Nishinari-ku (西成区) is one of the 24
wards of
Osaka, Japan. It contains some shopping and entertainment areas, such as Tamade. It lies directly south of the
Namba transport hub and extends further south toward
Sumiyoshi Park. It is served by the
Nankai Railway lines as well as the
Yotsubashi and
Sakaisuji subway lines. Nishinari-ku is also home to a number of shitamachi ("lower-town") shopping streets, increasingly a rarity in fast-developing urban Japan.
Kamagasaki in Nishinari-ku is home to many day-laborers and most of the
homeless people in Osaka.[1]
Crime and safety
Nishinari has a historical reputation for being "sketchy and dangerous",[2] but it is currently undergoing
gentrification.[2]
Public elementary and junior high schools are operated by the Osaka City Board of Education. The public high schools are operated by the
Osaka Prefectural Board of Education.