Osaka

Maishima Incineration Plant
Architecture in full colour

With its gold-domed tower and colourful façade, Osaka’s Maishima Plant could be mistaken for an offshoot of the nearby Universal Studios Japan theme park. In truth, this waste incineration facility is one of the city’s most eccentric architectural treasures. Completed in 2001 to designs by the late Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, the plant sits across the bridge from the Expo 2025 Osaka site on Yumeshima island. Several floors are open to visitors with tours available, allowing a chance to contemplate a more sustainable future.

Wunder
Modern vintage style
“I’m not really interested in designs that can be understood at a glance,” says Wunder founder Makoto Sato. “The craftsmanship of the fabric, the beauty of the pattern; clothing is an industrial product, so I want to highlight such qualities.” Hidden inside a vintage building, Wunder’s pared-back interior provides an ideal canvas for menswear curated with a discerning eye. Japanese brands feature prominently, with Heugn shirts and Batoner knitwear joined by pieces from the likes of Aton and Ssstein. Bags from Sagan Vienna, the Austrian brand founded by Tanja Bradaric and Taro Ohmae, feature modern, minimal designs in leather and nylon. “It can be hard to find a quality men’s bag, so many people end up purchasing from maison brands, even though they wear contemporary labels,” says Sato. “I want to show Sagan Vienna as a contemporary brand that can match them.”

Austrian wines in Osaka
Find the perfect pairing

Whether you want a fresh take on Grüner Veltliner or a lesser-known natural wine, these spots take pride in pairing Austrian wines with signature local menus.Tucked away on a side street, Fujimaru Higashi-Shinsaibashi’s wine shop has bottles from around the world. Customers can take one home or enjoy pairings by the glass in the intimate diner upstairs. “When it comes to Austrian wines, the cleanness complements a wide range of dishes,” says manager Sayaka Ukaji. In Nishi Tenma, chef-turned-sommelier Kei Tashiro has been exploring the possibilities of modern Chinese cuisine and wine at Chi-Fu since 2011. An experimental approach to merging flavours extends to the wine list. “Austria isn’t a large country but it’s so diverse,” says Tashiro. “There are so many Austrian producers who truly understand coexistence with nature.” For more than four decades, Rokukaku-tei has paired kushi-katsu (deep-fried skewers) with handpicked wines. Located next to the bustling Kuromon Market, the restaurant’s 20-piece course runs the full spectrum of Japanese ingredients while the wine list features FX Pichler, Franz Hirtzberger and other Austrian producers. “Kushi-katsu is deep-fried in oil, similar to some Austrian dishes, so these wines feel like a natural match,” says Yoshio Nakayama.

B-Tech Japan
Sound advice

The epitome of Viennese craftsmanship for almost 200 years, Bösendorfer pianos are a rare commodity with production limited to about 300 instruments per year. Founded in 2007 by Seiko Kida, a professional piano tuner, B-Tech Japan is a shop that specialises in the sale, tuning, maintenance and repair of these world-renowned pianos. “Bösendorfer is one of a kind, producing a unique sound unrivalled by other manufacturers,” says Kida. “As a technician, working with such instruments is the ultimate joy.” This signature sound, amplified by century-old Austrian spruce and exquisite craftsmanship, can be properly experienced in person at B-Tech Japan’s in-store rehearsal room. The studio-style space can be booked for individual practice sessions, while local and international artists also stage special performances to an intimate audience.

Travel connections
Flights of fancy

In 1873, Japanese visitors to Vienna World’s Fair would have set aside several weeks to complete the 9,150km trip. Thankfully, it is much quicker and comfier today. Austrian Airlines operates non-stop return flights between Vienna International and Tokyo Narita, while Japan’s All Nippon Airways flies to and from Tokyo Haneda. Both connect to Osaka International.

Riedel Osaka
Bespoke glassware

Opened in 2022, Riedel Osaka presents the full spectrum of the world-renowned Austrian glassmaker’s grape-varietal-specific glassware. “Riedel works with professionals to find the shape that enhances the enjoyment of a particular wine,” says Kansai retail manager and sommelier Yoshifumi Kinoshita. “We have created a place where customers can experience how a glass can influence taste and aroma.” Regular wine-tasting workshops are held in-store, while events with winemakers from across Japan highlight regional produce and forge deeper connections. In addition to the popular daiginjo sake glasses, special releases include an Osaka-exclusive addition to the Haku series, a collaboration with Kanazawa gold leaf-maker Hakuichi.

Hemming shop
If the shoe fits

After a decade in Umeda, Osaka native Junji Shihara relocated his eclectic select shop to a quiet street near Osaka Tenmangu Shrine. The upstairs space is filled with womenswear by Henrik Vibskov, Cordera and Tenne Handcrafted Modern, complemented by footwear by Simone Springer and Yuji Mizobuchi’s Vienna-based Rosa Mosa label. The vibrant lineup draws an equally varied clientele. “I’ve never sought to fit into a particular category”, says Shihara. “Instead of gathering a certain type of staff and clothing, the shop is the result of many different elements coming together.”

The Monocle Shop
A collaborative space

To coincide with Expo 2025 Osaka, there will be a special six-month Austria activation of The Monocle Shop from April. A selection of products from characterful Austrian brandswill include a Kalmar table lamp, Lobmeyr’s elegant glasswear and wool blankets by Lodenwalker, a mill with almost 600 years of heritage. Austrian candles, kitchenware and travel bags will sit alongside Monocle’s trademark selection of print, products and collaborations. The Austrian products will be available both in-store at Monocle’s Tokyo shop on 1-19-2 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku and online at monocle.com/shop