MIST is a whole house in Osaka for up to 8 guests, about a 4-minute walk from Dobutsuen-mae Station and close to Tennoji Station. Shinsekai, Tsutenkaku Tower and Spa World are a short walk away. This guide covers what to see and eat in Shinsekai, with links to each source so you can check the details before you go.
Shinsekai: Osaka's retro downtown near MIST
Osaka's tourism site describes Shinsekai as a downtown area in southern Osaka famous for Tsutenkaku Tower, Janjan Yokocho and a giant pufferfish lantern sign. Its origins go back to 1903, when the 5th Domestic Industrial Exposition was held in Tennoji.
*Photo: Sakai Yayoi, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons*
More: Osaka Info: Shinsekai.
Kushikatsu on Janjan Yokocho: the "no double dipping" rule
Janjan Yokocho is a 130-metre street in Shinsekai lined with about 50 shops, including kushikatsu restaurants, doteyaki restaurants and go and shogi clubs. Kushikatsu is skewered meat and vegetables coated in batter and deep-fried, and Osaka is famous for its rule against dipping a skewer in the shared sauce twice. Osaka's tourism guide adds that you can eat as much cabbage as you like next to the sauce, and that the ingredients range from beef and shrimp to asparagus, eggs and cheese.
*Photo: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons*
Read more: Osaka Info: kushikatsu.
Tsutenkaku Tower: the golden observation deck and Billiken
Tsutenkaku is a landmark of Osaka and a registered tangible cultural property. Its golden observation platform has a view over the city and a statue of Billiken, said to bring good luck to those who touch the soles of his feet. The first tower was built in 1912, and the present, second tower was rebuilt in 1956 with the support of local residents and stands 108 metres tall. In recent years it has added an outdoor observation platform and a Tower Slider.
Official pages: Tsutenkaku Tower and Osaka Info: Tsutenkaku Tower.
Spa World for a big bath
Spa World's official site presents baths themed on 12 countries, 17 types in all. It is a good complement to a day on your feet in Shinsekai. See the Spa World official site.
Back at MIST: your own sauna and garden
After a day out, MIST has its own electric outdoor sauna and a private Japanese garden, and a tatami lounge with a projector for movie nights. The whole house is yours, with no shared spaces. A few practical points:
- Check-in from 15:00 (late arrival is fine) and check-out by 11:00.
- Up to 8 guests; the bedrooms are upstairs by stairs, with no elevator.
- Every guest registers with a photo ID before arrival, as Japanese law requires.
*MIST's private outdoor electric sauna*
See MIST for photos and details, or check your dates and the full total. When you book on iconhotel.jp, the room rate is 10% lower than on booking sites, applied automatically. You may also like our Tsuruhashi food guide, our winter Osaka travel guide and all our stays in Osaka.
FAQ
How far is MIST from the nearest station?
MIST is about a 4-minute walk from Dobutsuen-mae Station, and Tennoji Station is close by.
Does MIST have its own sauna?
Yes. MIST has its own electric outdoor sauna, used only by your group, with a private Japanese garden.
What is the "no double dipping" rule in Shinsekai?
At kushikatsu restaurants you do not dip a skewer into the shared sauce a second time, according to Osaka's tourism guide.
Is it cheaper to book MIST on iconhotel.jp?
Yes. When you book on iconhotel.jp, the room rate is 10% lower than on booking sites, applied automatically.
