Sakai, Sennan

From Sakai to the airport, one station town after another

Sakai is Osaka Prefecture's second-largest designated city by population and area, home to the World Heritage Mozu tomb group including the Nintoku mausoleum. Its night venues gather around Sakaihigashi Station on the Nankai Koya line and around Nakamozu, the southern terminus of the Osaka Metro Midosuji line, where snack bars, girls bars and hostess clubs (kyabakura) mix into the station-front restaurant streets.

Further south on the Nankai main line is Kishiwada, a castle town known for the Danjiri festival in September, when the station area is at its busiest. Beyond it, Izumisano is the gateway city of Kansai International Airport, with eating and drinking places around Rinku Town and Izumisano stations. Pick an area from the list below.

Getting there

From Namba, the Nankai main line reaches Sakai, Kishiwada and Izumisano, and the Nankai Koya line reaches Sakaihigashi. Sakaihigashi and Nakamozu are also served from Nakamozu on the Midosuji line. From Kansai International Airport, Rinku Town is the first stop on the Nankai and JR airport lines, with Izumisano beyond. From Tennoji, the JR Hanwa line runs the length of Senshu.

Drinking in Senshu

There are no designated no-touting zones here as there are in Osaka City, but choose venues the same way. Station-front bars cater mainly to local regulars, so check the price board for the hourly set fee and drink charges, and ask at the door if anything is unclear. Last trains run earlier than in central Osaka, so keep an eye on the time.