Den Den Town Osaka: Akihabara of the West!
Devon Lord-Moncrief
When people think about creating their dream trip to Japan, heading into Akihabara in Tokyo, the mecca of electronics and anime. But many people may not know that a little bit to the west of Tokyo, within the city of Osaka, is a shopping district just as exciting, if not better than, Akihabara. Den Den Town Osaka is an absolute must-visit shopping district for anyone visiting Japan!
Where is Den Den Town in Osaka?
Den Den Town is easily accessible from several of Osaka’s major rail lines. It is within walking distance of Nipponbashi, Ebisucho, and Namba stations. On a map, Den Den Town is also directly next to Osaka’s other famous travel destination, Dotonburi, making it a perfect day trip to hit up both locales.
What can I do there?
There is a staggering amount of things to do in Den Den Town. At its core, Den Den Town is a gigantic shopping hub packed with stores of all kinds. You can find it here if you’re jonesing for anime and manga, video games and electronics, or second-hand stores and hobby shops.
Den Den Town is also home to countless excellent restaurants and eateries, not to mention several themed cafes. Many people believe Den Den Town is better than Akihabara because it generally has much less foot traffic (which means shorter queues and waiting lines!).
What’s the area’s history?
The local history of this part of Osaka reaches back several hundred years. In short, though, in the 17th and 18th centuries, this area of Osaka was named Nipponbashi, as it is known today. It wasn’t until after World War II that many second-hand bookstores began to open up throughout the area. As the years passed, more and more stores began to open alongside them, with electronics stores becoming very popular. Soon, the area became known as Den Den Town, and it has continued to grow ever since.
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Where are some notable places in Den Den Town?
Den Den Town has several major stores worth traveling to for those traveling to Japan. To begin with, Super Potato has a location in the area, which is big news for any retro video game fan. Speaking of video games, there is also a fantastic Dragon Quest-themed Lawsons in the area, an absolute must-see for any series fan.
Video games aside, the area is also home to Kuromon Market, a vast market that serves incredibly fresh seafood. Coco Ichi has a location in town that serves up a vast assortment of curries for those with a mighty hunger (and many are less than 1000 yen!) There are plenty of other places to visit, too, with the following being some of the more famous!
Maidreamin Osaka Nipponbashi Ota Road
Den Den Town is home to its fair share of themed cafes like its eastern cousin in Tokyo. Of them is Maidreamin, a very popular maid café. If you need a dose of super cuteness and friendly service, Maidreamin is the place to go. As always, though, it is important to remember to be respectful and civil when going to maid cafes.
Volks Hobby Square
Anyone passionate about models and model building must go to Volks Hobby Square. There, you can find models of all kinds, from Gunpla to trains and everything imaginable. Model building is a serious hobby for many people, and Volks offers an astounding selection of model kits, accessories, and tools.
Game Taito Station
One of the most recognizable arcades across Japan, Taito’s Game Stations are massive, towering arcades that offer entertainment for everyone. Taito Stations are typically laid out on several floors that visitors can climb to, each dedicated to a different game.
The first floor usually has crane games, the second floor has general arcade games, the third has music games, the fourth has online games, and the fifth may have photo booths. It’s easy to spend a few hours in a flash at a Taito Station, so be prepared to watch the time!
Why should I visit Den Den Town Osaka?
If your travels in Japan take you out of Tokyo and into Osaka, you should visit Den Den Town, which is the same reason you would visit Akihabara or Shibuya. Simply put, it is packed with things to do. It offers fun and excitement for everyone who visits, from shopping to eating to playing games.
It also offers plenty of proper shops and stores to visit if you need something practical. Den Den Town offers the same cutting-edge culture as Akihabara but with the bonus of having smaller crowds. And again, considering it’s right next to Dotonburi, there’s no better way to plan a full-day trip to Osaka.
Have you ever been to Den Den Town Osaka before? If so, what did you do? Did you go for anime and games or food and entertainment? Please let us know in the comments below! We’d love to hear about your adventures there!
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