Dotombori, Osaka

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From the exit of Namba Station, the covered shopping arcade of Dotonbori goes all the way to the other end where the other famous Shinsaibashi covered shopping arcade continues.

Seems like most shops starts closing at about 8:00pm. By that time, when we were at Shinsaibashi, the shops were all but closed except food/drinks outlets.

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Dotombori is Osaka's liveliest nightlife area where hip and trendy young Japanese hang out. It is centered around Dotombori Arcade, a pedestrian-only strip of restaurants, bars, shops and karaoke lounges. Parallel to Dotombori Arcade is Dotombori-gawa, a narrow canal lined on both sides by brightly coloured neon lights.

Dotombori is the heart of night time Osaka, with hundreds of restaurants, bars, karaoke booths, pachinko parlours and clubs within easy walking distance.
It's also the point that Osakan sports fans gather to celebrate success, usually by throwing themselves into the canal. Which isn't to be recommended if we're honest.

An evening visit must be on the itinerary of anyone passing through Osaka, if only to see the spectacle that is the glowing neon signs and the mighty glicoman!

PLEASE NOTE: it has been brought to my attention that some people think that the road bridge (on Midosuji) is what is referred to as the Dotombori Bridge. This is not the case. the Dotombori bridge is the foot bridge just East of the road bridge (it currently has heavy construction on it). This is particularly important if you arrange to use this as a place to meet someone (I sepnt last night waiting there while my friend was on the road bridge!)

Dotombori Bridge is a great place to hang out and people watch at any time, but by far and a way the best time to visit the bridge is after a major sporting event (notably the end of the baseball league season). At these times, fanatic supporters strip off naked and jump from the bridge into the filthy canal below.

A friend of mine jumped in after the 2002 World Cup (not voluntarily, I should add - another friend had managed to get hold of a megaphone and announced to the crowds that he was David Beckhams brother, and he was pushed!!!!!) and was ill for quite a while after - make sure you are up to date with your shots if you intend to join in! (I should also add that shortly after the 2002 World Cup the canal was dredged as part of a clean up program and a dead body was pulled up out of the water - nice).

Not to be missed!

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Dotombori is so fun. It is always bustling with people and has a vibrant feeling in the air. There are trendy clothes shops, but mostly, there are restaurants, all advertising their food with bright colorful signs. Look out for the Crab restaurants, with the huge waving mechanical crab on top of the restaurant! You can get a set menu of Crab for about US$30.

My friend Dave once suggested this as a neat thing to do: hang out on or immediately around the Dotonbori bridge for 24 straight hours, watching people and hanging out. You will catch a real cross-section of the people of Osaka, and will probably meet some really bizarre characters. I've seen a lot of interesting things there, and I'd love to hear from you if you do attempt this. I've been meaning to myself, but somehow never had a full 24 hours to dedicate to it.

Over the last few months, the area around Dotombori river has been redeveloped with the addition of wooden walkways along either side, with neighbouring restaurants and bars starting to open directly onto the new path.
The walkway is eventually going to connect right down to the Minato-machi boardwalk.

The Ebisu-bashi bridge (the famous dotombori bridge, as opposed to the Midosuji version) is in the process of being replaced, with plastiglass screens making jumping in a thing of the past.

A new ferris wheel (THE activity of choice in Osaka!) with a bizarre oval shape has opened offering views of the Minami area in a 15 minute ride (1000 yen for one person, 1500 yen for couples).

This area is famous place to visit in Osaka. If you look at other Osaka Virtual members page, most likely same photo near neon signs & bridge will be shown. Bridge is located on Midosuji Street. On other side is shopping walkway. When Hanshin Tigers won the NPB Baseball championship in the 1980's people jumped off bridges in this area in celebration!