The Dotonbori Neighborhood, The Liveliest And Brightest In Osaka
The Dotonbori neighborhood is one of the most famous and busiest places in Osaka. It is impossible to visit this Japanese city and not get carried away by its atmosphere and the attractions it houses. Do you want to discover them all? Well, do not hesitate to continue reading. You certainly won’t be disappointed.
Dotonbori and the luminous signs
If there is something distinctive about this neighborhood, it is its illuminated signs. If they are striking during the day, at night they are quite a spectacle. Posters that cover the buildings that flank the canal that runs through the neighborhood and which we will talk about later.
Well, the most famous poster is that of the local food company Ezaki Glico, a symbol of the city. The illuminated sign is called Glico Man and shows a long-distance runner on a blue running track.
The poster that can be seen today is 20 meters high by 10 wide, although the original, which was installed in 1935, was 33 meters high. It has undergone temporary modifications for advertising campaigns, but in essence it has not changed in these years.
Restaurants to taste the local gastronomy
The Dotonbori neighborhood also stands out for its wide range of hotels. In fact, it is considered the gastronomic epicenter of Osaka. In them you can try some of the dishes of Japanese cuisine associated with the city.
But, among so much variety, which establishment to go to? Among the most famous is Akaoni, who for making takoyaki uses raw octopus instead of boiled, like the vast majority. At Tayoshi Tonbori you can try their puffer fish dishes.
If you prefer sushi , Genrokuzushi Dotonbori is a good choice. Equally recommended are Zuboraya, specialized in fugu ; Kani Doraku, in crab meat; Kushikatsu Daruma, on breaded skewers; and Osaka Ohsho, where you can taste the delicious gyozas .
Likewise, Dotonbori restaurants not only attract attention for their cuisine, but also for their exterior decoration. It is impossible to parse them long. One of the most notable in this sense we have already named it: the Kani Doraku, on whose facade you can see a mobile crab.
The Dotonbori canal and its bridges
As we have already mentioned, a canal runs through the Dotonbori neighborhood. An infrastructure dating from the early seventeenth century. It was then that it was proposed to connect the Umezu and Yokobori rivers through a navigation channel.
Various bridges are built on this canal. The main ones are the Dotonboribashi and Nipponbashi, as they mark the ends of the avenue. In both, vehicles are allowed, while others, such as Tazaemonbashi and Aiaibashi, are exclusively pedestrianized.
But there is a special bridge, it is called Ebisubashi and it has become a meeting point in this unique neighborhood. The reason? Which is located in front of the mythical Glico sign that we mentioned at the beginning. Since it, and although it is prohibited, there are those who go to the channel to celebrate the sporting successes of their team.
And, returning to the canal, a good way to discover all the charms that surround it is by taking a cruise through its waters. The boat ride is usually 20 minutes long.
Other places of interest in the Dotonbori neighborhood
As if all the above were not enough, in the Dotonbori neighborhood there are countless places and corners that will powerfully attract your attention. For example, you can stroll down Shinsaibashi Street, the longest covered shopping street in the city of Osaka. In their stores you will find practically everything.
From Shinsaibashi Street we moved to Hozenji Yokocho Alley. In it is the Hozenji temple, built in the seventeenth century and which houses a unique statue. And from there you can go to the Kabuki Shochizuka theater, known as the Dotonbori Arc de Triomphe for its typical façade from other times.
