Strolling around downtown Osaka, particularly in Umeda where Hotel Kinki is located, you’ll undoubtedly see many people who are impeccably dressed, sporting all types of designer gear. Everyone looks successful and wealthy, right!?
Whether it’s salary men in sharp looking suits, or fashion conscious youth in designer jeans and big hairdos -- if that’s all you see of Osaka, you may be inclined to believe that everyone in Kansai is living the life.
But it’s not totally representative of the Kansai people.
The next city over, across the Yodo River, lies the industrial town of Amagasaki. Home to a great many warehouses, factories, and other industrial developments, this suburb of Osaka is infamous for being a little rough, rundown and, well, poor.
Amagasaki is a blue-collar town with a lot of pachinko parlors (gambling), drinking holes and cheap apartments. But closer to its major train stations, you’ll also find modern developments that are no different from any other place in Kansai.
Visiting Amagasaki – not a typical destination for tourists – is a great way to mix with the locals and witness some real working class Kansai culture.
Here you’ll notice people with a more relaxed dress code and a louder, more bullish demeanor. You may also find that food, clothing and other goods are often well discounted from prices you’ll find in other parts of Kansai.
Although all three train lines running towards Kobe cut through Amagasaki, riding the Hanshin Line (which lies furthest south) to Amagasaki Station, may be the most interesting destination to visit. Near this station is a large shotengai (covered shopping street) with a nearby red light and pachinko district.
Further north is JR Amagasaki Station. This is a rather large train station, and most buildings near the terminal are newer developments. Stores in the adjacent Cocoe plaza are very reasonably priced. There's also a large electronics store on the other side of the station.
