Nishinari-ku, Osaka
Nishinari-ku is one of the 24 wards of Osaka, and among the poorest territories in Japan. 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 shopping streets, named "shôtengaï". Kamagasaki in Nishinari-ku is home to many day-laborers and most of the homeless people in Osaka.
Social conditions
Nishinari is close to Shinsekai, and west of one of the wealthiest districts of Osaka, Abeno. The district has a historical reputation for being "sketchy and dangerous". At least two designated yakuza groups, the Sakaume-gumi and the Azuma-gumi, are based in Nishinari. The area is currently undergoing gentrification, which has accelerated in 2025 as part of slum clearance efforts. In preparation for Expo 2025, the government ordered the closure of the Airin Labor and Welfare Center, a symbol of Kamagasaki since its opening in 1970.Transport
West Japan Railway Company
- Osaka Loop Line: Shin-Imamiya Station
Osaka Metro
- Midōsuji Line: Dōbutsuen-mae Station
- Sakaisuji Line: Dōbutsuen-mae Station, Tengachaya Station
- Yotsubashi Line: Hanazonocho Station, Kishinosato Station, Tamade Station
Nankai Railway
- Nankai Main Line: Shin-Imamiya Station, Tengachaya Station, Kishinosatotamade Station
- Kōya Line: Shin-Imamiya Station, Haginochaya Station, Tengachaya Station, Kishinosatotamade Station
- Shiomibashi Line: Kizugawa Station, Tsumori Station, Nishi-Tengachaya Station, Kishinosatotamade Station
Hankai Railway
- Hankai Line: Minamikasumicho Station, Imaike Station, Imafune Station, Matsudacho Station, Kitatengachaya Station, Shotenzaka Station, Tenjinnomori Station, Higashitamade Station, Tsukanishi Station
Education
Elementary schools
- Imamiya Elementary School
- Kishinosato Elementary School
- Kitatsumori Elementary School
- Koji Elementary School
- Senbon Elementary School
- Tachibana Elementary School
- Tamade Elementary School
- Tsumori Elementary School
- Tengachaya Elementary School
- Nagahashi Elementary School
- Haginochaya Elementary School
- Bainan Elementary School
- Matsunomiya Elementary School
- Minamitsumori Elementary School
Junior high schools
- Imamiya Junior High School
- Tsurumibashi Junior High School
- Tengachaya Junior High School
- Seinan Junior High School
- Bainan Junior High School
- Tamade Junior High School
High schools
- Imamiya Technical High School
- Nishinari High School
Notable people
- Yoshie Kashiwabara, singer
- Yashiki Takajin, singer and television personality
- Kiichi Kunimoto, mixed martial artist