When you think of Osaka, you’re likely to think of the entertainment district of Dotonbori. The area is named after the canal that runs through it. The most identifiable landmark is the iconic Glico running man sign above the Ebisubashi Bridge. It’s become a symbol of the city and seen in movies like Black Rain.
The touristy area is chock-a-block full of retail stores, bars, cafes and restaurants and shoulder to shoulder with people. And so much neon! Think Japanese Time Square.
Right next to Dotonbori is the Shinsaibashi, a 600m long covered shopping arcade – a shopper’s paradise! We stumbled upon a photographer taking pics of this group of young men. I’m calling it now that they’re Japan’s next up and coming boy band phenomenon.
If you’re a fan of neon and digital signage, Dotonbori has both in spades.
It looks like it’s perhaps just an exterior light display on top of the Don Quijote store, but it’s really a capsule ferris wheel!
When people think of traveling to Japan, they most likely think of Tokyo and Kyoto. However, I have friends who told me that a visit to Osaka is a must. What I can gather, from our first night here, is that it has the neon, futuristic, metropolis vibe of Tokyo, but is less hectic.
From walking around Dotonbori and the Namba area where our hotel is, it feels like Japan, but at the same time has a New York vibe. There are wide boulevards with posh stores that remind me of 5th Avenue and Park Avenue.
I think I’m going to like it here just fine.
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