Crowds and neon lights along Dotonbori

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

Dōtombori

Top choice in Osaka


Highly photogenic Dōtombori is the city's liveliest night spot and the centre of the southern part of town. Its name comes from the 400-year-old canal, Dōtombori-gawa, now lined with pedestrian walkways and with a riot of illuminated billboards glittering off its waters. Don't miss the famous Glico running man sign. South of the canal is a pedestrianised street that has dozens of restaurants vying for attention with the flashiest of signage.

For the best views, head to Ebisu-bashi, the bridge at the western end of the strip.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Osaka attractions

2. Nakaza Cuidaore Building

0.12 MILES

Home of the most famous statue of Kuidaore Tarō – the drum-banging clown who represents the city's culture of kuidaore ('eat 'til you drop').

3. Hōzen-ji

0.12 MILES

This tiny temple hidden down a narrow alley houses a statue of Fudō Myō-ō (a deity of esoteric Buddhism), covered in thick moss. It's a favourite of…

4. Kamigata Ukiyo-e Museum

0.14 MILES

This narrow two-storey museum is worth a visit for anyone with an interest in ukiyo-e (woodblock prints). It mainly displays prints of famous kabuki…

5. Kani Dōraku Honten

0.17 MILES

You can't miss the giant animated crab that marks the entrance to Kani Dōraku Honten, which is, of course, a crab restaurant. The shop sells tasty crab…

6. Ebisu-bashi

0.18 MILES

This bridge has the best views of Dōtombori's famed neon nightscape.

7. Kuromon Ichiba

0.23 MILES

An Osaka landmark for over a century, this 600m-long market is in equal parts a functioning market and a tourist attraction. Vendors selling fresh fish,…

8. Amerika-Mura

0.41 MILES

West of Midō-suji, Amerika-Mura is a compact enclave of hip, youth-focused and offbeat shops, plus cafes, bars, tattoo and piercing parlours, nightclubs,…