Korea Town in Osaka

 

Korea…In Japan

If you’re like me, you really love Asian culture and experiencing all facets of it. If you’re hoping to go to Korea but don’t have the funds because you’re studying or traveling here, you can escape to Koreatown as a fun little outlet for the day with friends or even for a date 🙂

Did you know that in Ikuno Ward, you can visit an exciting city known as Osaka’s Koreatown? This place has everything from food to beauty products to fashion that is trending in Korea. Let me tell you about it!

A Little History on Koreatown

Tsuruhashi, where Koreatown is located, was actually a haven for new immigrants, and many Koreans resided there after World War II. Many became vendors of different food and products, and they became known as the Tsuruhashi International Market Federation, which was legalized as a commercial area.

Many Korean people came to Japan during this time, just as there were those who lived there around 1910–1945, and Ikuno Ward became home to generations of Koreans who helped develop the area, local commerce, and culture. You’ll find that many Korean people live there today and that it is the hotspot for anything Korean in Japan.

Ikuno Town and Tsuruhashi

In this section of Koreatown, you will find yourself walking around the Miyuki-dori Shopping Street, which is home to all kinds of pop culture goods. The diversity in this area is wide, and you can feel a sense of community as soon as you go. It is a wonderful place if you are hoping to walk around over 100 different Korean restaurants, shops, and kimchi sellers.

The Tsuruhashi Market is best known for its food culture. It is connected to Ikuno Town and is a part of what makes Koreatown what it is today. You’ll find all kinds of food like yakiniku, tteokbokki, gimbap, chijimi, and more located in this area. Not to mention numerous shops and Korean supermarkets where you can get Korean food for your pantry at a reasonable price.

My Korea Town Experience

Ikuno Town

Meeting

I started by meeting my friend at the huge shrine at the entrance of Miyuki-dori Street. I am ever so grateful that my friend Junko kindly showed me around on this day. She’s familiar with the area and has been there a few times, so it was helpful to have a guide to give me extra information about the area.

Walking

I really felt like a city girl as we walked up and down the street. We took the opportunity to walk all the way down to the very end so that I could window shop and see what I might be interested in before I actually decided to buy it. Between just walking and talking, the walk lasted no more than maybe 25 minutes.

Doubling Back

On the walk back, I knew that I wanted to get some kimchi! I was able to find one vendor that had non-spicy kimchi. As someone who cannot handle spicy food, that meant the world to me.

Eating

We stopped at a super yummy gimbap shop, OGONG. I definitely recommend going here if you are in the mood for some good gimbap. They have so many different flavors for you to try!

Shopping

The clothes were so cute and affordable in this area. I found a nice little shop where they were selling quality clothes for just 1,000 yen! I bought both of the items in this picture. Ikuno Town is the place to go to find unique clothing and clothes that are trending in Korea.

Tsuruhashi Walking

Ikuno Town is super close to Tsuruhashi, so Junko and I took this opportunity to walk off the beaten path a bit and check out some of the shops that weren’t located on the main street. I love that they had places all around for us to explore.

I absolutely loved going around Tsuruhashi! It’s like a fun maze that you can easily get lost in if you don’t make sure to check a map or pay attention to your surroundings. With all of the clothing shops and street vendors, it felt like something out of a movie!

 

Supermarket in Korea Town

I found that out of all the supermarkets, the one in Tsuruhashi was the best just because of the prices and what they offered. As someone who is on a health kick, the dietary and healthy foods that they had really caught my attention at the supermarket.

Overall Thoughts on Korea Town

Korea Town is the only place that sells non-spicy kimchi, so I am definitely going back at least once a month. I really got a sense of Korean culture from being in this area, and I’m dying for more. This is definitely the place to go if you are hoping to try delicious Korean food and shop for Korean cosmetics. That in and of itself made the place very worthwhile to go to, and only staying for 3 hours felt too short.

Happy Exploring Korea in Japan!

 

It was so much fun exploring this area, and I’m so happy that I live in Osaka and can easily travel to this little spot. As someone who is interested in Korea, loves kimchi, and is dying to go to Korea one day, this was so much motivation and inspiration to finally go.

I hope you’re able to enjoy this fun little town. I will catch you in the next article! Until then, stay happy, safe, healthy, and ever so curious about other cultures!

Stay tuned for more exciting content like this! Follow us on our social media platforms and check out our blog regularly to stay updated on the latest news, trends, and insider stories from Japan. Don’t miss out on future updates — sign up for our newsletter for exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox!