6 Best Outlet Malls in Kansai for Shopping Day Trips


Outlet malls in Japan are sought after shopping destinations when traveling because of the variety of brands they carry and the discounts they offer, especially to foreign tourists. But that’s not all there is in store for visitors of these outlets.

Each outlet has something unique to bring to the table other than just retail therapy like glamping sites and panoramic views of the longest bridge in the country. Below are six outlet malls in Kansai for your next shopping spree:

 

Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets

Inspired by the city of Pasadena in Los Angeles, KOBE-SANDA PREMIUM OUTLETS was built to look like a town, housing 210 shops from local Japanese brands to luxury brands. Over a hundred of these shops are tax-free if the minimum purchase amount requirement of 5,000 JPY is met and a foreign passport is presented upon payment. 

Unfortunately, international cards are not accepted in the outlet. But worry not, because major credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners, JCB and Discover are accepted at most shops. There are also two banks available– Sumitomo Mitsui Bank, which is located next to Food Gallery, and Aeon Bank, which is stationed beside Ciaopanic.

For storage, there are lockers next to Food Gallery for small to large baggage sizes. If your baggage can’t fit the largest locker or if all lockers are full, you may leave your belongings at the Information Center, opposite of Food Gallery, for 800 JPY. You may also rent wheelchairs and strollers for free. Stroller rentals are coin operated so you just need to insert a 100 JPY coin as deposit to release the stroller, and then get your coin upon return.

If the language barrier gets in the way of your shopping, free Wi-Fi is accessible in most areas for your Google Translate needs. But if that’s not enough, just ask any store staff for free telephone interpreting available in English, Chinese, Korean, Portugese, Spanish, Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese.

Address: 7-3, Kouzudai, Kita-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo
Opening Hours: 10:00-20:00 (March-January) / 10:00-19:00 (February)
Website: https://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/kobesanda/
Nearest Train Station: Sanda Station (approx. 20 min by bus from station to outlet)

Read also:

Our Selection of The Top 10 Things To Do in Kobe Japan

 

Rinku Premium Outlets

From the same company as KOBE-SANDA, RINKU PREMIUM OUTLETS is the nearest outlet from Kansai International Airport. It’s just on the opposite shore of the airport and only a six-minute walk from Rinku-Town Station. This time taking inspiration from Charleston in South Carolina for its architecture, the outlet gives off a resort vibe complete with a picturesque view of Osaka Bay. 

For its 20^th anniversary last August 2020, the outlet launched Phase Five – the Sea Side area, featuring 24 additional brands and a new food hall called Rinku Dining. Some of the new additions are the first Alexander Wang boutique, and the only Burberry and Escada shops at any outlet mall in the Kansai area. Rinku Dining is home to the first Panda Express branch in Kansai, too. Now, the outlet boasts 250 stores, making it the largest outlet mall in Western Japan!

But shopping isn’t the only thing you can do here. After its expansion, guests can now go “glamping” by the Sea Side Park in mobile homes called jyubako, a collaboration project between world renowned architect Kengo Kuma and the outdoor Japanese brand, snow peak. 

The outlet also offers the same amenities as KOBE-SANDA, such as free Wi-Fi, free wheelchair and stroller rentals, locker storage, tax-free shops and telephone interpreting in stores.

Address: 3-28, Rinku Ourai Minami, Izumisano-shi, Osaka
Opening Hours: 10:00-20:00 (March-January) / 10:00-19:00 (February)
Website: https://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/rinku/
Nearest Train Station: Rinku-Town Station (approx. 6 min walk from station to outlet)

 

Mitsui Outlet Park Osaka Tsurumi

MITSUI OUTLET PARK OSAKA TSURUMI is easily accessible by subway for visitors who want to go for a quick shopping trip after seeing some of Osaka’s attractions. It’s just 30 minutes from central Osaka. Designed with the Queen of the Night flower in mind – the outlet is circle in shape with shops arranged around a central area with the roof partially open, like flower petals opening up to the sky. The 50 plus stores occupy the 3^rd to 5^th floors of the building, while the floors below are closed to the public to make room for the Osaka Wholesale Flower Market. The Flower Gallery located on the 3^rd floor is open to the public though. 

There are a total of 37 tax-free shops in the outlet including Coach, adidas and Under Armour. ATM machines are located on the 3^rd floor namely Seven Bank ATM and SMBC ATM. Coin lockers are located on the 3^rd and 4^th floors of the building for your storage needs.

