Kansai International Airport is the gateway to the skies of Osaka. The area surrounding Rinku Town at the end of the connecting bridge is dotted with facilities for shopping and leisure, offering enjoyments that differ from those of the commercial district. Here we introduce the Sunday morning market at Tajiri Gyoko, where fresh seafood is on offer, and Cafe Ku-on, a place to rest at ease among nature while enjoying delicious dishes.

Tajiri Gyoko is located about a kilometer south of Rinku Premium Outlets, the largest outlet mall in western Japan. The port is known as Japan’s first fishing port to be certified as a Sea Station facility.

Every Sunday, a morning market welcomes the general public. Between 7 a.m. to noon, about 40 vendors open shop. The market draws crowds from opening, with some shops selling out and closing as early as 10 a.m.

The prices here are amazing. Prices vary by time of year, but on one morning at the market, the outstandingly fresh seafood included conger eel for 300 yen apiece, jumbo Japanese Spanish mackerel for 1,000 yen, and servings of bigeye flathead for 300 yen, all prices unthinkable at the supermarket. Visitors are drawn from afar by these great deals, and shoppers with ice boxes can often be seen in the venue.

Shops sell not only fresh fish but also vegetables and deli side dishes. Stalls offer tempura, Korean cooking, and more. Takoyaki Jo-o is a must-try establishment. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, their takoyaki’s exquisite texture has made it so popular that purchase requires a reservation.

In addition to the Sunday morning market, activities at Tajiri Gyoko include fishing experiences, all-you-can-eat oysters, barbecuing, and cruising. This makes the port the perfect facility for anyone wanting to casually enjoy marine leisure activities.

Tajiri Gyoko

Address: 1 Rinku Port Kita, Tajiri-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka-fu

Google map

Hours: 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; morning market every Sunday 7:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Closed: Tuesdays
Phone number: (+81) 72-465-0099 (Tajiri Marine Exchange Center)

Located two minutes on foot from Tajiri Gyoko, Cafe Ku-on opened in 2010 as a cafe attached to the INTEFEEL facility for the elderly. The cafe’s location under a vast blue sky and its stylish design make it a popular destination that frequently serves as a wedding venue.

A main feature of Ku-on is its concept of a cafe where visitors can meet with plants from around the world. The interior and the garden space showcase rare plants selected by Sora Botanical Garden “plant hunter” Seijun Nishihata. The 300-year-old olive tree in particular has a presence that commands the view of visitors.

The dishes featured on Cafe Ku-on’s menu are made with plentiful regional food items including seafood landed at surrounding fishing ports and Inunaki pork. There are six lunch variations with two different pasta sets and the choice of three types of sauce: oil, tomato, or cream. Appetizers change weekly or monthly, offering tastes of seasonal ingredients prepared by skilled chefs.

The T-bone steak on the dinner menu is a welcome dish offering the tastes of both sirloin and filet. The scent of Binchotan charcoal-based grilling will whet your appetite such that even the hearty 600-gram steak can disappear in an instant.

Cafe Ku-on is a spot where soothing greenery, blue skies, and gastronomy come together. Your time spent dining in this wide-open space is sure to become a premium memory.

Cafe Ku-on

Address: 3-25 Rinku Port Kita, Tajiri-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka-fu

Google map

Hours: 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Closed: Tuesdays
Telephone:(+81) 72-465-3399

Source: Resort Vacation Villages for Excitement among Nature (https://www.qkamura.or.jp/sp/kada/blog/detail.asp? Id=72405)
Source: Made In Local（https://madeinlocal.jp/area/sakai-senshu/gourmet/118）

Information presented here is current as of 2023. Please check the websites of the individual shops and facilities for up-to-date information on business hours.