The idol scene in Amemura and Shinsaibashi is heating up! A complete guide to your first "otaku" experience, from attending live shows to taking Instax photos.

Hello! I'm Okajima Ayano, a writer. I'm an idol fan who goes to about 130 live shows a year, and in recent years I've noticed an increase in the number of foreign customers I see at live music venues.

When I talked to them, they would often reply with something stylish like, "Because I heard some good music," and I would always think to myself, "But can you really hear it above ground?" Most live music venues are underground, or even above ground, in secluded areas (laughs).

Jokes aside, I've seen many foreigners who came all the way to an idol concert only to be left confused because they didn't understand the system.

" Same-day tickets ," " drinks ," " band battles ," " special events ," etc.

Even for Japanese people, there's a lot of difficult terminology for first-time visitors. So, with Yoon, a Korean living in Japan, as our guide, we'll teach you how to enjoy idol culture in Amemura and Shinsaibashi, where live music venues are concentrated!

Meet before the concert! Amemura's symbol and meeting spot, "Sankaku Park"

The meeting place for this event is Mitsukoen Park, also known as Sankaku Park , a symbol of the area known as Amerikamura (Amemura), which is home to many second-hand clothing stores and restaurants in Shinsaibashi.

While it's a popular hangout spot for young people from Osaka and tourists, it's also a popular hangout spot for idol otaku, who often gather here before and after concerts. Even Yoon, who's only been living in Osaka for two years and isn't yet familiar with Amemura, found it easy to find, so we decided to meet at Sankaku Park!

There are plenty of restaurants and convenience stores in the area that offer takeout, making it perfect for satisfying a small hunger.

There are many steps in Sankaku Park, so you can sit down and take a break like this. Please make sure to either have the store where you purchased your trash collect it, or take it with you when you leave.

A cafe bar where you can enjoy socializing and the stage, staffed by female college students who love idol dance

About a 3-minute walk south from Sankaku Park, the first place we arrived at was AMASTAGE Namba store !

This is not a live music venue, but a cafe bar where you can casually experience idol culture.

All of the cast members are female university students who love to copy dance idols. " UNIDOL " is a competition to determine the best female university student idol copy dancer in Japan, and only those who have participated in that competition can work at the shop.

This is also recommended for people from overseas who think, "It's too difficult to suddenly go to a live music venue in a foreign country..."

Since we could enjoy chatting while sipping on a delicious drink, we decided to try an " original cocktail (orikaku) " that the cast would handcraft to suit our taste preferences.

It's a common practice among idol fans to line up their Instax cameras in front of their drinks and take photos! They were decorated to match the color of each drink, so they looked great.

Although Yoon seems a little embarrassed about experiencing Japanese idol culture for the first time, he seems to be having fun!

The appeal of AMASTAGE isn't just chatting and taking instant photos...
Does this mean that a female college student who loves idol dancing works there?

That's right, you can have your favorite idols dance to your favorite songs right in front of you! There is a menu called " Request Stage (Rikuste) " where you can request up to the first chorus for 930 yen (tax included) and the full chorus for 1,150 yen (tax included). No reservations are required, so you can discuss song selection with the cast.

There is a stage for Rikusute at the back of the store, and you can watch from the counter seats or the sofa seats nearby. The sound and lighting are also professional.

This time, they will be dancing to AMASTAGE's original song, "A Sweet and Wonderful Story."

Seeing the sharp dance moves and dazzling smiles, Yoon was impressed, saying, "I can't believe this is the quality of university students." It must be special and fun to have them dance to your favorite songs!

*Charge fee (all tax included)
Cafe time 12:00-18:00 / 550 yen (1 hour)
Bar time 18:00-23:00 / 880 yen (1 hour)
1 drink from 660 yen or all-you-can-drink 2,200 yen Women and students get half off the cover charge

What are drink fees? What is a special event? How to enjoy live idol shows

Next up, it's finally time to attend an idol concert for the first time! The Amemura/Shinsaibashi area is dotted with numerous live music venues with capacities ranging from 100 to 800 people.

This time, I visited OSAKA MUSE , a live music venue just a five-minute walk from Shinsaibashi Station. Since it opened as Shinsaibashi Muse Hall in 1987, it has been bustling with band and idol performances every day. I must have been there more than 30 times!

Today's live show is " Kanjo Line Merry-Go-Round 2025 ," a band-versus-band event held mainly on weekday evenings in Osaka. It features a group of " live idols " who primarily perform at live music venues and allow people to interact with them through instant photos and Instax cameras. "Taiban" refers to an event featuring multiple artists, and the term originally applied to bands but has now also been applied to idols.

On this day, Yoon, who was watching Japanese idols for the first time, was introduced to the Osaka-based five-member idol group HIBANA .
This up-and-coming group debuted on October 7, 2024 and is gaining popularity in Osaka, as well as in Tokyo and Nagoya.

And to make Yoon's first idol concert even more enjoyable, we brought some cheering items!

