Osaka's representative shopping arcade. It is said to be "the longest shopping arcade in Japan" with a total length of about 2.6 km from Tenjinbashi 1-chome to 7-chome. It takes about 40 minutes to walk from one end of the arcade to the other. The arcade began to flourish when it became the main approach to Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, which is located in 2-chome and is dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, the god of learning. The shopping arcade has a long history, having developed into what it is today during the Meiji era.
There are about 800 stores in the shopping arcade. There are sushi restaurants with long lines, popular Western-style restaurants, curry shops, and retro-style coffee shops. Takoyaki (octopus dumplings), croquettes, crepes, taiyaki (fish-shaped pancakes), and other take-out food perfect for walking around are also available. There is also a wide variety of stores with a historical flavor, such as a popular diner with a rich flavor, a sword smith's shop, a tea shop established in the first year of the Meiji era (1868), a used book store, a very cheap clothing store selling Osaka's famous tiger-print T-shirts, and a variety of household goods such as pottery.
The Tenjin Festival, one of the three major festivals in Japan, is held every year on July 24 and 25. The shopping arcade comes alive with the parade of local portable shrines and the Tenjin Matsuri Gal Mikoshi, a portable shrine carried only by women. Stalls selling okonomiyaki and frankfurters will also be lined up, making the festival even more lively.
