Stand Umineko

Stand Umineko is a tiny, standing-only bar in Shinsaibashi that pours nothing but Japanese craft beer. It is tucked away from the bright lights of the main shopping street, which gives it the feel of a neighbourhood secret even though it is only a few minutes from the crowds of Minami. For anyone curious about Japan's craft brewing scene, it is an easy place to start.

Up to nine beers are available at any one time, all of them from Japan. Some of the beers are brewed by the bar itself, and the rest come from other Japanese breweries, which means you can taste styles and producers that rarely appear in bottle shops abroad. If you find something you like, beers can also be taken away. Ask the staff for a recommendation if you are unsure where to begin; describing whether you prefer something light and crisp, hoppy and bitter, or dark and rich is enough to point you in the right direction.

There are no seats, so this is a place for a drink or two rather than a long evening, and the standing format encourages conversation with the people around you. It works well as a first stop before dinner, or as a break between other bars on a night out in Shinsaibashi and Namba. Pace yourself if you want to work through several of the beers on offer.

The bar opens in the late afternoon on weekdays and earlier at weekends and on public holidays, staying open until late evening or midnight; check its Instagram page for current hours and any changes before you go. Because the space is so small, it can fill up quickly on Friday and Saturday nights, so an early visit gives the best chance of space at the counter. It suits solo travellers, couples and pairs of friends; larger groups will find it cramped.

Stand Umineko is near Exit 6 of Shinsaibashi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji and Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi lines, and within walking distance of Exit 14 of Namba Station. Bible Club Osaka is on the same street, and Dotonbori and America-mura are a short walk away, so it fits naturally into an evening exploring the bars of Minami.