【Picture Guide】Directions to Whity Umeda and The Water Tree from JR Osaka Station

Pictured above is Umeda’s underground Water Tree.

The area around Osaka Station and Umeda Station is one of Japan’s most famous downtown areas, and it’s very complicated, with a high concentration of department stores, stations, hotels, and underground malls.

In particular, the Umeda underground shopping mall is so intricate and labyrinth-like that it is often called the “Umeda Dungeon.”

To brighten your Umeda experience, here is a picture guide for how to get from JR Osaka Station Central Exit to Whity Umeda and The Water Tree.

1. Access to Whity Umeda from the JR Osaka Station’s Central Gate

1. Here is the Central Gate Exit at JR Osaka Station. Let’s start from here.
2. Turn right and go straight towards South Central Gate.
3. Go straight and then go down the escalator.
4. After you get off the escalator, go straight.5. Keep walking straight and continue through a narrow hallway under construction.
6. The open area is the entrance to Hanshin Department Store. Turn left here.7. You will see Hanshin Department Store on the right side. Keep going straight.8. This is the end of the Hanshin Department Store area.9. Then is another open space with many pillars. Veer to the right of this square.10. This is the entrance to Whity Umeda. On the right is Mikke with fashion and sundry stores, and to the left are the North Mall and East Mall with many stores. Go to the left.

11. Continue straight to the center of Whity Umeda.12.This is the center of Whity Umeda. Continuing through the North Mall leads Hankyu Men’s and Hep Five.

2. To The Water Tree

Continue toward the East Mall as pictured above. The Fountain Plaza reopened on December 5, 2019, and features many great restaurants.

Straight ahead you will arrive at the Fountain Plaza. The symbolic Water Tree that replaced the fountain is a popular meeting spot.

The Water Tree, which is designed to look like a large tree, has twinkling leaves that sway under LED lighting. The color of the lighting changes with the time of day, giving the tree a variety of appearances.13. Here is a map of Whity Umeda. The Water Fountain is marked by the red circle on the map. We came from the direction of the arrow.

3. Facility details

4. Summary

The Fountain Plaza was renewed after 50 years and the popular fountain was removed on May 6, 2019. We’ve included images of the old Fountain Plaza because it’s sorely missed!

Before its removal, you could often hear visitors say, “I used to meet here in the old days. This fountain was loved by everyone, wasn’t it?”