Official idol merchandise and penlights sold at electronics retailers can be priced at 2,000 to 3,000 yen each, making them a bit pricey to buy straight away, but you can actually buy them at Daiso. While they may not have as many colors or last as long, they're still plenty for beginners! Once you've found your favorite idol, show them off with a splash of color!

*Depending on the venue or event, the use of penlights may be prohibited or restricted.

Let's shout and jump! Enjoy freely and safely [Live Edition]

When you arrive at the live house "OSAKA MUSE," head to the reception desk first!

Show the ticket screen on your smartphone (or a paper ticket) and pay 600 yen for the drink .

There are two ways to purchase tickets: you can reserve and purchase advance tickets on the ticket website, which are sold the day before or before the show starts, or you can purchase same-day tickets directly at the live house on the day. You can tell the reception staff that you want to purchase same-day tickets , but if the show is sold out, same-day tickets will not be sold, so it is safer to purchase advance tickets.

Drink charges are required because most live music venues operate under a "restaurant license," which means they are required to provide food and drink. Drink charges also provide valuable revenue to cover the venue's operating costs.

Cashless payment may not be available for tickets and drinks, so be sure to have cash ready in advance.

Also, to prevent large luggage from being bumped into or stolen, it is safer to store it in a coin locker . Many places offer coin lockers starting at 300 yen per use.

Once we were ready, we headed inside the live house! There was a short break for each group to change, and then HIBANA's live performance finally began! Yoon looked a little nervous as everything was new to him in this space.

Even though it was a weekday night, the floor was packed with people and the atmosphere was filled with excitement as people waved their penlights, cheered, jumped, and enjoyed themselves in their own way.

I get the impression that many HIBANA fans have a " let's all have fun together " mentality, and this homey atmosphere was one of the reasons why Yoon chose HIBANA for his first live performance.

Osaka is a city of warm-hearted people , as you'd expect. There are a relatively large number of people who are supporting multiple groups and members, so beginners are very welcome, which is reassuring.

After the concert, take a Polaroid photo with your favorite member and interact with them! [Special Event Edition]

And the best part about being a live idol isn't just the live performances, there are also " special events " where you can interact directly with the members!

Many foreigners don't know about this event and just watch the live performance before leaving... What a waste! If you're going to take the chance, it would be better to actually talk to the fans and take a Polaroid photo, so that you can have a tangible memory! So, we'll introduce the flow of the special event.

Once all the groups have finished their performances, a special event will begin on the floor, so head over to the group you want to see.

*There are also cases where a special event is held in a separate space within the live house during another group's live performance, known as a "parallel special event."

Then, after purchasing a " Cheki ticket " at the merchandise table, you line up in line for your favorite member.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask the staff or customers nearby! A senior otaku will surely be happy to answer your questions.

As I waited nervously, the members who had been on stage earlier appeared in front of me. Before I knew it, it was Yoon's turn.

Whether you can speak a foreign language or not, it's the effort to communicate that makes both parties happy. So, don't worry about the language barrier, just line up for your favorite idol!

Interacting with live idols overcomes language barriers

It was Yoon's first experience with Japanese idol culture. Although she was nervous at first, she smiled and said, "Idols and otaku alike are very friendly!" Before she knew it, she was completely captivated by live idols.

It's not just that they're physically close, but that they can directly connect their passion with each other, which is what makes the stage and the audience shine. Seeing Yoon blend into that relationship made me realize that " live idols really do transcend language barriers ."

They're not just cute. They go beyond cuteness and have a deeper, sparkling passion and love that I was truly happy to receive from them.

We left the venue with a promise to "Let's watch it together again!"

Idol spots in Amemura and Shinsaibashi

In addition to the shops and live music venues we visited this time, there are many other spots in Amemura and Shinsaibashi where you can meet idols and enjoy live music. We'll introduce some of our recommendations!

Live & Bar Shinsaibashi Dear Stage

This is the Osaka branch of Akihabara Dear Stage, which has produced many idols, including the popular idol group Dempagumi.inc. This live show and bar allows you to enjoy live performances by aspiring idols and artists over a drink, and also allows you to interact with them directly and support their growth.

In addition to regular business hours, live events featuring idols and celebrities are frequently held here.

FANJ twice

This live music venue is located right next to Sankaku Park. It hosts solo and battle-of-band concerts by bands and idols every day, so you can drop in anytime you like. It features a high stage that is easy to see from anywhere on the floor.

In addition to drinks, the food menu is also extensive, and in addition to authentic curry rice, they even have a self-service instant ramen cooker! Another great thing about this shop is that you can satisfy your hunger with instant noodles in a convenient bag.

Live House ANIMA

This live music venue is located a 2-minute walk from Sankaku Park. Live band and idol shows are held here on weekdays and weekends. There is a monitor outside the venue, so you can relax and enjoy a drink while watching the live show!

The bar's specialty is the "Missile Beer," an extra-large mug the size of three bottles of beer. They also offer a 1.8-liter pitcher, making it perfect for a lively toast with friends after a show.