A Walk Through Osaka's Coffee District: Six Standout Coffee Shops on a One-Hour Stroll

A guest piece by my friend and collaborator Graham Hill — a writer based in Sapporo who walks the streets of Japan with a coffee cup in hand and a camera over his shoulder. Graham took every photo in this article on his own visits to Osaka. — Kei

The Japanese love coffee, and don't we all — the appeal of caffeine transcends borders. To give you a sense of what you might find for yourself in Japan, here is a street-level view of six supreme specimens of coffee in Osaka.

A Walking Tour of Six of the Best Coffee Spots in Osaka

The central neighborhoods in the biggest cities in Japan are often walkable. Beginning in Osaka's Chuo-ku, wandering into Nishi-ku's Horie district, and then through Dotonbori and Namba into Naniwa-ku, you could sample from (at least) six very different coffee experiences — along a path that could be leisurely walked in less than an hour.

We might start in the center of the center, near Sakaisuji Hommachi Station, and take you one cup at a time, on a route you might take for yourself someday soon.

A Coffee Stand Serving Pour-Over Craft Coffee — Notequal Coffee

You will recognize that you've arrived at Notequal Coffee by the line out front. With a focus on a craft experience favoring high quality over speedy service, each cup at Notequal is purposely made to order.

While there is a seat or two, Notequal is a good place to grab and go. But first, be prepared to wait; as each cup is prepared, it takes time to heat the water, grind the beans, delicately pour over the grounds, and let the brew steep and reach the cup.

With just one barista tucked into a tiny shop, you might stand around for 15 minutes or more to get a taste of what they have on offer.

Preciously Curated Coffee in the Popular Shinsaibashi District — LiLo Coffee Roasters

Strolling about 15 minutes south from Notequal, you step deeper into the heart of Chuo-ku, to the peak of popularity in Osaka's trendy Shinsaibashi district. Shinsaibashi has too many examples of specialty coffee shops to mention here, but a standout that is popular with the Instagram crowd is LiLo Coffee Roasters.

Osaka's LiLo Coffee has some sparse seating, with several staff on hand to herd the traffic and to create one of the most unique coffee experiences in the city. Almost to the level of fetish, LiLo offers layers of coffee specialization.

Along with each cup comes a special card detailing its qualities (notes on the acidity, and on how light- or full-bodied the coffee is). A second card is included in tribute to the barista (like a card for a professional athlete, but with more glitter and sparkle). As you order, instead of asking your name they hand you a laminated placeholder with a cartoon depicting a piece of fruit; as your order is ready, they call out your fruit.

The coffee is above and beyond. At 1,000 JPY per cup, LiLo is not for everyone, and yet the long lines could mean a crowded 20 minutes (at least) just to place your order.

A More Punk and Funky Flavor of Coffee in Chuo-ku Osaka — Streamer Coffee Company

A mere one minute down the street from LiLo lies an opportunity for caffeine from a different cup. Streamer Coffee Company is a Japanese brand that offers an experience that is more casual (and arguably more comfortable), less frilly, and perhaps even more hip.

Situated in one of the coolest blocks in all of Osaka (just two minutes from the grimy Triangle Park hangout), Streamer features hardwood tables and leather chairs — a good place for a conversation with friends, to work for a couple of hours, or to grab a cup to go.

A more spacious setting, street-art stickers plastering the entrance, and the signature display of a series of skateboards on the wall sporting a milky latte-swirl design; Streamer offers a more down-to-earth experience of high-quality coffee and cool-kid community.

Kiwi Influence on Coffee in Nishi-ku Osaka — Coffee Roughnecks

About a 15-minute walk from Streamer, moving west into Nishi-ku, the curious coffee connoisseur will find Coffee Roughnecks — a New Zealand-influenced Japanese coffee shop.

Just the name "Coffee Roughnecks" is a perfect counterbalance to the cutesy curation at LiLo, but the reality is that beyond the preemptory declaration of a series of rules for the visitor ("stay up to 50 minutes for have here"), the shop might be considered a comfortable (if slightly cluttered) neighborhood cafe.

