Namba Marui is located right next to Osaka-Namba Station, making it very convenient for shopping or planning a day around Osaka. It features clothing, lifestyle goods, accessories, and a variety of distinctive brands. The overall style is fairly youthful, making it a good place to take your time discovering interesting items. The department store also offers tax-free shopping, but Japan's tax-free system will switch to a refund system starting November 1, 2026, so it may take some time to get used to it after that~
Namba Marui | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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Akama Shrine
This shrine is notable for its vivid vermilion Suitenmon gate, inspired by the mythical Dragon Palace. It enshrines Emperor Antoku, who tragically perished by drowning at the age of eight following defeat in the Battle of Dan-no-ura. Additionally, the site's predecessor, Amidaji Temple, is famous as the setting for the eerie ghost story Mimi-nashi-Hoichi (Hoichi-the-Earless).
After visiting the Nisshin Peace Memorial Hall in Shimonoseki, I still had some time, so I took a walk along the road to Akama Shrine. The bright vermilion Suitenmon gate has a dreamy, Dragon Palace-like feel, and its design is quite eye-catching. I visited in late fall, just as winter was beginning, when the maple leaves had turned shades of red and orange, adding a touch of poetry to the solemn shrine. However, Emperor Antoku, who is enshrined here, has a sad history: in the 1185 Battle of Dan-no-ura, the emperor, only eight years old, drowned at sea along with the Taira clan. Thinking about this history brings a faint sense of sorrow.
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REAL DRIP COFFEE No.12 by Ueshima Coffee House
A new concept by Ueshima Coffee House, a brand that carries on Japan’s kissaten (coffeehouse) culture, REAL DRIP COFFEE No.12 opened in 2019 on the 5th floor of Shibuya Scramble Square Shops & Restaurants. It retains the refined atmosphere of Ueshima Coffee House, while offering an even more evolved coffee experience.
While traveling, I sometimes skip booking hotel breakfast to keep up with my itinerary. Instead, I look for a café along the way, buy a coffee to wake myself up, and get a sandwich to go to fill my stomach. Once, I stopped by Ueshima Coffee House and ordered a latte. The coffee was rich and aromatic, the milk flavor was mellow, and overall it was quite good—somewhere above average. Ueshima Coffee House is a coffee brand owned by Japan's UCC. It combines the charm of traditional kissaten with modern coffee culture, with a particular focus on coffee's rich, full-bodied flavor. The atmosphere inside is also a bit calmer and more nostalgic than at a typical fast-food coffee shop. If you have time, I also recommend sitting down and enjoying it at a leisurely pace.
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Peko-chan
Peko-chan appears on the packaging of Milky, a longtime favorite among Fujiya’s candies. She is forever six, and her name is a Western-style adaptation of beko, an affectionate Japanese term for a calf. She loves sweets and helps spread the word about Fujiya’s treats.
When it comes to classic Japanese snacks, you can't leave out Fujiya's Peko-chan! This adorable girl with pigtails and her tongue sticking out has been part of many people's childhoods and remains a familiar, classic character today. As a child, my favorite treat was Fujiya's milk candy. Its rich milky aroma and sweet flavor still bring back so many memories. In addition to snacks, Fujiya also offers all kinds of Peko-chan merchandise, from desserts to everyday items that are hard to resist. I've visited Peko-chan specialty stores in Fukuoka and Kagurazaka, Tokyo. Every time I see all these cute products, I can't help but stop and look, as if I've rediscovered the happiness of childhood~
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