Dōtonbori (道頓堀, Dōtonbori) - This is one of
the principal tourist destinations in Osaka, Japan. It is a
single shopping/restaurant street, running alongside the
Dōtonbori canal, and stretches between the Dōtonboribashi
Bridge and the Nipponbashi Bridge. Dōtonbori is officially a
part of the Namba district of Osaka, south of Shinsaibashi.
A former pleasure district, Dōtonbori is famous for its
surrounding theatres, shops, and restaurants and the many
colorful neon and mechanized signs, including snack/candy
manufacturer Glico's giant electronic display of a runner
crossing the finish line.
Dōtonbori traces its history back to 1612, when entrepreneur
Doton Yasui was expanding the tiny East/West running Umezu
River, hoping to increase commerce in the region by
connecting the two branches of the North/South running
Yohori River with a canal. Doton’s task was interrupted when
he died defending Toyotomi Hideyori in the ill-fated Siege
of Osaka, but his cousins carried on his legacy and finished
the canal in 1615. The new lord of Osaka CastleTadaki
Matsudaira, named the avenue Dōtonbori in honor of its
visionary even though Doton had been his enemy during the
siege.
The character of Dōtonbori became defined in 1621 when the
newly minted Tokugawa Shogunate instituted urban planning,
designating Dōtonbori as the theater and entertainment
district of Osaka. The Broadway and West End of its time, by
1662 the avenue boasted six Kabuki theaters and five Bunraku
theaters, as well as the unique Takeda Karakuri mechanical
puppet theater. To support the flood of tourists and
entertainment seekers pouring nightly into Dōtonbori, many
restaurants and cafes were built, further establishing
Dōtonbori's reputation and position as an entertainment
district.
Over the years, declining interests in traditional
entertainment saw the closing of most of Dōtonbori original
attractions, and the final five theaters were bombed and
destroyed during World War II, leaving only the restaurants
that we see today.
As a domestic tourist destination, Osaka is known for its
food, and Dōtonbori is the main destination for food travel
in Osaka. It is always featured in guidebooks for both
foreign tourists and domestic. Osaka regional cuisine
includes okonomiyaki (pan-fried batter cake), takoyaki
(octopus dumplings), udon (a noodle dish), as well as
regional sushi and other traditional Japanese foods.
Kuidaore (食い倒れ)
Kuidaore (食い倒れ, Kuidaore ) is a Japanese word meaning
roughly “to ruin oneself by extravagance in food.” It is
sometimes romanized as cuidaore, and is part of a larger
proverb: "Dress (in kimonos) till you drop in Kyoto, eat
till you drop in Osaka" (京の着倒れ、大阪の食い倒れ).
The word is associated with Dōtonbori, often used in tourist
guides and advertisements, due to the excess and
extravagance of restaurants available. It can be seen in the
names of several locations in Dōtonbori, such as the mascot
Kuidaore Taro and in the restaurant Cui-daore.
Restaurants of Note
Kinryu Ramen: There are three Kinryu (Golden Dragon) Ramen
restaurants in Dōtonbori, one at each end of the street and
one in the middle. The chain is notable for its giant
three-dimensional golden dragon billboards, as well as its
outdoor seating consisting of tatami mats. Unlike many
Japanese restaurants, Kinryu Ramen is open 24 hours, and
offers a free garlic and kimchi bar.
Kani Doraku: A crab restaurant, easily identified by its
giant moving crab billboard. One of the most famous
landmarks of Osaka.
Otakoya: The famous and popular takoyaki stand, usually with
a long, long line leading up to the counter.
Zubora-ya: A fugu restaurant with a huge blowfish lantern
hanging out front.
Dōtonbori Ramen Taishokudo: A ramen restaurant formed by
eight famous ramen shops from across Japan who banded
together to form this one ramen paradise.
Cui-daore: a massive eight-story restaurant with a different
Osaka cuisine on each floor, it is a self-proclaimed
contender for the world’s largest restaurant.
Hariju: A beef restaurant from 1924.They use only Japanese
beef. One of the more famous beef restaurants.
While Dōtonbori is packed with interesting billboards and
buildings, there are three main landmarks that are most
often featured on postcards and advertisements for Osaka.
Kuidaore Taro: In front of Cui-daore is the mechanical
drum-playing clown, also known as Kuidaore Ningyo. He was
installed in 1950, and instantly became a popular tourist
attraction, even now swarmed by crowds of tourists patiently
waiting their turn to snap a memento. A popular sight is
Dōtonbori in March, when the visiting rikishi for the Osaka
Grand Sumo tournament line up with Kuidaore Taro for photos.
Kani Doraku Crab: This six and a half meter crab fronts the
famous crab restaurant Kani Doraku. It is mechanized, being
able to move its arms and eyestalks. Built in 1960, the
mechanical billboard soon spawned a craze of imitators
including a squid that puffs steam and oni that light up at
night. The Kani Doraku crab is responsible in many ways for
the current look of Dōtonbori; it appears on postcards and
websites probably more than any other symbol of Osaka.
Glico Man: Originally installed in 1935, the giant athlete
is a symbol of Glico candy, featuring a running man on a
blue track. The giant neon sign has been revised on several
occasions to celebrate events such as the World Cup and to
bolster team spirit for Osaka's baseball team, the Hanshin
Tigers.
Information source: “Dōtonbori.” wikipedia.org. Article
date: 29 Dec. 2007. Retrieved: Wikipedia. 4 Feb. 2008 <Dōtonbori>.
Video - The following was filmed in Dōtonbori.
The video is of people at a street food stand. |
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