How do we know there is any tie to New Zealand? The operator will tell you if you ask him. But before anyone can say a word, there is a "tree" of the types of coffee drinks at Roughnecks painted directly on the wall: more milk, café latte; less milk, cappuccino; with chocolate, mochalatte or mochaccino. As for the "no milk" options — you can almost hear the "down under" accent when they call them short black or long black. Want an Americano? That'll be a long black, then.

While the streets of Shinsaibashi may attract more teens and tourists, the quieter blocks where Coffee Roughnecks is located can be a more peaceful spot for visitors and locals alike.

Tribal Art-house Coffee Down by the River — Tasogare Coffee

Still in Nishi-ku (for the moment), there is a one-of-a-kind coffee experience that goes beyond a bitter beverage to deliver coffee with an almost fantasy-like flourish.

A rolling cascade of wild wood elements mixed with orangey, organic colors, Tasogare Coffee brings together village-like materials to form an environment straight out of a music festival. In fact, as you poke around inside, you'll find some telltale signs of that "little party in the desert" (if you know, you know).

Layer after layer, an intentionally stoked fire of aesthetic begins at the street and burns through the front doors, up to the counter and beyond, filling the expansive two floors of the shop. Complete with a DJ booth, Tasogare is like a Flintstones-fueled vision of future-past, with faux-rusted analog tech, furniture made from pallets, and textured ceramic cups cradling creamy coffee creations.

While the reputation of its big sister Tokyo claims more acclaim, Tasogare is a fine example of art and soul on the streets of Osaka.

Crossing Through the Dotonbori District of Osaka

As you make your way south from Tasogare and the relatively quiet blocks of the Minamihorie district, you pass through the tightly packed Dotonbori neighborhood — an almost overwhelming epicenter of entertainment and tourism activity in Osaka. For a little something to eat in between cups of coffee, one of the daytime food tours of Dotonbori can be a good first experience.

Continuing south across the Dotonbori river, you cross into the area around Namba Station. The Namba district is one of the most central areas in the city, and has something for everyone. When the trains stop at Namba, visitors stream out in search of shopping at the Namba SkyO Mall, co-working sessions at WeWork, local Osaka cooking classes, food and drink in the Nipponbashi district, and financial transactions in the local high-rise office buildings.

Coffee, Kitchen, Café, and Community — Brooklyn Roasting Company

Exiting the hustle of Dotonbori and approaching the last stop on this exploration, directly beneath the tracks of the JR line you'll find an Osaka shop with an American name.

Brooklyn Roasting Company is an established series of shops in Japan that bring the hipster-era coffee culture to the streets of Osaka. Brooklyn Roasting Company Namba in Naniwa-ku is the central store, with another (more cozy) shop a few kilometers away in Kitahama (on the banks of the Tosabori River).

The Namba Brooklyn Roasting Company store is a large, sprawling shop with the coffee counter up at the head, a sea of seats and community-style tables in the belly, and an active kitchen at the tail end — serving sweets as well as more savory food for breakfast, lunch, and whenever you're hungry.

So Many More Options for Coffee in Osaka

The list of excellent coffee shops on this route could be extended to include so many more.

While the range of coffee presented in this review captures some of the many facets of Osaka's local coffee scene, honorable mentions could include the tiled interior of Mondial Kaffee 328, the more classical Japanese The Roasters Coffee (around the corner from LiLo), the quiet sophistication of Grandknot Coffee, and the fresh-doughnut-fueled B Portland Coffee Roastery.

With a few hours of time and a little effort in the walk, a visitor could create their own local tour of Osaka's best coffee. A thirsty explorer could set up a coffee-tasting itinerary for one very-energized day, or spread out the spots over several days for a more lounging and luxurious chance to taste them all.

About the Author

Graham Hill is a coffee lover living full-time in Japan, where he writes for various publications including OsakaCity.com. Graham walks the streets of cities across Japan with a camera in hand — every photo in this piece was taken on his own visits to Osaka. We're delighted to have him as a friend and collaborator of Japanese Coffee Co., and look forward to more of his city walks in future posts.

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