Photo: shikabane taro · CC BY 3.0
About one in four residents of Taishō Ward has Okinawan roots, descendants of workers who came to the spinning mills a century ago. Hirao is called "Little Okinawa".
Why it's unique
Taishō is Osaka's Okinawan quarter, one resident in four per osaka-info. The claim is held at subdivision: Yokohama's Tsurumi is also an Okinawan quarter.
What you do is eat and shop Okinawan in an ordinary ward, ideally arriving by the free ferry from Nishinari.
Before you go
JR Taishō plays the Okinawan song "Tinsagu nu Hana" as its departure melody. In Hirao, the Sanks Hirao arcade has an Okinawan butcher and grocers selling sātā andagi and goat soup mix.
Two eisā festivals run each year (Chidori Park and Hirao Park). Arrive by the free Ochiai-shimo ferry from Nishinari.
