Latest news with #Umeda
SoraNews24
21-07-2025
- SoraNews24
These are Osaka's three best digital rail passes for travelers
Unlimited subway rides, free admission to some of the city's best sightseeing spots, and no paper ticket you need to pick up at a service counter. One of the biggest Japan travel sphere bummers in recent years is the price hike for the Japan Rail Pass, which used to be the go-to choice for visitors looking to travel all across the country at an amazing discount. However, Japan still has plenty of awesome and affordable local rail passes, and today we're looking at three for Osaka. All of these are digital rail passes, meaning that you can purchase them online and use them via your phone, with no need to pick paper passes up at a service counter or dig through your wallet to pull them out every time you're going through a ticket gate. First up is the Surutto Kansai Osaka Amazing Pass, and yeah, it totally deserves that grandiose name. This is the pass for you if you want to see as much of the cool stuff that Osaka has to offer as possible. Available in 1-day (3,500 yen [US$24]) or 2-day (5,000 yen) versions, this pass gives you unlimited rides on the Osaka Metro subway network, and also unlimited of the vast majority of Osaka City Bus and Hankyu, Hanshin, Keihan, Kintetsu, and Nankai train lines within Osaka City. How this pass really earns the 'awesome' part of its name, though, is by giving you free admission to nearly 40 sightseeing attractions in Osaka, including some of the city's most iconic spots and activities including the Umeda Sky Building observatory (one of Japan's best 'travel experiences in the sky'), Dotonbori river cruises, Tsutentaku Tower, and Osaka Castle. If you've got a more focused itinerary, there's also the Osaka Metro 26-hour Ticket (1,100 yen for adults, 550 yen for kids) and its more expansive sibling the Osaka Metro 48-hour Ticket (1,800/900 yen). These give you unlimited subway network rides for their periods, and as a nice perk the clock doesn't start running until you activate your ticket for your first ride, so if you're getting an afternoon start to your sightseeing you'll be able to use your pass the next morning too. Being lower-priced, these passes don't get you into places for free like the Surutto Kansai Osaka Amazing Pass does, but they still get you admission discounts of around 10 percent at a number of attractions and museums, including the main keep of Osaka Castle and the Umeda Sky Building observatory. Rounding out our trio of Osaka ticket passes is the Osaka Smart Access Pass (1,200 yen), which combines unlimited use of the Osaka Metro network and free rides on nearby portions of JR West lines, which aren't covered by either by the other two passes. The JR area includes the Osaka Loop Line, Yumesaki Line, and access to Shin-Osaka and JR Namba Stations, meaning it can be used for traveling to/from Universal Studios Japan (and its Super Nintendo World area), which is on the Yumesaki Line. Full purchase details for each pass can be found on the Osaka Metro website here. Source: Osaka Metro Top image ©SoraNews24 Insert image: Osaka Amazing Pass official website, SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Kyodo News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Kyodo News
"Evangelion" Arrives at "animate EXPO 2025 STORE" POP-UP Space from July 18th!
