Introducing Nanoniwa—A Hip New Park Where History and Greenery Meet

Osaka got another new park that just opened in March of 2025. It’s called Nanoniwa and is sandwiched in between Osaka Castle Park and the Naniwanomiya Historical Ruins.

The green space is welcoming and wide open. Visitors can sit down to dine or enjoy a coffee in the park too♪

13 Places to Eat and Drink, Conveniently inside Nanoniwa

Although there are several stations you can use to access Osaka Castle Park, getting to Nanoniwa is a little more straightforward. You’ll want to take either the Osaka Metro Chuo or Tanimachi Line to Tanimachi 4-chome Station. Go out Exit 9 and it’s just about a one-minute walk.

The dining area extends over four buildings—A, B, C, and D.
Among the many highlights are PARFAIT de MERRILY, famous for its parfaits made with seasonal fruit; Sunny Side, a popular bakery from northern Osaka making its debut in the city center; and Craft Burger Co., known for its burgers made with freshly ground domestic beef patties prepared in-house each morning.

You’ll also find restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisines like yakiniku (Japanese BBQ), sushi, and even a wine-focused eatery. Some places open as early as 7:30 am, so this is a great spot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
With so many great options, choosing where to eat might be the hardest part of your visit!

Get Your Fill of Natto—Compare the Different Flavors

Out of all the tempting restaurants at Nanoniwa, the one that caught my eye was “※710 GARDEN (Kome-Nana-Ichi-Zero Garden)”—a restaurant where natto (fermented soybeans) takes center stage!

※710 originally opened as a natto specialty restaurant near Utsubo Park in the Honmachi area of Osaka. This new location at Nanoniwa is their second branch. It’s been updated to explore even more creative ways of eating and enjoying natto.

Osaka people actually have a reputation for not liking natto, but personally I’ve eaten it regularly since I was a child. It’s practically my go-to breakfast. That being said, I’ve never ordered natto before when dining out, so I was genuinely excited to see what kinds of natto dishes were on the menu.

I ordered the “Mame Sansai” set, which includes three varieties of natto over rice, served with small side dishes, along with a luxurious chilled natto pasta.

First I tasted the natto rice bowls! I usually eat my natto simply with dashi (Japanese broth), but these were topped with flavorful ingredients like marinated tuna, red shrimp, and airy grated yam.

The main feature of the dish is the three different types of natto rice bowls.
Each topping paired perfectly with the natto, and the usual strong aroma of fermented soybeans was surprisingly mild and pleasant.

The rice, lightly infused with a special natto dashi, was slightly firm, a perfect texture to complement the natto beautifully.
I enjoyed each bowl on its own, but blending them together might be a good idea too!

Noodles with Natto? And Dessert Too?!?

When I took my first bite of the chilled natto pasta, I was hooked. The fine texture of the noodles and the sticky natto was amazing combined with with toppings like flying fish roe (tobikko), spicy cod roe (mentaiko), and pickled mustard greens (takana). A hint of crunchy pickled plum added just the right touch of tartness.

The combination was so well thought out, I started to imagine, this must be the ultimate version of natto pasta… It just might be!

While I was there, I couldn’t resist trying the Konattou Soft-Serve for dessert. I went with vanilla, one of the three soft-serve flavors—black sesame, vanilla, and matcha. As someone who’s used to eating natto, I honestly didn’t find the natto flavor to be very strong. Still, the soft serve is blended with natto powder and topped with crispy dried natto beans.
That slight stickiness? A reminder of the natto inside!

And the restaurant has a beautiful terrace, so it’s pet friendly. If you’re walking your dog, you can still stop by to enjoy this cafe. And on nice days, why not spread out a picnic blanket and take advantage of the sprawling green lawn.

Experience Naniwa Palace’s Ancient Architecture through AR

Since this area was once the site of the imperial palace, I couldn’t miss a chance to see what was there. And there is an AR experience here that allows visitors to take look deep into the past. Even though the Naniwa Palace existed well before the imperial courts in Kyoto and Nara, and for a shorter timespan, it is still interesting to experience the ambiance of the court that was once here in Osaka.

And if this sparks your interest, head over to the nearby Osaka Museum of History! Plus there are other things to do at Nanoniwa besides eating and drinking. Yoga classes, festivals, and other events are held in the green space her too. Enjoy!