Dotonbori in Osaka

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Facts & Figures

The Dotonbori area stretches along the Dotonbori canal in Osaka’s South District (Minami). It is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city. The huge amount of entertainment facilities, restaurants, bars (izakayas), nightclubs, and movie theatres is overwhelming. Many buildings are completely decorated with neon lights and advertisements which gives this place a unique retro-futurist atmosphere at night. It can be best described as a movie scene from Bladerunner. Experience the Ultimate Japanese Hospitality at a Osaka Ryokan.
 Find Your Perfect Ryokan Now > Look for the famous Glico Running Man neon sign and the gigantic Kani Doraku crab sign. My tip: Order some food from one of the many open-air ramen stands in the area or try out the famous Okonomiyaki (a pan-fried dish made of batter and cabbage) and Takoyaki (fried food made from batter with small pieces of octopus). It is very delicious. This unique food culture in Osaka is described in Japanese with the word kuidaore. It means eat till you drop :)

My tips for local activities

How about exploring the highlights and hidden gems of the fascinating metropolis Osaka with a local guide? The personalized tour by our partner GetYourGuide can take between 3 - 4 hours. For more details check out this page >

History

The excavation of the Dotonbori Canal started in 1612 by Nariyasu Doton, a rich local entrepreneur. The idea was to expand the Umezu River into a new waterway and he financed the whole project with his own money. Unfortunately, Nariyasu Doton died during a war called the Siege of Osaka (1614 - 1615) and could not witness the canal's opening in 1615. In 1621, during the Edo period (1603 - 1868), the Tokugawa Shogunate gave Dotonbori a real boost after they decided to make it the theatre center of Osaka. Within the following years, six Kabuki theatres and five Bunroku (puppet) theatres were established here on the south side of Dotonbori. You can still enjoy Kabuki shows in the famous Shochikuza theater near Ebisubashi, which survived all those years especially the air raids during World War 2. The Shogunate allowed 47 teahouses and restaurants to open to the public to supply theatergoers with food and drinks. This laid the foundation for the entertainment district you see today.

Sightseeing spots and the best food places in Dotonbori

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Glico Running Man - Above the Ebisubashi Bridge you will see this huge neon sign with a width of 10 meters and a height of 20 meters. The running man is the symbol of Glico Candy, a Japanese food company and one of the most famous confectioneries in Asia. They are known for the popular Pocky product. The billboard, a famous landmark in Osaka, was created in 1935 and over the years 6 times renovated. The last version with LED lights dates back to 2014. It is the number one photo and meeting spot for locals and tourists in the Dotonbori area.

Kani Doraku crab sign - The famous Kani Douraku crab restaurant was constructed in 1960. It features a gigantic crab sign above its entrance. This mechanical billboard is 6.5m wide and is a very famous Instagrammable photo spot. The downside of its popularity is the waiting time of 2-3 hours during the rush hours.

Shochiku-za - It is the only remaining kabuki establishment from Dotonbori’s theater district heydays.

Kuidaore Taro - This mechanical clown statue was built in the 1950s. You can find the famous statue inside the Nakaza Kuidaore Building. Visitors will be greeted with energetic drumming music.

Nanba Grand Kagetsu Theatre - Every day there a performances of Japanese comedy. It is a mixture of modern stand-up and more traditional performances called rakugo.

Ebisu Tower - The iconic yellow Ferris wheel with a height of 77 meters is part of the Don Quixote department store and is one of the symbols of Osaka. It was the first oval Ferris wheel in the world. One ride takes roughly 15 minutes.

Kukuru - Enjoy in this shop the delicious takoyaki. The octopus filing is Oishi!

Hariju - The restaurant dates back to 1948 and serves the best shabu shabu beef and sukiyaki in town.

Zubora-ya - If you like the thrill of eating fugu, a luxurious pufferfish that is actually poisonous, then you have to come here.

Hozen-ji Temple - Hozen-ji is a small Buddhist temple near Dotonbori. The popular moss-covered Fudo-myoo statue stands at the temple, along with two other statues called Kongaradoji and Seitakadoji. Read more >

Hozenji Yokocho Alley - More than 60 izakaya´s and restaurants are located along this alley and you can enjoy the unique atmosphere from the old days here.

Kushikatsu Daruma - This place opened its doors to the public in 1929. Enjoy the delicious kebabs with deep-fried breaded food such as meat and vegetables on skewers. At the entrance, you will see as a mascot an angry-looking man holding kushikatsu skewers.

Tombori Riverwalk - The riverside trail is getting more and more popular with tourists.

River Cruise - Exploring the area via boat in the evening is the perfect way to absorb this special energy along the Dotonbori River. Most boats start at the Don Quijote department store. The Tombori River Cruise for example takes approximately 20 minutes.

Festival & Events (dates can change without notice)

July

Namba Yasaka Shrine Summer Festival Funatogyo (13th)
Funatogyo (Boat Procession) is a Water Metropolis festival where you can see many beautiful decorated boats (Shinto-style) sailing up and down the Dotonbori River. More than 20 boats with some of them carrying musicians, and drummers provide the visitors with a great show.

Tenjin Matsuri Festival (24th till 25th)
Osaka’s greatest traditional festival (over 1000 years old) and is ranked as one of the top 3 festivals in Japan. Enjoy spectacular processions on land and in the water, great fireworks, and a unique atmosphere created by the traditional costumes and music. My must-see recommendation for you.

July/August

Dotonbori Lantern Festival (July till August)
Numerous lanterns along the Dotonbori Canal create a beautiful Summer atmosphere.