Osaka in July - Part 1

Dotonbori (道頓堀) is one of the most famous landmarks of Osaka. It is a canal and former pleasure district, best known for its surrounding theaters, shops, and restaurants. The area is famous for the bridge across the canal itself and many colorful neon signs, including snack/candy manufacturer Glico's giant electronic display of a runner crossing the finish line.



Amerikamura (アメリカ村, American Village) is a small entertainment/retail area near Shinsaibashi (Minami) in Osaka. Amerikamura is identifiable by the small scale Statue of Liberty which peers down on the streets. It is a well-known haunt of resident expatriate Westerners, and centers on Triangle Park, a concreted rest area surrounded by retail outlets of Western fashions, bars and nightclubs, some of which are run by Westerners.
However, its repute as a hangout for Western foreigners is a matter of degree. Much as Osaka's registered foreign population is a small fraction of the total population, the makeup of the crowds and retail space in Ame-mura is predominantly Japanese. Locally, Ame-mura is known for being a good place for observing some of the more "fashion intense" manifestations of Japanese youth culture.

Glico Man - Originally installed in 1919, the giant athlete is a symbol of Glico candy, featuring a running man on a blue track.





Kuidaore Taro - In front of Restaurant Cui-daore is the mechanical drum-playing clown, also known as Kuidaore Ningyo. He was installed in 1950, and instantly became a popular tourist attraction, even now being swarmed by crowds of tourists patiently waiting their turn to snap a memento.