Amerika-Mura

Top choice in Osaka


West of Midō-suji, Amerika-Mura is a compact enclave of hip, youth-focused and offbeat shops, plus cafes, bars, tattoo and piercing parlours, nightclubs, hair salons and a few discreet love hotels. In the middle is Triangle Park, an all-concrete 'park' with benches for sitting and watching the fashion parade. Come nighttime, it's a popular gathering spot.

Around the neighbourhood, look for street lamps resembling stick-figure people, some painted by artists; the Peace on Earth mural (1983), painted by Osaka artist Seitaro Kuroda, and, of course, a mini Statue of Liberty.

Ame-Mura owes its name to shops that sprang up after WWII, selling American goods such as Zippo lighters and T-shirts.

Transportation

  • subway: Midō-suji line to Shinsaibashi, exit 7

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Osaka attractions

1. Triangle Park

0.03 MILES

In the middle of Ame-Mura is Triangle Park, an all-concrete 'park' with benches for sitting and watching the fashion parade. Come night, it's a popular…

2. Ebisu-bashi

0.26 MILES

This bridge has the best views of Dōtombori's famed neon nightscape.

3. Kani Dōraku Honten

0.28 MILES

You can't miss the giant animated crab that marks the entrance to Kani Dōraku Honten, which is, of course, a crab restaurant. The shop sells tasty crab…

4. Nakaza Cuidaore Building

0.33 MILES

Home of the most famous statue of Kuidaore Tarō – the drum-banging clown who represents the city's culture of kuidaore ('eat 'til you drop').

5. Kamigata Ukiyo-e Museum

0.35 MILES

This narrow two-storey museum is worth a visit for anyone with an interest in ukiyo-e (woodblock prints). It mainly displays prints of famous kabuki…

7. Hōzen-ji

0.37 MILES

This tiny temple hidden down a narrow alley houses a statue of Fudō Myō-ō (a deity of esoteric Buddhism), covered in thick moss. It's a favourite of…

8. Dōtombori

0.41 MILES

Highly photogenic Dōtombori is the city's liveliest night spot and the centre of the southern part of town. Its name comes from the 400-year-old canal,…

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