Osaka Shopping and culinary
Osaka has a large number of wholesalers and retail shops: 25,228 and 34,707 respectively in 2004, according to the city statistics. A lot of them are concentrated in the wards of Chuō (10,468 shops) and Kita (6,335 shops). Types of shops varies from malls to conventional shotengai shopping arcades, built both above- and underground.
Shotengai are seen across Japan, and Osaka has the longest one in the country. The Tenjinbashi-suji arcade stretches from the road approaching the Temmangu shrine and continues for 2.6 km going north to south. The type of stores along the arcade includes commodities, clothing, and catering outlets.
Other shopping areas are Den Den Town, the electronic and manga/anime district, which is comparable to Akihabara; and the Umeda district, which has the Hankyu Sanbangai shopping mall and Yodobashi Camera, a huge electrical appliance store that offers a vast range of fashion stores, restaurants, and a Shonen Jump store.
Osaka is known for its food, as supported by the saying "Dress (in kimonos) till you drop in Kyoto, eat till you drop in Osaka"– more literally, "Kyoto (residents) are (financially) ruined by (overspending on) clothing, Osakans are ruined by spending on food". Regional cuisine includes okonomiyaki (pan-fried batter cake), takoyaki (octopus dumplings), udon (a noodle dish), as well as the traditional oshizushi (pressed sushi), particularly battera
Other shopping districts include:
* American Village (Amerika-mura or "Ame-mura") – fashion for young people
* Dōtonbori – part of Namba district and considered heart of the city
* Namba – main shopping, sightseeing, and restaurant area
* Shinsaibashi – luxury goods and department stores
* Umeda – theaters, boutiques, and department stores near the train station
Other shopping areas are Den Den Town, the electronic and manga/anime district, which is comparable to Akihabara; and the Umeda district, which has the Hankyu Sanbangai shopping mall and Yodobashi Camera, a huge electrical appliance store that offers a vast range of fashion stores, restaurants, and a Shonen Jump store.
Osaka is known for its food, as supported by the saying "Dress (in kimonos) till you drop in Kyoto, eat till you drop in Osaka"– more literally, "Kyoto (residents) are (financially) ruined by (overspending on) clothing, Osakans are ruined by spending on food". Regional cuisine includes okonomiyaki (pan-fried batter cake), takoyaki (octopus dumplings), udon (a noodle dish), as well as the traditional oshizushi (pressed sushi), particularly battera
Other shopping districts include:
* American Village (Amerika-mura or "Ame-mura") – fashion for young people
* Dōtonbori – part of Namba district and considered heart of the city
* Namba – main shopping, sightseeing, and restaurant area
* Shinsaibashi – luxury goods and department stores
* Umeda – theaters, boutiques, and department stores near the train station