Every time you visit Osaka, if you don't make a pilgrimage to Ebisu Bridge, where Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori meet, to see the huge Glico Running Man (グリコサイン) neon sign, it's like you never came to Osaka! As soon as you step onto the crowded bridge, the air is filled with excited exclamations in different languages and joyful laughter, with everyone packed onto the bridge trying to capture this iconic scene.
This Running Man sign overlooking the Dotonbori Canal has become one of the clearest symbols of Osaka's urban spirit since it was installed in 1935. The iconic runner crossing the finish line with his arms spread wide against a blue track background radiates unstoppable energy, whether seen during the day or lit up at night. At night in particular, neon lights flash all along the Dotonbori waterfront, and the Running Man's lights reflect on the water. Combined with all the giant three-dimensional signs nearby, such as the crab, takoyaki, and gyoza, the lively atmosphere reaches its peak.
After taking the classic group photo, look out from Ebisu Bridge and you'll see the seemingly endless Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street and Dotonbori's restaurant district on either side. Whether you want takoyaki or kushikatsu, or want to shop till you drop, just turn a corner and you can immediately immerse yourself in Osaka.
I highly recommend including Ebisu Bridge and the Running Man in an evening or nighttime walk when visiting Osaka. You can not only check in and take memorable photos here, but also deeply experience Osaka's most authentic, passionate, and vibrant local spirit!
Ebisu Bridge | Review by Jk
Other Reviews by Jk
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Himeji Castle
This castle is a World Heritage Site and a Japanese castle masterpiece. The main keep, built by Ikeda Terumasa in the early Edo period, has a five-story exterior, one basement level, and six stories above ground on the inside, making it the largest Edo period castle tower still standing.
Walk out of the main entrance of JR Himeji Station and look straight down the wide Otemae-dori Avenue. You’ll immediately be deeply awestruck by the enormous ancient castle gleaming white beneath the clear blue sky. This is Himeji Castle, a national treasure and the first site in Japan to be designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site! The castle’s most legendary feature is its exterior, completely coated in pure white, high-quality plaster. From a distance, it looks like an elegant white heron about to spread its wings and soar into the sky, earning it the romantic nickname “White Heron Castle.” Even more remarkable, it has survived centuries of warfare and miraculously emerged completely unscathed from the air raids of World War II, making it truly an “immortal castle” favored by fate. After passing through the intricate, maze-like defensive passageways and climbing the steep wooden stairs floor by floor to the top of the main keep, you can look down at the overlapping tiled eaves, intricate onigawara roof ornaments, and the expansive Himeji Plain in the distance. The magnificent feeling of traveling through time will truly leave you breathless and deeply moved!
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Nagoya Castle
One of Japan’s largest castle complexes, built in the early Edo period by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo shogunate. A pair of male and female golden shachihoko roof ornaments gleam atop the five-tiered Main Tower Keep, a symbol of Nagoya.
On the expansive grounds of Nagoya Castle, look up at the imposing, massive main keep, and the pair of solid-gold kinshachi—golden shachihoko—gleaming in the sunlight at both ends of the roof will instantly capture everyone’s attention! This famous castle, built by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, is considered one of Japan’s three great castles and is also a premier masterpiece showcasing the supreme power and authority of the Edo shogunate. The most jaw-dropping part of the entire castle is undoubtedly Honmaru Palace, which was perfectly restored in recent years after nearly a decade of work and enormous expense. Take off your shoes and step inside the palace, and the rich yet refined scent of hinoki cypress immediately fills the air. Every paper sliding door and folding screen before you was meticulously recreated stroke by stroke by today’s finest artisans in the style of Kano school masters. Covered in dazzling genuine gold leaf, they feature lifelike tigers, bamboo groves, and flowers and birds of the four seasons, all radiating elegance and grandeur. The level of luxury makes it feel as if an ancient palace made entirely of gold had been brought directly to life!
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Namba Yasaka Shrine
”Namba Yasaka Shrine”, located in the Namba area of Minami in Osaka, is a historic shrine said to have been founded during the reign of Emperor Nintoku (313-399).
Tucked away in the quiet residential backstreets of Osaka’s Namba area, the moment you enter the grounds of Namba Yasaka Shrine and look up, the enormous Lion Hall will definitely startle you wide awake! This lion head statue, standing 12 meters tall and 11 meters wide, has a fierce, cavernous mouth and huge, glaring eyes, giving the entire hall an overwhelmingly powerful presence. Legend has it that this giant lion’s mouth possesses boundless divine power, “swallowing up” all the misfortune, bad luck, and evil around it in one bite, while drawing in endless good luck, success, and prosperity! Whether you’re praying to pass your exams, get promoted at work, or achieve business prosperity, standing before this imposing lion with your hands together in prayer gives you an incredible sense of security and strength. Take a few low-angle photos with it, and the dramatic effect is so intense that it’s incredibly satisfying to see!
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