The 8th POP-UP space "EVANGELION STORE EXPO 2025" will be held for a limited time from Friday, July 18th to Thursday, July 31st at the "animate EXPO 2025 STORE," located on the first floor of the Ringside Marketplace West in the "West Gate Zone" of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan venue. The venue will feature must-see items for fans, including "All Episode T-shirts" with large prints of TV anime episode titles, and mugs featuring adorable chibi Asuka. To commemorate the "EVANGELION STORE EXPO 2025" event, a special visit stamp "Yurushito" will be available! Don't forget to get your stamp after enjoying the exhibition and shopping. Furthermore, to celebrate the grand opening of "animate EXPO 2025 STORE," customers who make a purchase will receive an "Eva Store 20th Anniversary × Animate Can Badge" on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, customers who bring their receipt from "animate EXPO 2025 STORE" to animate Umeda store, Osaka Nipponbashi store, or Kyoto store will receive a special postcard. We will continue to share information about the POP-UP space and other latest updates on the "animate EXPO 2025 STORE" official website and social media, so please be sure to check them out! POP-UP Store Information EVANGELION STORE EXPO 2025 [Event Period] Friday, July 18, 2025 - Thursday, July 31, 2025 Note: On Thursday, July 31, the pop-up space will close at 6:00 PM JST Products Information Clear File: EVANGELION STORE 20th ANNIVERSARY [Price] 440 yen (tax included) Emblem Logo Acrylic Block: "Evangelion" 30th Anniversary [Price] 1,320 yen (tax included) Mug: Chibi Asuka [Price] 1,320 yen (tax included) Mug: Chibi Asuka [Price] 1,320 yen (tax included) Korotto Acrylic Figure Collection: Standard Designs [Price] 880 yen per pack (tax included) 8,800 yen per box (10 packs) (tax included) [Varieties] 10 types in total "EVANGELION STORE EXPO 2025" Special Visit Stamp Information [Event Period] Friday, July 18, 2025 - Thursday, July 31, 2025 [Venue] animate EXPO 2025 STORE [Event Details] The "Yurushito" visitor stamp for the "animate EXPO 2025 STORE" will be available for a limited time! After enjoying the exhibition and shopping, don't forget to get your stamp! animate EXPO 2025 STORE & animate Umeda Grand Opening Campaign 1) Postcard Giveaway Campaign Now in progress! [Participating stores] animate Umeda, animate Osaka Nipponbashi, animate Kyoto [Campaign details] During the campaign period, customers who present their receipt from animate EXPO 2025 STORE at the register of participating stores will receive one postcard on a first-come, first-served basis. [Giveaway item] Postcard (3 designs available) 2) Can Badge Giveaway Campaign [Campaign period] From July 18, 2025 (Friday) [Participating stores] animate EXPO 2025 STORE, animate Umeda, animate Osaka Nipponbashi, animate Kyoto [Campaign details] During the campaign period, customers who make a purchase at animate EXPO 2025 STORE will receive one can badge on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, customers who present their receipt from animate EXPO 2025 STORE at the register of animate Umeda, Osaka Nipponbashi, or Kyoto will receive one more can badge as a bonus. [Giveaway item] Can badge (5 designs available) *Customers cannot choose the design of their giveaway item. *The campaign will end when supplies run out. About Store animate EXPO 2025 STORE [Event Period] April 13 - October 13, 2025 [Location] Yumeshima, Osaka West Gate Zone, Ringside Marketplace West, 1st Floor [Operating Hours] 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM JST Related Links (C)COLOR ※Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
Condé Nast Traveler
01-07-2025
- Condé Nast Traveler
The Best Hotels in Osaka, Japan
Osaka radiates an energy that's distinctly its own—part bustling metropolis, part creative hub, part cultural crossroads. Beyond its legendary culinary reputation (yes, there's much more than just street food), the city has evolved into a destination for world-class cocktails, cutting-edge design, and thriving arts, grounded by a down-to-earth spirit that makes it uniquely accessible. The hotel scene has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, with exciting developments concentrated in Kita, the dynamic district surrounding Umeda and Osaka train stations. Today's properties cater skillfully to business travelers, leisure seekers, and families alike—even corporate-focused hotels are now offering elevated amenities and thoughtful perks. Your hotel choice can make all the difference in how you experience the city, so one of the first things to consider is the neighborhoods: Kita offers the perfect balance of variety, convenience, and connectivity—not just within Osaka, but for easy access to Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. Minami's neon-bright Namba and Dotonbori put you in the heart of late-night activity, though crowds of tourists come with the territory. Tranquility seekers will find the Osaka Castle refreshingly calm, with urban highlights and sightseeing a few minutes' walk away. Keep in mind that spring's sakura season brings a surge in demand—and prices to match—so it's best to book several months in advance if you're looking to catch the cherry blossoms. Here are eight of the best hotels in Osaka for your next trip, whether it's your first time to the city or your 10th.
