Osaka Trip Part 9: Dotonbori with Glico Running Man

[Introduction]

I traveled to Osaka in late September. This was my first visit to Osaka except for business trips. There are several things I missed doing, so I would like to revisit Osaka in the future. In this article, I will write about Namba (Dotonbori) as part of Day 3.

[Visit Places (series of articles)]
* Day 1: Umeda
* Day 1: Nakanoshima
* Day 1: Nakanoshima (Light-up)
* Day 2: Osaka Castle
* Day 2: Abeno Harukas
* Day 2: Shinsekai
* Day 2: Abeno Harukas (Light-up)
* Day 3: Sumiyoshi Shrine
* Day 3: Namba [This article]
* Day 3: Amerikamura and Namba
* Day 3: Namba (Light-up)
* Day 4: Expo’70 Commemorative Park
* Day 4: Expo’70 Commemorative Park
* Day 4: Umeda
* Day 4: Umeda (Light-up)
* Day 5: Kaiyukan
* Day 5: Tempozan Marketplace
* Day 5: GLION MUSEUM & Return Home

[Travel Date]
2018.09.22-26

[Main Part]

Namba Parks

Following the previous post, I moved from Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine to Nankai Namba station with Nankai line. Thereafter, I will go around “Minami” area, mainly Namba and Dotonbori, until evening.

To begin with, I will go around “Namba Parks”, which is directly connected with Nankai Namba station.

“Namba Parks” is a multiple shopping complex. It was opened in October, 2003 at the former site of Osaka Baseball Park.

There was a roof top garden, “Parks Garden”, but unfortunately it was closed due to Typhoon Jebi (Typhoon Number 21) that hit Osaka in early September.

Just like “Kuchu Teien Observatory” in Umeda Sky Building (see the related article) and light-up in Tsutenkaku Tower (see the related article), I realized what a big impact the typhoon had.

Go to Dotonbori

Anyway, I will move to Dotonbori.

This is Takashimaya Department store located in front of Namba station.

I will head for Dotonbori by way of Namba Ebisubashi-Suji Shopping Street.

On the way to Dotonbori, there was “551 Horai” flagship store, which is famous for “Butaman (pork bun)”.

Dotonbori Shopping District

I reached Dotonbori. First, I will walk around Dotonbori Shopping District.

There were a variety of big and flashy signboards along Dotonbori Shopping District. For example, “Kani Doraku crab sign”.

“Uncle Karl” (- a Japanese snack character).

Huge gyoza (dumpling) at Osaka Ohsho.

Big octopus at Konamon Museum.

Kushikatsu Daruma.

Last but not least, “Kuidaore Taro” clown.

Lunch at Jiyuken

Now I will have lunch. I planed to eat either Okonomiyaki or Takoyaki at Dotonbori and picked up several restaurants in advance. However, I found there were long queues at each famous restaurant.

Then, I managed to find an alternative restaurant, “Jiyuken”, a Western-style cuisine restaurant.

Inside the restaurant. “Jiyuken” was established in 1910, so it had a retro atmosphere.

I ordered “Meibutsu Curry”, its signature menu.

Dotonbori River Walk

I will continue to stroll around Dotonbori after lunch.

Ebisu-bashi bridge, along with Dotonbori Shopping District, is one of the landmarks in Dotonbori.

Speaking of Dotonbori, this “Glico Running Man” sign was popular.

So, I took several photos around “Glico Running Man” sign.

View from Ebisu-bashi bridge (- opposite direction of “Glico Running Man” sign).

There was “Don Quijote”, a famous discount store, along Dotonbori River.

A tour cruise ship passed in front of “Don Quijote”.

There was a walking path “Tobbori Riverwalk” along Dotonbori River, so tourists were able to easily enjoy walking around the river.

View from Tazaemon-bashi bridge.

Another cruise ship passed.

I will return to Ebisu-bashi bridge.

I will take cruise ships photos around Ebisu-bashi bridge.

Another one.

Then, I left Dotonbori for now and moved to Amerikamura.

[Closing]

That’s it for the article about Namba (Dotonbori) as part of Day 3.

Before the trip, I heard news that the number of foreign tourists had been significantly decreasing since Typhoon Jebi (Typhoon Number 21) hit Osaka in early September. However, when I visited Namba (Dotonbori), I was surprised to see there were so many tourists. When I posted photos of my Osaka trip to Facebook, my Canadian friend recalled her memory of traveling to Osaka (especially “Glico Running Man” sign), so I realized how popular Osaka is for foreign visitors 🙂

In the next article, I will write about Amerikamura and Namba as part of Day 3.

[Map]

1 Namba Parks
2 Namba Ebisubashi-Suji Shopping Street
3 Kani Douraku
4 Kuidaore Taro
5 Jiyuken
6 Ebisu-bashi bridge