Whilst Tokyo is synonymous with all that is wacky and weirdly wonderful, the same can also be found in Osaka.
Osaka is Japan’s 3rd largest city with a population greater than anywhere in Europe, and apart from New York City, it is larger than anywhere in the States too. These are impressive stats for a country that doesn’t even rank within the top 50 of the world’s largest countries.
Unlike Kyoto which is famed for its classic beauty, or Tokyo for its iconic modernisation, Osaka isn’t really any of these. It’s quite ugly in comparison but for what it lacks in the looks department it makes up for in personality – something Osaka has in abundance.
Shinsekai, meaning ‘New World’ is on the doorstep of Shin-Imamiya Station not far from Tennoji, and despite its name, it has an incredibly retro vibe. Narrow shopping arcades, cheap bars, gaudy neon signs, and pachinko parlours bombard the streets around Tsutenkaku Tower, the district’s most iconic landmark.
I loved walking around the area, especially the main street, Jan-Jan Yokocho, there’s so much to see you don’t know quite where to look, but there’s one thing that’s impossible to miss and that’s the huge blowfish lantern suspended in the air outside of – you guessed it – a restaurant specialising in blowfish!
In Japan there is a trend to plaster 3-D models of sea creatures and other various foods outside restaurants to attract passers-by. However, I can’t vouch that these places serve the best of Japanese cuisine!!
Inflatable blowfish on Jan-Jan Yokocho Street.
After visiting this area, and being quite overwhelmed by the energy and strangeness of it all, I was surprised to read several reviews on Trip Advisor saying it was a waste of time visiting, and there’s nothing to see. I wholeheartedly disagree with this.
I felt like I had been transported into a really bizarre subculture of Japan, completely different to the otherwise peaceful atmosphere that Japan is recognised for world-wide. It’s grittier, and a bit grimier, making it the perfect place to visit after exploring the elegant area around Osaka Castle!
So I went from this….
To this… lol
Before arriving in Osaka I didn’t know what a pachinko parlour was. I only discovered by accident after curiously walking through a set of sliding doors and immediately feeling like I had entered a bad dream. They are gaming arcades where hordes of people cram inside to play on things resembling slot machines. There are rows and rows of them, and nearly all the seats are occupied.
The magnitude of the noise hits you as soon as the doors open like an explosion, it’s enough to give the most hard-headed of people a headache. I watched in fascination for a few minutes before feeling nauseated by the intensity of the music, flashing lights and smoke. People of all ages were glued to these machines as metal balls pinged to-and-fro in all directions, and the sound of coins crashing down on a metal surface blurred in with rest of the chaos.
These arcade dwellers are in stark contrast to the well-groomed, work-oriented Japanese people in other areas of the city. If you find yourself in front of a pachinko parlour, you must step inside to get an insight into Japan’s gaming culture. But if you’re prone to headaches, enter at your own risk!
Where to stay in Osaka
Modern & stylish hotel: Zentis Osaka
Traditional accommodation: Onyado Nono Osaka Yodoyabashi
Sightseeing & Foodie Tours in Osaka
Further reading
Travel guide: This 2-day Osaka Itinerary for lots of information and recommendation for exploring Japan’s 3rd largest city.
Want to see more wackiness in Osaka? Head over to Dotonbori Street.
Spending longer in Japan and need inspiration? Read my 2-week itinerary.
23 Responses
Trip Advisor I find to be overrated. Yeah Pachinko is horrible, gambling can be addictive. but no place is perfect, Osaka is surely a huge and fascinating city to wander around in.
Entering a Pachinko parlour really offers a glimpse inside Japan’s intense gaming culture, right? It’s such a unique experience.
You’re right, Osaka is a fascinating city and I really, really want to return! There’s still so much more to see.
Wow – looks insane – kind of just how I imagined Japan to be like though! You’ve taken some great candid shots – especially like the one of the man inspecting the naked ladies! 🙂 Hope you’re having fun Shing! xx
Thanks Sarah! Japan is everything I hoped it would be and more!
“From this… to this…” lol. My fav picture though is with dude with the satchel (man purse) and the, well, angry, chef behind him holding.. um, pogos? Streets look very clean. Can’t wait to plant my feet in Japan. My uncle is getting married in Osaka this summer and I’m hoping to tag along for the festivities.
That’s my favourite one too 😀 I just had to actually google pogos, and it looks like you could be right!! I would have said satay sticks!
Glad you noticed the streets, Japan is incredibly clean, even the public toilets are something to rave about! I really hope you make it to your uncle’s wedding!
Oh my gosh, Osaka looks soooo weird! I’m not sure how much I’d actually enjoy it… It looks quite heavy on commercialism… Total kudos on that spiderman cape though!
The good thing is that Osaka also has many peaceful areas, and Japan as a whole is incredibly peaceful and the people are very quiet and unbelievably polite, but then you can stumble across areas like this, and it’s like you’ve stepped inside a Game Boy! This duality is what makes Japan so fascinating!
It seems to me that Osaka with Tokyo has the same correlation as Penang with KL. It has all the big city vibrancy and convenience, but less crowded and with a different character to it. Although I suppose Osaka is a pretty big city by itself!
It definitely has a big city vibrancy!
Looks weird and wacky enough for me! I’m sold! 😉
Hah! That’s the response I was after!
It does look really weird but I bet it is a lot of fun too.
Sooo much fun Fabiana!
Osaka looks like a fun place to shop and wander through the streets taking photos of all the weird and wonderful things!
p.s. I tend to be suspicious of people who say “there’s nothing to see.” You find that those sort of people tend not to be able to see beyond what is in front of them or are disappointed when things are not as “at home.” I don’t think there’s anywhere on this planet that has “nothing to see!”
I agree, there’s always something to see! Some of my favourite places are the ones that often get little coverage because they don’t have the big attractions like London, Paris and New York.
It seems from the pictures that you don’t have to enter pachinko parlour to get a headache 🙂 The amount of colour and neon signs on the street looks overwhelmingly enough for me 😉
You might be right Ola, often the neon lights and scary adverts of angry looking chefs are enough to give anyone a headache!
Wow, Japan is insanely charming and beautiful and it’s certainly one of the funnest countries you could visit. It’s on my wish list for a long while now and hopefully one day I’ll be able to get there. Osaka seems like a perfect choice for the first visit, too – and hopefully I won’t become a pachinko addict :))
Haha if you have a tendency to gamble, stay away from the pachinko parlours! Yes, Japan really is insanely charming and beautiful, as well as weird and wacky. Essentially, it’s got it all 😉
Osaka felt like a hypermodern urban sandwich. Layered, colourful and felt slightly more exotic thant Tokyo.
Nice description! There is something very exotic and mysterious about Osaka…
Last November 2015, we decided to dropped by after a whole day trip in Nara. Not thinking much except to look for cheap souvenirs there.
By the time we reached there it was evening. But oh boy!! You are right … It feels like you step into another world altogether. Too bad it was dark by the time we reached and most shop closed.
But hey!! We’re definitely putting this place in our itinerary in our coming trip to Osaka. Yes! Our 2nd trip to Osaka, same month this year!
We totally looking to explore more where we missed on our last trip. We bringing along some friends along too!
Thanks Shing !!