Avetika

Avetika, commonly written あべちか and also romanized as Avetica, is an underground shopping street located on the northwest side of JR West's Tennoji Station in Osaka, Japan. Its address is given as Abeno Underground Shopping Center Nos. 1–8, Horikoshi-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka. The complex opened on 30 November 1968 as the Abenobashi Underground Shopping Center (アベノ地下センター) and was renamed あべちか in October 1988. It is one of the underground retail complexes managed by Osaka Chikagai Co., Ltd. (大阪地下街株式会社), a company that was originally a third-sector entity of the City of Osaka and became a subsidiary of Osaka Metro on 1 April 2018 following privatization. The shopping center covers a total area of about 9,771 m² and is estimated to receive roughly 100,000 visitors per day. It is organized into several zones, including Abeno Yokocho (あべの横丁), Daily Gourmet (デイリーグルメ), Welcome Mart (ウェルカムマート), Casual Mart (カジュアルマート), and a B2 floor. These zones host a mix of fashion, general goods, cosmetics, services, restaurants, cafes, and food shops. Typical opening hours are 10:00–21:00 for retail and fashion, and 10:00–22:00 for dining and cafes, though individual stores may vary. The facility also contains public-service functions such as the Osaka City Tennoji Service Counter and a Japan Self-Defense Forces recruitment office. Avetika is directly connected to major transport nodes: JR West Tennoji Station, Osaka Metro Tanimachi and Midosuji lines at Tennoji Station, Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line at Osaka Abenobashi Station, and Hankai Tramway Uemachi Line at Tennoji-ekimae Station. It also links underground to Tennoji Park and its underground parking. The official website promotes events such as ABETEN STREET BUTTERFLY 2026 and shop news from tenants including Mos Burger, Amato Maeda, and Café Clever. The site also notes that Osaka Chikagai Co., Ltd. celebrated its 70th anniversary of founding in 2026.

The Abenobashi Underground Shopping Center project took concrete form in May 1966, when construction plans were finalized. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on 9 September 1967, and tenant recruitment applications were accepted from 16 to 30 October 1967. On 28 August 1968, the Abeno Underground Center Promotion Association was formed, and the Abenobashi Underground Shopping Center (Abeno Underground Center) opened on 30 November 1968. In the following decades the center expanded and renovated. A restaurant plaza opened on 10 December 1971. Renovation of the food section was completed on 1 July 1976, and the concourse was renovated on 31 March 1979. A canopy was added to Staircase No. 4 on 2 June 1981. In 1985, the Meiten Corner (fashion plaza) was renovated on 24 February, and the famous food and confectionery corner was renovated from 18 to 29 March. On 8 October 1988, the Abeno Underground Center was renamed 'Abetika' (あべちか). Further modernization followed in the 1990s. The Casual Plaza reopened after renovation on 29 February 1996. The central restrooms were renovated and opened on 2 March 1997, and escalators and elevators began service on 1 April 1997. A major renovation began on 1 October 1998; the 'A block' store area reopened on 15 November 1998, and the first phase of the full renovation was completed on 27 February 1999. The 'B block' B1 store area reopened on 26 July 1999, and mobile phone use became possible inside Abetika on 26 October 1999. The renovation concluded with a grand reopening on 29 October 1999. On 9 February 2000, the fountain garden was nicknamed 'Pearl Garden'. Construction of the connecting underground passage between Abetika and Tennoji Park began on 4 January 2001, and the passage to the Tennoji Park underground parking lot was completed on 30 March 2003. Windbreak doors were installed on 26 June 2004. On 31 March 2010, one-segment broadcasting and AM/FM radio reception became available inside Abetika. On 1 April 2018, following privatization from the City of Osaka's third-sector framework, Osaka Chikagai Co., Ltd. became a subsidiary of Osaka Metro. The official website notes that Osaka Chikagai Co., Ltd. celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2026, and the shopping center continues to host events and tenant openings.

• Abenobashi Underground Shopping Center construction plan finalized

• Groundbreaking ceremony for Abenobashi Underground Shopping Center

• Tenant recruitment applications accepted (until 30 October)

• Abeno Underground Center Promotion Association formed

• Abenobashi Underground Shopping Center (Abeno Underground Center) opens

• Restaurant Plaza opens

• Food section renovation completed

• Concourse renovation

• Canopy added to Staircase No. 4

• Meiten Corner (fashion plaza) renovated

• Famous food and confectionery corner renovated (until 29 March)

• Abeno Underground Center renamed 'Abetika' (あべちか)

• Casual Plaza reopened after renovation

• Central restrooms renovated and opened

• Escalators and elevators begin service

• Major renovation construction begins

• 'A block' store area reopens after renovation

• First phase of full renovation completed

• 'B block' B1 store area reopens after renovation

• Mobile phone use becomes possible inside Abetika

• Renovation completed; grand reopening

• Fountain garden nicknamed 'Pearl Garden'

• Construction begins on connecting underground passage to Tennoji Park

• Passage to Tennoji Park underground parking completed

A long-established, transit-connected underground shopping street in Osaka's Tennoji district, offering everyday fashion, food, and services to commuters and local visitors.

• Fashion and apparel stores

• General goods and cosmetics shops

• Dining and cafes (Abeno Yokocho, Daily Gourmet)

• Food shops (Welcome Mart)

• Services (Casual Mart, banks, recruitment office)

1. 1あべちか | おおさかの地下街avetica.osaka-chikagai.jp
2. 2あべちか - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Avetika - Wikidatawikidata.org