Shinsekai

An old downtown in southern Osaka, known for the Tsutenkaku tower, Jan Jan Yokocho and big blowfish-lantern signs. It began with the 5th National Industrial Exhibition, held in 1903 in Tennoji and on the site of today's Shinsekai. The eastern half of the site became Tennoji Park; on the western half the first Tsutenkaku was built as a landmark, with the Luna Park amusement park to its south. Theatres and cinemas followed, and Shinsekai took shape. Luna Park and the cinemas have closed, but the Tsutenkaku observation deck draws visitors from far away and shows are staged in the theatre beneath it. Jan Jan Yokocho, about 130 m long with some 50 kushikatsu and doteyaki restaurants and go and shogi clubs, is as lively as ever, and at weekends tour groups take photos with Billiken and the blowfish lanterns.

Translated and shortened from the Osaka Prefecture tourist listing (大阪府 観光施設一覧, CC BY 4.0).