Located in the western part of the city on the mouth of the Kizu River, Kitakagaya was the hub of Osaka’s shipbuilding industry from the early 20th century until the 1970s. Today, thanks to the joint efforts of local residents and the influential Chishima Real Estate company, which owns large swaths of land in the area, many of Kitakagaya’s former factories and warehouses have been repurposed to house art spaces and artists’ studios.
The walls of the neighbourhood are covered in murals, with striking sculptures, hidden stencil graffiti and illustrated manhole covers adding to the colourful scenery. Kitakagaya, with its many vacant buildings and lower rents, has become Osaka’s creative haven over the past few years, and its strong sense of community spirit has been incredibly inspiring to local artists and makers.
In addition to art hubs large and small, the neighbourhood’s streets are lined with inviting indie shops, eateries and bars, making Kitakagaya both an inspiring and tasty day trip destination. These are our favourite things to do in the ’hood.
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AloJapan.com