Looking for the best city to live in Kansai? Here's a list of the most popular cities in Kansai to live in! Check it out!
The Kansai region, a vibrant heartland of culture and history in Japan, boasts popular cities that offer a unique blend of traditional charm and modern living.
This guide explores the most sought-after urban havens in Kansai, perfect for those seeking a new home amidst the rich tapestry of Japanese life.
Popular Cities in Kansai To Live in: A Quick Summary
| Popular cities in Kansai to live | Rank based on Popularity | Total Cost of Living (1 person - family of 4) |
| Nishinomiya, Hyogo | 1 | $1201 - $2937 |
| Umeda, Osaka | 2 | $1296 - $3452 |
| Kobe Sannomiya, Hyogo | 3 | $1322 - $3362 |
| Namba, Osaka | 4 | $1296 - $3452 |
Most Popular Cities in Kansai To Live In
Nishinomiya, Hyogo
| Total Cost of Living (including rent) | $1201 - $2937 |
| Cost of Food per person | $416 - $1101 |
| Transport Cost | $117 - $316 |
| Utilities and Rent | $567 - $1015 |
The city of Nishinomiya is located between the cities of Amagasaki and Ashiya, in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan.
Nishinomiya is a city in Japan, halfway between Osaka and Kobe. Having said that, it is considered quite convenient due to its location.
The city is separated into two sections: the northern mountainous area and the southern coastal plain. The ideal combination of suburban and non-urban living.
In other words, it's a good place to live. Transportation, school, work, economy, do more other things, and more additional convenience for a hometown. In fact, Nishinomiya is branded as a city for living, culture, and education.
It is considered a luxury due to its location on the Hankyu line. It also has some stunning natural beauty to explore and appreciate (e.g Shukugawa Park and Nishinomiya Shrine)
Cost:
- Nishinomiya has an average cost of living of $1189, which is close to the global average (ranked 4044th overall out of 9294 cities and 16th out of 907 cities in Japan).
- The median salary after taxes is $2422, which is sufficient to pay for two months' worth of living expenditures (ranked 22nd best city to live in Japan and 329th (TOP 4%) on the list of the world's best places to live.
Other facts:
- Nishinomiya is the 32nd-largest city in Japan and has a population of 487K.
- The Hanshin Tigers baseball club plays its home games at Koshien Stadium, which is also where the annual high school baseball championship in Japan is held.
- It is home to Kwansei Gakuin University, a private university established in the nineteenth century by American missionaries.
- If you like or enjoy exploring anime or manga, Nishinomiya is the setting for the popular light novel, manga, and anime series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and also Grave of the Fireflies!
Namba, Osaka
| Total Cost of Living (including rent) | $1296 - $3452 |
| Cost of Food per person | $420 - $1117 |
| Transport Cost | $262 - $705 |
| Utilities and Rent | $499 - $1073 |
Namba is in the Minami (which means south) area of Osaka.
Namba is a fun spot to visit, perfect for entertainment. It is great for most youngsters or individuals who enjoy shopping and exploring in general! It's a fantastic neighborhood where you can learn a lot about pop culture.
The buildings are captivating, and the night walk you desire will undoubtedly be enjoyable.
Namba Parks complex contains boutiques and East Asian restaurants in a mall with a roof garden, while Den Den Town caters to Otaku pop culture lovers looking for video games and comic books.
Consider it living in a more relaxed version of New York City - in a good way.
Namba is also a good place recommended by its very own residents since it is highly convenient for food, shopping, and public transportation.
The façade of bars and restaurants are interesting to look at, and their interiors are sometimes so narrow that individuals dine and drink while standing next to others and facing the counter.
Namba has a bunch of transit stations that will bring convenience to commuters, therefore very friendly to doing errands on anyone’s busy day!
Namba Station has six different stations: Namba Station on the Nankai line, Osaka-Namba Station on the Kintetsu-Hanshin line, and Namba Stations on the Osaka Metro Midosuji line, Sennichimae Line, and Yotsubashi line, and Namba Station on the JR line.
Cost:
- Family of four: Without rent, the projected monthly costs are estimated at $3,232 (431,218¥).
- Single person: Without rent, monthly costs are expected to be $895 (119,443¥).
- The average daily cost of meals in Osaka is ¥3,001. Based on past tourists' spending tendencies, an average lunch in Osaka should cost approximately ¥1,201 per person when dining out. Breakfast is typically less expensive than lunch or dinner.
Other facts:
- Namba is one of Osaka's two major city centers.
- Hankai Railway Namba Station opened in 1885 and was quickly followed by JR Namba Station, Nankai Railway Namba Station, and Osaka Metro Namba Station, making Namba Osaka's second largest transportation hub.
Umeda, Osaka
Umeda is a significant commercial, business, retail, and entertainment district in Kita-Ku, Osaka, Japan, as well as the city's primary northern train station, and you will likely do some of your shopping while you visit Osaka.
The district's name translates to "plum field". One of the city's two central centers, Kita, which in Japanese means "north," is located across from the Namba (or "south" district).
It's also the terminus of Kansai's famed Hankyu Railway, making it accessible to various regions of the region (including Sannomiya).
Don't forget to take in the scenery from the Umeda Sky Building.
Fun fact: Similar in size to the Arc de Triomphe is the Umeda Sky Building. The Umeda Sky Building, an iconic structure in Osaka, is located in the northern part of the city where the JR Osaka Station, Railroads, and Umeda Subway Station converge.
It has gained worldwide recognition because despite Umeda being a small town, it has its strong connection and hidden tourist destinations.
The major locations to visit in this interesting, bright site in the Kansai area are sophisticated restaurants, tranquil shrines, and numerous stores.
There are lots of fantastic tiny restaurants, starting in both train stations and spreading out to the surrounding neighborhoods in Kita.
Cost:
- In Osaka, Japan, a family of four will spend an estimated 3,232$ (431,218¥) a month on living expenses, excluding rent. Without rent, the projected monthly expenses for a single individual are 89$5 (119,443¥).
Kobe Sannomiya, Hyogo
| Total Cost of Living (including rent) | $1322 - $3362 |
| Cost of Food per person | $447 - $1180 |
| Transport Cost | $196 - $523 |
| Utilities and Rent | $567 - $1134 |
Kobe is the third-largest port city after Yokohama, Japan's seventh-largest city after Kawasaki, and the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture.
Namba is the core of Osaka while Sannomiya, in Hyogo Prefecture, is the center of Kobe.
Sannomiya is Kobe's entertainment district. A perfect place for shopping and eating in Kobe.
Live here to enjoy all that the city has to offer in terms of fashion and style: distinctive boutiques, import stores, patisseries, department stores, and a variety of restaurants.
But it is a struggle to figure out which Sannomiya Station you need to get to because there are a total of six Sannomiya Train Stations. JR, Hankyu, and Hanshin Train are the three principal railway stations. The Kobe subway has two additional stations, and the Port Liner has one.
Cost:
- The average cost of living in Kobe is $639 for a bachelor, $923 for a student, and $1490 for families. It is pricey but one of the most well-liked cities in Japan is Kobe, which is also well-known for its customs, culture, and employment prospects that welcome foreigners and those seeking higher education.
Other facts:
- Kobe which has a population of about 1.5 million, is a component of the Keihanshin metropolitan area that includes Osaka and Kyoto.
- The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which rocked Kobe in 1995 and killed 5,000 people while destroying tens of thousands of homes, also left Kobe in ruins. The Kobe Earthquake Tribute Museum has acted as a memorial to the tragedy's victims ever since it first opened to the public in 2002.
