Shinsaibashisuji: the main arcade
The covered Shinsaibashisuji arcade is the spine of Osaka's retail geography, running north from Dotonbori toward Nagahori, with Daimaru department store at the top and the canal at the bottom. Mainstream fashion, cosmetics, shoes and gifts cluster thickly along its length, and the covered roof makes it weatherproof year-round.
Umeda: department stores and depachika
Hankyu and Hanshin's flagship stores in Umeda are among the most impressive department store buildings in Japan, with their basement food halls (depachika) worth visiting independently of any shopping intention — they're a dense, beautifully curated cross-section of Japanese food culture, from wagashi sweets to prepared meals to specialist regional imports.
Den Den Town: electronics and anime
Nipponbashi's electronics and anime district is the place for tech, retro games, figures, manga and anything in the otaku category, running for several blocks south from Nipponbashi Station. Secondhand tech and vintage game shops offer some of the best browsing in the city for anything with a plug.
Food gifts: what actually travels well
Osaka-specific food souvenirs worth bringing home: individually wrapped takoyaki seasoning sets and bonito flakes, high-quality instant ramen and miso from depachika, wagashi in vacuum-sealed packaging, and Yoshimoto comedian-branded snacks if you want something purely Osaka. Convenience stores near the airport are also surprisingly good for last-minute, well-priced food gifts.
Tax-free shopping
Visitors to Japan are eligible for consumption tax exemption on purchases above a certain value at registered retailers, including most department stores and electronics shops. You'll need your passport at the point of purchase; the process is handled at a separate counter or at checkout.