Solo travel from Korea! Recommended sightseeing plan for the Minami area of ​​Osaka (airport arrival day edition)

The Minami area of ​​Osaka is an attractive area where you can enjoy gourmet food and sightseeing. There are sure to be many travelers from Korea.
In this guide, we will introduce a plan for solo travelers to enjoy the Minami area smoothly and safely after arriving at Kansai International Airport.

What is the Minami area?

Osaka Minami (Osaka’s Minami area) is an area that spreads out around Osaka City’s Chuo Ward and Naniwa Ward, and mainly refers to tourist destinations such as Namba and Shinsaibashi. This area is a thriving downtown area in Osaka, and is popular with many tourists because you can enjoy shopping, gourmet food, and entertainment all at once. In particular, the neon streets of Dotonbori and the Glico sign are famous as symbols of Osaka.

Arrival at the Airport: Welcome to Osaka for the First Time

When you arrive at Kansai International Airport, head to the Minami area first. The airport has information counters and multilingual staff, so you won’t have to worry if you get lost. We recommend the following transportation options:

There are two train routes: Nankai Electric Railway and JR. If you’re going to the Minami area, we recommend Nankai Electric Railway!
If you take the bus, you won’t have to push your luggage.

• By train
  • Nankai Electric Railway “Rapi:t”: This is an express train that arrives at Nankai Namba Station in about 40 minutes. You can enjoy the scenery while traveling in a comfortable car.
  • JR “Kansai Airport Rapid”: Direct service to Tennoji Station and Osaka Station. Transfer to the Midosuji subway line at Tennoji Station to access the Minami area.
• By bus
  • Airport Limousine Bus: Take the bus bound for Namba and you’ll arrive in about 50 minutes. Recommended for those with large luggage.

Downloading a map app to your smartphone will make your journey smoother.
Don’t forget to set up your mobile phone and Wi-Fi while you’re traveling.

Arrival times and terminals at Kansai International Airport from South Korea

Flights from South Korea to Kansai International Airport (KIX) are primarily operated from Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Gimpo International Airport (GMP). Flight arrival times vary depending on the airline and flight, but there are generally multiple departures throughout the morning and afternoon.

Regarding arrival terminals, Peach, Jeju Air, and Spring Airlines flights use Terminal 2, while flights of other airlines arrive at Terminal 1.

A free shuttle bus is available to travel between the terminal buildings at Kansai International Airport.

You can check the latest flight schedules and arrival gate information on the official Kansai International Airport website.

Detailed information is also available on the official websites of each airline.

By checking this information in advance, you can plan your travel and sightseeing smoothly.

How to find accommodation: Best places to stay for solo travelers

The Minami area has a wide variety of accommodations where even solo travelers can stay with peace of mind.
If you make a reservation in advance, you can use a map app, but if you are in the Minami area with many accommodations, you can easily make a reservation on the day, so don’t worry. You
can also choose the style of accommodation to suit your travel style.

• Reasonably priced guesthouse
  • If you want to enjoy the local atmosphere, we recommend staying at a private inn or guesthouse. The staff there may be able to provide you with tourist information.
• Comfortable capsule hotel
  • Capsule hotels cater specifically to solo travelers, offering privacy and complete facilities like showers and lounges.
• Hotel
  • If you want to indulge in a little luxury, city hotels and business hotels are convenient. Many of them are found around major stations.

Dining Spot: Enjoy the exquisite cuisine of Minami

The Minami area is a treasure trove of gourmet food. It is one of the leading gourmet towns in Japan and is also known as the “city of gourmets.” There are also many dining spots where you can casually enjoy eating alone. You
can relax and enjoy a meal or go to a cafe alone without any worries.

• Takoyaki
  • The Dotonbori area is lined with long-established takoyaki shops. “Wanaka” and “Takoyaki Douraku” are popular spots among locals.
• Okonomiyaki
  • Choose a restaurant that has counter seats so that even one person can easily sit down. Famous restaurants such as “Mitsuno” and “Senbo” are available here.
• Cafe and dessert
  • Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street and America-mura are home to many stylish cafes that have a similar feel to Korean cafe culture. You can also enjoy Instagram-worthy sweets.

How to check your luggage: Enjoy sightseeing lightly

Sightseeing while carrying large luggage can be a hassle, but Osaka has a wide range of convenient luggage storage services. There are also plenty of coin lockers at stations. Recently, there has also been a service that allows you to store your luggage at a store using an app, and more and more locations are opening up in the Minami area.

• Coin lockers
  • You can easily store your luggage in the coin lockers located at Namba Station and Shinsaibashi Station on the subway.
• Luggage storage service
  • If you use an app such as “ecbo cloak,” you can leave your luggage at a nearby cafe or store.

Nightlife: Enjoying the nightlife of Osaka

The Minami area has many spots that you can enjoy at night. Even in Osaka, the Minami area is more recommended for nightlife than Kita. Of course, there are also many places where you can feel safe traveling alone.

• Night view spot
  • Dotonbori’s neon street and Glico sign are tourist attractions that shine at night. We also recommend taking a walk along the river.
• Late-night restaurants
  • There are many ramen shops and izakaya restaurants that are open until late at night, so you won’t have trouble finding something to eat even if you arrive late at night.
• Bars and cafes
  • Around Americamura, there are bars and quiet cafes that are perfect for solo travelers.

summary

The Minami area of ​​Osaka is full of spots that even solo travelers can enjoy. It is easily accessible from Kansai International Airport, so you can fully experience the charms of Osaka from the day you arrive. Enjoy gourmet food, sightseeing spots, and comfortable accommodations to make your day special. Minami is an area where you can easily plan your next day, and no matter how many times you visit, you will always find something new.