Nishinari

Nishinari is an administrative ward located in the southwestern part of Osaka City. Most of the area consists of residential neighborhoods, with some western sections designated as industrial zones. Nishinari is home not only to Tobita Shinchi, a well-known historic red-light district, but also to numerous sightseeing spots such as Ikune Shrine, believed to grant protection against senility, and Aizuya, known as the original takoyaki restaurant. Until around the Meiji period, settlements were concentrated in areas such as Tamade and Tengachaya, but rapid residential development progressed during the Taisho period due to the ward’s convenient location close to central Osaka. Detached houses and low- to mid-rise apartment buildings are common in the central, southern, and western parts of the ward, while small factories are interspersed in the western areas. Nishinari is also known for the Airin district, an area with a high population of unhoused people and many day laborers without fixed addresses. This district is recognized as one of Japan’s three major “doya” areas, known for inexpensive lodging. In recent years, its affordable accommodation options have attracted a growing number of backpackers from around the world.