything connects to where.
I'm always going round and round in circles.
The flashy jeogori shops that used to be plentiful are gone, and the shops have changed dramatically.
I was delighted to find a kimchi shop and a buchimgae restaurant I visited a long time ago.
I bought squid paste and buchimgae as souvenirs.
The makgeolli looks delicious.
Next time, I'd definitely like to visit for a bit of food and drink.
Tsuruhashi is the largest Korean neighbourhood in Japan and serves as a market consisting of six markets and shopping streets with approximately 800 stores. The area is famous for its concentration of Korean restaurants, grocery stores, and specialty shops selling Korean ingredients, cosmetics, and K-Pop merchandise. The area has over 150 shops including stores selling K-POP related goods, Korean miscellaneous items, apparel, and cosmetics, making it a hub for authentic Korean culture in Osaka.
The shopping street is directly accessible from Tsuruhashi Station, which is served by both the JR Osaka Loop Line and Kintetsu Railway (Nara Line and Osaka Line). The market area begins immediately outside the station, making it extremely convenient for visitors. The location in Higashinari Ward places it within easy reach of central Osaka.
Visitors can purchase authentic Korean ingredients including kimchi, seasonings, and traditional Korean food products. The area offers goods ranging from K-Pop merchandise to authentic Korean food to cosmetics. Specialty items include Korean beauty products, fashion items, K-Pop merchandise, traditional Korean tableware, and ingredients for preparing Korean dishes at home. The market is also known for its fresh fish shops and dried goods stores.
It's advisable to avoid peak hours between 7:00-9:00 AM and 5:00-7:00 PM for a more relaxed visit. Weekday visits tend to be less crowded than weekends, which attract more tourists. Individual shops maintain their own operating hours, with many opening mid-morning and closing in the evening. The covered market areas provide shelter from weather, though summers can be hot and humid.
While most shops accept IC cards and credit cards, it's recommended to carry some cash for smaller market vendors. Traditional market stalls and some smaller family-run shops may prefer or only accept cash payments. Having both payment options ensures you can shop at any store throughout the market complex without limitations.
