Nishinari is a low socioeconomic neighborhood with a humble community. Originally a “dangerous town,” its reputation has since been reformed.
South of Osaka’s famous Namba district is a not-so-famous district known as Nishinari. Just around the corner from Shinsekai, the area was once notorious for high crime rates and poverty. In recent times, Nishinari has drastically improved as far as street altercations go, but it certainly remains one of Japan’s most “ghetto towns” as elements of its past still linger today.
A Close-Knit Community
For a peaceful and quiet society like Japan, Nishinari certainly challenges the stereotype with its rowdy but big-hearted community.
It’s the kind of town where everyone seems to know each other as I often see people joyfully yelling to one another from across the street.
Nevertheless, the low socioeconomic status of the town cannot be ignored, as it’s common to see people in torn clothes and sleeping on the streets.
That being said, there is a vibe of people looking out for each other as shop owners and street sleepers seem well-acquainted.
Dirt-Cheap Accommodation
Accommodation in Nishinari is unsurprisingly very affordable, albeit not the most luxurious experience to say the least.
I stayed at Hotel Beaver for a whole month in the summer of 2023, catching an incredible deal for just 50,000 yen (325 USD) for the entire stay!
It wasn’t a shared hostel either, but an entire room to myself! There was also a hot bath free for guests to use in the common area, as well as green tea dispensers and cup noodle vending machines.
Old School Japan Vibes
Nishinari really is a blast from the past. You walk around feeling like you’ve been transported to 20th-century Japan with mechanical railways and unkept power lines all over the city. The sound of the trains passing through the old rattling tracks is a sound you don’t hear these days except in old movies. It’s also common to hear karaoke being sung at night and sometimes even in the early morning (likely from the same people).
Retro Vending Machines
Fortunately for the poorer folk of this humble little town, food and drink are super affordable, from the restaurants to the vending machines.
I found some coffee cans here that I haven’t seen anywhere else in Japan due to being discontinued, again, giving a “blast from the past” vibe.
They also have drinks that go as low as 50 yen a can, a phenomenon that is impossible to come across in most other parts of Japan.
All-in-all, Nishinari is an experience like no other! For a more “retro” view of Japan that gives you a sense of what the country was like in the 70s and 80s, I highly recommend Nishinari for a budget travel experience.
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