Dotonbori is a name of a canal which flows
through "Minami" area from east to west and is about 2.5 km long. (In
Japanese, it is called Dootonbori.)
The canal is called "Dotonborigawa" (Dotonbori River).
Also the street and the town along the canal is called Dotonbori.
It is just to the Nanba area, and it is the most popular entertainment
district in Osaka.
The canal was constructed in 1615 by Doton Yasui and a few reclaimers.
Some theaters for Kabuki or Ningyo-Joruri (Japanese puppet show) had
been built around the canal since the 1660s, then this area became one
of the entertainment districts.
Now there are no theaters, but many various restaurans gather in this
district, and its fancy and unique signs are the symbols of Dotonbori.
The central part is the section between Midosuji Boulevard and
Sakaisuji Street, and the length is about 600 meters.
To the east of Midosuji Boulevard, Ebisu Bridge is across Dotonbori.
The area around the bridge is the most popular.
The sign of a runner is very famous.
It is the sign of Ezaki Glico Company, one of the large confectionary
companies. This sign was set up in 1935 first, and the current sign is
the fifth generation.
Another is the sign of a huge moving crab.
It is the sign of a crab restaurant "Kani-Doraku" since 1962.
It is the two small and narrow streets around Hozenji temple.
The length of each street is about 80 meters and the width is about 3
meters.
The roads are paved with stone, and there are small and old restaurants
and bars along the streets.
Originally, these streets were in the site of the temple, but they
became a town without even noticing.
It is near busy Dotonbori, but it is a calm town.
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Umeda
Osaka Tenmangu
Japan Mint
Osaka Castle
Osaka Museum
of History
Naniwa Palace
Universal
Studios Japan
Kaiyukan
Dotonbori
Shinsaibashi
Nipponbashi
Nanba
Shinsekai
Shiten'nouji
Sumiyoshi-taisha
Tomb of Emperor Nintoku