Make sure to try the famous hara donuts before leaving. These donuts are freshly made every day with the concept of “eating deliciously and safe” in mind, hence they don’t add preservatives to their products.

Address: 2-7-70, Mattaomiya, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka
Opening Hours: 11:00-20:00 (Weekdays) / 10:00-20:00 (Weekends)
Website: https://mitsui-shopping-park.com/mop/osaka/english/
Nearest Train Station: Kadoma-Minami Station (approx. 5 min walk from station to outlet)

Read also:

9 things to do and see in the Kansai Region

 

Mitsui Outlet Park Marine Pia Kobe

Situated just by the ocean, MITSUI OUTLET PARK MARINE PIA KOBE lets visitors feel like they have been transported to a European port town. It’s around 30 minutes by train from Kobe with a free shuttle bus service from its nearest train station, Tarumi Station, to the outlet. 

There are about 130 stores in the outlet, 59 of which are tax-free. There are three ATM machines located within the outlet – Seven Bank ATM and Saison ATM on the 1^st floor by the Seaport Restaurants and Mizuho Bank ATM on the 2^nd floor by the Factory Outlets East. Coin lockers are located on the 1^st floor of Factory Outlets West and East. 

Take a break from shopping and check out Marine Terrace, where you’ll be greeted with stunning views of Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world. Yes, you read that right! The bridge is 1,991 meters long and connects Kobe city to Iwaya on Awaji island.

Address: 12-2 Kaigan Dori, Tarumi-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo
Business Hours: 10:00-20:00
Website: https://mitsui-shopping-park.com/mop/kobe/english/
Nearest Train Station: Sanyo-Tarumi Station and Tarumi Station (approx. 9 min walk from station to outlet)

 

Mitsui Outlet Park Shiga Ryuo

Address: 1178-694 Oaza Kuzushi Aza Sunayama, Ryuo-cho, Gamou-gun, Shiga
Business Hours: 10:00-20:00
Website: https://mitsui-shopping-park.com/mop/shiga/english/

The only outlet in the Kyoto-Shiga area, MITSUI OUTLET PARK SHIGA RYUO houses over 200 brands from popular Japanese labels to international favorites. Although the outlet is not as easily accessible as the other outlets listed here, a direct bus is available from Kyoto Station during the weekends and holidays. 

About 100 of the shops are tax-free, including Longchamp, UGG, Armani Factory Store and Marc Jacobs. ATM machines are located on the 1^st floor Galleria of the South Mall and inside Family Mart. Free coin lockers are available by the Information Desk on the 1^st floor of the South Mall.  You just need to deposit a 100 JPY coin, which will be returned to you after use of the lockers. 

Recharge and treat yourself with the oldest beef brand in Japan, omi beef, at OKAKI. This beef originates in the Shiga Prefecture and is one of the top three highest grade beef in the country, along with Kobe and Matsusaka beef.

Keep in mind that these three MITSUI OUTLET PARKS don’t have foreign currency exchange available. And if you need foreign language assistance, you may contact the outlet’s call center. The hotline number is printed on the outlet’s floor guide, which can be found at the Information Desk, within the outlet and on their website. 

 

Kishiwada CanCan Bayside Mall

Another outlet located right by the sea, Kishiwada CanCan BAYSIDE MALL is designed to give off the feeling of shopping at a British port city. But that isn’t just what makes this outlet mall different from the others. BAYSIDE MALL is the epitome of hitting two birds with one stone as the building is divided into two areas: an outlet and a mall featuring local brands. 

Although smaller in comparison to the other outlet malls in Kansai, with only about 100 stores including local brands, guests can also enjoy other activities aside from shopping. You can watch a movie, try out bouldering at Kansai’s first international standard climbing wall in Gravity Research, or even take a lesson on skateboarding at Murasaki Sports’ BMX and skateboard park. 

Truly, nothing beats scoring great deals at your favorite brands and at the same time, getting to enjoy the different amenities each outlet provides. Whether you’re in for a shopping spree or just want to look around, a trip to any of these outlets is guaranteed to be worthwhile. 

Address: 2-1 Kogorokucho, Kishiwada-shi, Osaka
Business Hours: 10:00-20:00
Website: https://k-cancan.jp/
Nearest Train Station: Nankai Kishiwada Station (approx. 10-minute walk from station to outlet) 

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for more fun stuff!