1.
Dōtonbori, entertainment district in Osaka
A canal and the lively district along it in the 難波 area of Osaka, packed with restaurants, theaters, and huge neon signs. It is the symbol of Osaka's food culture and its brash, fun-loving image.
道頓堀でたこ焼きを食べた。
I ate takoyaki in Dōtonbori.
The district is at the heart of Osaka's image as the kitchen of Japan and the home of the saying 食い倒れ (eating oneself into ruin).
Common expressions
- グリコの看板: the giant Glico running-man sign, a favorite photo spot
- 食い倒れの町: the town where people spend everything on food
- 道頓堀ダイブ: fans' jump into the canal after a Hanshin Tigers victory
- 戎橋: the bridge over the canal, a meeting place nicknamed ひっかけ橋
Cultural note
The canal was dug in the early 1600s, and the district later grew into Osaka's main theater quarter.