Shinsekai

Shinsekai is an old working-class quarter in the south of Osaka, known for Tsutenkaku, Janjan Yokocho and the big pufferfish lantern signs. It began in Meiji 36 (1903) with the Fifth National Industrial Exhibition, held in Tennoji and in what is now Shinsekai. The east half of the site became Tennoji Park, while on the west half the first Tsutenkaku was built at the centre as a symbol, with the Luna Park amusement grounds, which charged admission, to its south. From there playhouses and cinemas gathered and the district grew, and Shinsekai took shape. Luna Park and the cinemas have since closed, but the Tsutenkaku observation deck is busy with visitors from far away. Janjan Yokocho, where about 50 shops including kushikatsu shops, doteyaki shops and go and shogi clubs stand along 130 m running north to south, is as lively as ever. On weekends and holidays tour groups come in numbers and take photographs in front of Billiken and the pufferfish lantern signs.

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