Osaka Trip Part 10: America-mura (American Village)

[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 America-mura (American Village) etc. 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
* Day 3: Amerikamura and Namba [This article]
* 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]

America-mura (American Village)

Following the previous post, I moved north from Dotonbori to Shinsaibashi.

I will go around “America-mura (American Village)”, which is located in the west of Shinsaibashi area.

I started strolling from “BIGSTEP”, a commercial complex and one of the landmarks in “America-mura (American Village)”.

Halloween would be celebrated next month, so a pumpkin object was displayed.

There was also an art work. “PEACE ON EARTH”, near the complex.

I was surprised to know that “PEACE ON EARTH” was created in 1983, as I felt its design was new even now.

I will walk around “America-mura (American Village)”.

As the name suggests, there were a lot of American fashion shops in “America-mura (American Village)”.

This is “Sankaku Koen (Triangle Park)” where a variety of events and performances are often held.

In “America-mura (American Village)”, there were also many suites shops. For example. “World 2nd Best Ice Melon Bread”.

I bought its signature ice melon bread.

Adjacent to “World 2nd Best Ice Melon Bread”, there was “Shiroichi”.

I had iced cafe with soft cream.

I returned to “BIGSTEP” and walked in the complex.

“Kinnikuman (Muscle Man)” is a popular Japanese anime cartoon.

There was a wall art in the basement.

From the basement to the 1st floor.

Then, I left America-mura (American Village).

Shinsaibashi Shopping Street

I will go back to Dotonbori/Namba area via Shinsaibashi Shopping Street.

Here are some snap photos of Shinsaibashi Shopping Street.

At the intersection of Shinsaibashi subway station.

You can see how crowded the area is.

Back to Namba

I returned to Dotonbori.

Then, I will visit several spots around Namba area.

Kuromon Ichiba (Kuromon Market)

First, Kuromon Ichiba (Kuromon Market).

Kuromon Ichiba (Kuromon Market) consists of about 180 shops.

There are a variety of shops, including fruit and vegetable shops, fresh fish shops, and grocers.

As with Namba and Dotonbori area, I saw lots of foreign tourists as well as Japanese tourists.

Here are some snaps from Kuromon Ichiba (Kuromon Market).

Kitchenware Street

I also stopped by Kitchenware Street.

As the name suggests, Kitchenware Street has lots of shops that specialize in selling kitchenware.

“Maneki-neko (beckoning cat)”.

Namba Grand Kagetsu

There was “Namba Grand Kagetsu”, a famous comedy theater, near Kitchenware Street.

He showed me his spirit of good service.

Then, I will continue to go around Namba and Dotonbori area in the evening.

[Closing]

That’s it for the article about America-mura (American Village) etc. as part of Day 3.

America-mura (American Village) is considered Osaka’s counterpart to Harajuku in Tokyo as the forefront of fashion and cultural trends for young people. In this context, Ximending in Taipei, Taiwan, has similar atmosphere. If you are interested in it, please see the past article.

“Taipei Trip Part 12: 228 Peace Memorial Park, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple and Ximending”

In the next article, I will write about evening scene at Namba and Dotonbori as part of Day 3.

[Map]

1 BIGSTEP
2 World 2nd Best Ice Melon Bread
3 Shiroichi
4 Shinsaibashi Shopping Street
5 Kuromon Ichiba (Kuromon Market)
6 Kitchenware Street
7 Namba Grand Kagetsu