Harbour cities or cities with significant industrial and manufacturing heritage have long been hot spots for street art to flourish. In Japan, that energy is palpable in Osaka, where the scene is wide open and thriving across different neighbourhoods today:

• Konohana-ku, where Mural Town Konohana is featuring international artists in the local environment, turning the ward into a dynamic cultural hotspot.
• Yodogawa ward brings the Yodokabe Festival, curated by none other than Japanese artist iconic BAKIBAKI.
• Kitakagaya, a former shipbuilding district turned art hub, filled with murals, quirky installations, and creative community.
• America-mura, iconic hubs of urban/western culture, home to works like Peace on Earth (1983), Roy Lichtenstein’s Osaka Vicki (1998), and, more recently, murals by COOK, STIK, Invader, SAND NAOKI, BOXER JUNTARO, and Nick Walker, to name just a few.

Here are four cool spots, and there’s so much more to discover in Osaka, Kobe, the Kansai region, and all over Japan! Exploration continues, with more to share along the way.