Dotonbori

Where it is & how to get there

• Metro: Namba Station, 5 minutes' walk.
• Food: Takoyaki, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu stalls line the street; ask about ingredients if you need halal.
• Cruise: Short Tombori River Cruises run along the canal.

The story of Dotonbori

Dotonbori began in 1612 when a merchant named Yasui Doton started digging a canal here. It soon became Osaka's theatre and entertainment district.

Today it is famous for its huge mechanical signs — a moving crab, a pufferfish lantern — and the Glico Running Man billboard, first put up in 1935. Osaka is known as "the nation's kitchen".

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Come hungry in the evening when the signs glow.
• Take a photo with the Glico sign from Ebisu Bridge.
• Look for halal-friendly takoyaki and ramen shops in Namba.

What's around Dotonbori

• Ebisu BridgeGlico sign viewpoint.
• Hozenji YokochoLantern-lit alley.
• ShinsaibashiCovered shopping arcade.
• Kuromon Market10 minutes' walk.

Questions travellers ask