Hanshin Department Store stands in the Daihanshin Building and is a familiar sight in Umeda having stood on the same site largely unchanged since the 1950s. This is the flagship branch of the Hanshin chain of department stores. Though much of the building is given over to clothing boutiques, it is best known for its basement level food hall, and for the Hanshin Tigers baseball team souvenir shop on the 8th floor.
Hanshin Department Store stands directly across from Osaka Station’s south side
Contents
Fashion
As with most Japanese department stores the bulk of this store is dominated by fashion boutiques, and specifically ladies fashion boutiques which are concentrated on the 1st to 5th floors. However, unlike nearby Hankyu Department Store which concentrates on luxury high end brands, the clothing stores here are more reasonably priced, so this is a good place to look for bargains.
Ladies fashion boutiques can be found on floors 1 – 5
On the 1st floor you will find general fashion accessories, fragrances and a flower shop. On the 2nd floor are cosmetics and ladies shoes. On the 3rd floor are jeans and ladies bags. On the 4th floor are lingerie and small sized ladies wear. On the 5th floor are large sized ladies wear and travel bags.
Men’s wear can be found on the 6th floor
Men’s formal wear, casual wear and general sportswear can be found on the 6th floor.
Other Goods
For interior goods and children’s wear head to the 7th floor. For jewelry, watches, arts, crafts and kimonos go to the 9th floor.
The Food Hall
Hanshin Department Store is best known for the incredible variety of food and drink available in the basement food hall. It can be fun just to walk around enjoying the color and bustle and nibbling (or sipping) the free samples.
A wide variety of food and drink available in the basement Food Hall
Viewing all the Japanese sweets, pickled vegetables, assorted tea varieties, and beautifully packaged bento box lunches will give you a short education in Japanese cuisine. There are also bakeries selling delicate cakes and pastries and popular snack stores selling rice crackers with various savory flavors. Particularly well-known are the “ikayaki” squid pancakes, an Osaka specialty something like a crepe.
Colorful pickled vegetables
In the drinks section you can find a range of local sake rice wine, shochu spirits, Western style wines and spirits, and a pretty good selection of regional craft beers.
A fine array of artisanal ales
Hanshin Tigers Shop
The Hanshin Tigers baseball team based at Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture, have a passionate (almost fanatical) following in Western Japan and a famously intense rivalry with the Tokyo based team, the Yomiuri Giants. The Hanshin Tigers Shop on Hanshin Department Store’s 8th floor sells over 2000 items of officially licensed merchandize with which you can show your loyalty to the home team, including t-shirts, caps, bats, stationary, accessories, and those distinctive stripy uniforms.
The Hanshin Tigers Shop is on the 8th floor
Dining
In the 10th floor Restaurant Plaza you can find Japanese style restaurants selling sushi, sukiyaki, and shabu-shabu style hotpot, Chinese and Italian restaurants, and a Western style grill serving hamburger steaks. There is also a tea salon selling lighter meals, sandwiches, pastries and cakes.
The 10th floor Restaurant Plaza
General Services
There are information desks on the 1st floor and B1 basement level. On the 2nd floor there is a help desk area with a cloakroom, Tax Refund Counter, and Overseas Delivery Counter.
Cloakroom & Lost Property
At the cloakroom you can store items for a fee of 500 yen, but if you spend over 3000 yen in the Hanshin store and bring back your receipt within 3 hours you can get a 500 yen cash back discount. This cloakroom also operates as a lost property inquiry desk.
Overseas Shipping
Hanshin Department Store can deliver your purchases to any destination in the world. Please enquire at the 2nd floor Overseas Delivery Counter about overseas shipping.
Tax Refunds and Currency Exchange
Foreign visitors who are not resident in Japan are entitled to a tax refund on items totaling over 5000 yen on the day of purchase. To claim your tax refund you need to take your receipts and your passport to the Tax Refund Counter on the 2nd Floor.
Foreign currency can be exchanged at the 2nd floor Tax Refund Counter. You will need to bring your passport to make the exchange.
Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is available on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Hanshin Department Store. To access this service you will need to show your passport at the 2nd floor Tax Refund Counter
Redevelopment Plan
A major renovation program for Hanshin Department Store’s Daihanshin Building and the nearby Shin Hankyu Building began in 2015. This program will see the two buildings demolished, rebuilt, and integrated into one complex with a 190m high tower block being constructed on top. The project will be carried out in phases so that the store will remain in operation throughout the construction period which is due to be completed in 2022.
An artist’s impression of the future Daihanshin Building. Image courtesy of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc.
Hanshin Department Store Umeda Location Map
Hanshin Department Store is located directly across from the south exit of Osaka Station and the store’s basement level opens directly onto Hanshin Umeda Station.
Opening Hours
Shops: 10:00 – 20:00
Restaurants: 11:00 – 22:00
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.
