Shinsekai

Shinsekai, meaning 'New World,' is a wonderfully retro entertainment district in south Osaka that has preserved its postwar Showa-era atmosphere while other neighborhoods modernized. Dominated by the Tsutenkaku Tower, a symbol of Osaka modeled after the Eiffel Tower, the area is famous for its kushikatsu deep-fried skewer restaurants where the golden rule is 'no double dipping' in the communal sauce. The streets are a riot of oversized, colorful signage and mechanical figures advertising everything from fugu pufferfish to gyoza dumplings. Despite its slightly rough-around-the-edges reputation, Shinsekai offers an authentic, unpretentious side of Osaka culture that contrasts with the polished Dotonbori area.