Shinsaibashi-suji is one of Osaka’s best-known shopping streets, a 600-metre long arcade running from Shinsaibashi Station to the equally famous Dotonbori canal. The seemingly endless shopping arcade boasts hundreds of outlets including shops selling every you could ever need or want, restaurants, cafes, bars, karaoke and plenty of other entertainment venues. While Shinsaibashi-suji’s heritage is largely obscured by its bright lights and often gaudy signage, it boasts a near-400 year history supplying local residents with their daily needs.

Today, you’ll find everything from official brand stores to cheap knock-offs, excellent restaurants to quick and cheap eateries. The street’s eclectic mix of stores, restaurants and entertainment ensure an equally odd variety of people walking through the arcade. Often crowded and noisy, you might quickly need to escape from Shinsaibashi-suji but it is worth visiting for a snapshot of life in Osaka.