Insight Guides Pocket Japan (Travel Guide Japan) by Insight Guides

Author:Insight Guides
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Travel, Japan
Publisher: Apa Publications
Published: 2020-01-30T16:00:00+00:00

Osaka Castle

Chris Stowers/Apa Publications

One block east of Midosuji is Osaka’s famous Shinsaibashi shopping arcade, a consumer-frenzy mecca second in national status only to Ginza and Shinjuku in Tokyo. If you have time for only one evening walk in Osaka, this is the one. Although the arcade begins over 1.6km (1 mile) north, start from exit 6 of Shinsaibashi Station on the Midosuji subway line, between the Sogo and Daimaru department stores, and turn right to make your way south. Every night of the week, this entire area is teeming with businessmen frequenting nightclubs, hostess bars and private drinking clubs. (Many of these clubs are confusingly called ‘snack bars’. But tourists beware! These bizarre establishments are the true home of the £20 glass of beer, with prices aimed squarely at lonely executives with expense accounts looking for a home away from home.) This is where Osaka’s trendy youth prowl for action, as do many of Osaka’s growing pack of young foreign residents seduced by the lure of easy yen. On Saturday afternoons and evenings, the place is a teeming throng of humanity. Wandering along the side streets at night allows you to soak up the heady atmosphere of pleasure and commerce that has characterised this part of Osaka for centuries.

At the far south is the small Ebisu Bridge known as Hikkake-bashi or ‘pick-up bridge’, a favourite meeting place for Osaka’s trendiest young things. Just before you cross the bridge, on your left is an arch announcing the start of Soemon-cho, a colourful street of late-night restaurants and nightclubs that is Minami’s answer to Kita-Shinchi near Umeda. Note the ultramodern black-and-chrome Kirin Plaza beer hall next to the entrance to Soemon-cho.

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