Besides delicious food in Osaka, the main thing on my to do list was to visit the iconic Dotobori Gilco sign. I’d checked earlier to see if it was possible to get a canal ride to tour Osaka and Dōtonbori District. However, it was in our favor that all the tours were booked for the next few days. Based on the rain and the time limits we were on, it was best to taxi from our hotel to the district.
All I could say was wow, wow, wow. It was better than my imagination.
This famous district traces its roots all the way back to 1612, when a determined merchant named Yasui Dōton began to dig a canal to help boost business in the area. Although Dōton lost his life during the Siege of Osaka, his family finished what he had started, and the newly completed waterway was named in his honor—Dōtonbori, literally “Dōton’s Canal”.
By the 1620s, Dōtonbori quickly blossomed into Osaka’s go-to entertainment hub, home to a thriving world of kabuki and bunraku theaters, playhouses, and bustling teahouses. The area soon became legendary for its exciting shows, drawing in crowds from across Japan and helping shape the city’s “eat until you drop” or kuidaore food culture. Famous playwrights like Chikamatsu Monzaemon debuted their works here, and by the late 17th century, Dōtonbori hosted more theaters than any other city in Japan.
After the devastation of World War II destroyed many historic theaters, the district reinvented itself, emerging as the food and nightlife capital of Osaka. Dōtonbori’s streets filled with bright neon signs—most famously, the Glico running man and the giant, moving crab above Kani Douraku.
Now, not all of the signs were illuminated in neon. However, the colors, vibe and feeling was even better than Times Square.
Luckily, the rain kept at bay until our desired stop time of 10pm.
After the main walk down 1-Chrome, and across 2-Chrome we ended up back to the main road for our hotel. The rain fell steadily, giving the ambiance that reminded me of the vibe of Blade Runner.
Walking around the Dōtonbori District was everything I wanted as a last day in Japan. With its fascinating blend of history, entertainment, and food, Dōtonbori remains an unmissable highlight.
Dotonbori Glico Sign
1 Chome-10-3 DotonboriChuo Ward, Osaka, Japan 542-0071
