Osaka Design Culture

available in various areas

A creative unit – the focal point in design-centered Osaka

Osaka is on par with Tokyo as a place of origin for excellent designs. Many creators working on the global stage work out of Osaka. For about the past 20 years, the furniture and product design studio graf has been active in Osaka. They also run a café, shop, and gallery near their workshop, making it a focal point for culture in Osaka. A variety of superb Japanese products are available in their shop. They often have event fliers and information on other shops available, so you can go there to find out what’s happening in Osaka!

A unique book store with an appealing Osaka-type “heat”!

The culture of Osaka, compared to that of Tokyo, has a type of ‘heat’ to it. That difference is obvious to all Japanese people, with a closeness between strangers and a kind of passion that you won’t find elsewhere. If you’re looking to experience that special brand of Osaka heat, go to the STANDARD BOOKSTORE located at the center of Shinsaibashi, an area popular with the younger generation. This store is packed with elements that make you want to stick around for a long time, a variety of geeky products aside from books including pop-culture goods and a café in the building where you can read books purchased from the book store. Make sure you take plenty of time to come visit this shop. Come experience Japanese culture through books.

Come experience Osaka manufacturing in the suburbs

One more essential brand in Osaka design is the furniture manufacturer Truck Furniture. This brand began in 1997 in Osaka and has many fans in Tokyo as well. They currently have a workshop in Osaka’s Asahi-ku with a café and shop for a comfortable space where they make furniture. This workshop, which took two and a half years to create, is their ideal workspace. The showroom is filled with natural light and the café has good food made from recipes by friends of the staff who are cooks. Although this is about 30 minutes outside of the city, it’s a fun little trip to take.

Shibakawa Building, the newest hot spot

Shibakawa Building has become home to a variety of unique select shops and cafés in the past few years, and enjoys status as the newest culture spot in Osaka. The building was erected in 1927 and still has a façade with a retro of the early Showa era. Each of the shops are appealing in their own way, but a must see is the glass store Ricordo. Each of the beautiful glass objects on display has a depth like that of ceramics. For the past 20 years, the creations of artist Takeshi Tsujino from Glass Studio fresco’s workshop in Osaka’s Izumi City has been popular with collectors from Hong Kong and South Korea. The use of antique furniture in the exhibition space creates a calming space that lets you forget about the hustle and bustle of Osaka.

For reference

graf

Address

4-1-9 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture
Telephone

06−6459−2100
Open

11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Closed

Mondays (Close the following day when Monday falls on a national holiday)
Access

Approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes from New Chitose Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour from Haneda Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes from Narita Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes from Fukuoka Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes from Kagoshima Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 2 hours and 20 minutes from Naha Airport to Itami Airport

30 minutes from Itami Airport to JR Osaka Station by airport limousine bus.
From there, walk for 10 minutes to Subway Nishi-Umeda Station.
5 minutes from Nishi-Umeda Station to Higobashi Station on the Yotsubashi Line.
10 minute walk from Higobashi Station.
Website

http://www.graf-d3.com

STANDARD BOOKSTORE

Address

B1F, 2-2-12 Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture
Telephone

06−6484−2239
Open

11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Open

365 days a year
Access

Approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes from New Chitose Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour from Haneda Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes from Narita Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes from Fukuoka Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes from Kagoshima Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 2 hours and 20 minutes from Naha Airport to Itami Airport

30 minutes from Itami Airport to JR Osaka Station by airport limousine bus.
10 minutes from Subway Umeda Station to Shinsaibashi Station on the Midosuji Line.
5 minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station.
Website

http://www.standardbookstore.jp

TRUCK FURNITURE

Address

6-8-48 Shinmori, Asahi-ku, Osaka-shi
Telephone

06-6958-7055
Open

11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Closed

Tuesdays, first and third Wednesdays of the month
Access

Approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes from New Chitose Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour from Haneda Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes from Narita Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes from Fukuoka Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes from Kagoshima Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 2 hours and 20 minutes from Naha Airport to Itami Airport

30 minutes from Itami Airport to Umeda Sation /Osaka Station by airport limousine bus.
From there, walk for 10 minutes to the Subway Higashi-Umeda Station.
15 minutes from Subway Higashi-Umeda Station to Taishibashi-Imaichi Station on the Tanimachi Line.
2 minutes from Taishibashi-Imaichi Station to Shimizu Station on the Imazatosuji Line.
10 minute walk from Shimizu Station.
Website

https://truck-furniture.co.jp

RICORDO

Address

Shibakawa Building 201, 3-3-3 Fushimi-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture
Telephone

06-6210-3959
Open

12:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Closed

Wednesdays
Access

Approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes from New Chitose Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour from Haneda Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes from Narita Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes from Fukuoka Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes from Kagoshima Airport to Itami Airport
Approx. 2 hours and 20 minutes from Naha Airport to Itami Airport

30 minutes from Itami Airport to JR Osaka Station by airport limousine bus.
2 minutes from Subway Umeda Station to Yodoyabashi Station on the Midosuji Line.
2 minute walk from Yodoyabashi Station.
Website

http://ricordo201.com/