Moving to Osaka – Family-Friendly Neighborhoods & Cycling Scene
Hi all,
My wife, 3-year-old son, and I are planning to move to Osaka next year, and we're trying to get a better understanding of the different neighborhoods. We're looking for areas that are family-friendly, have good elementary schools, and offer open spaces for kids to play. We would prefer to live in a house, and not an apartment. Any recommendations?
I also enjoy road cycling and have heard there’s a decent scene in Osaka. Are there any neighborhoods that provide easy access to good hilly riding areas?
Would love to hear from anyone with local knowledge or experience! Thanks in advance.
by eskho
6 comments
Are you looking to live in the city limits or are the suburb cities (Suita, Minoh, Kishiwada) or even further south (Sakai, etc.) also acceptable? How far are you willing to commute and what is your housing budget?
What is your budget OP? as detatched houses are fairly rare in the inner city and you’re kinda forced to look more up north for that (the more expensive part of Osaka typically)
But the good thing about this is being close to the mountains and giving you the hilly cycling you’re wanting.
Hokusetsu area has suburbs in the outskirts of Osaka, has good schools and nice hills for cycling. It’s a bit far from the city (20-30 minutes) which could be negative for many people, for me it’s another plus. For reference,
I commute daily to my job in the heart of the city.
For houses, if you go far enough from the stations, your should be able to find something.
Hirakata has some nice areas. I’m not too sure on the schools but you’ve got a fair bit of nature close by.
Your radius around Osaka could be huge depending on how much commute you can tolerate for date night, eg Kyoto to Shin-Osaka is 24 minutes. Since your kid still has a few years before elementary/primary school, I’d personally spend extended time in different Airbnbs or rentals to really understand the cities/neighborhoods before buying.
If I were raising a family, Tsurumi, Miyakojima are nice family places or inner north or just past the river would be my picks. Everyone recommended very far away places from the centre. Depends what distance you prefer.