When visiting Osaka’s Shinsekai area, one of the most iconic shopping routes is Shinsekai Hon-dori Shopping Street. The street is full of Osaka’s old-fashioned working-class charm and offers a real sense of everyday local life. You’ll find all kinds of kushikatsu restaurants, izakayas, souvenir shops, and food stalls, along with distinctive signs and neon lights. As you stroll around, you can also enjoy the lively atmosphere with a touch of nostalgia. Tsutenkaku Tower is nearby, so it’s very convenient to visit both together.
Shinsekai Hon-dori Shopping Street | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
-
Kanazawa Castle Park
In 1583 (the period of Tensho 11th), Toshiie Maeda entered this castle as the first feudal lord, since then this castle had been used by the Maeda family of Kaga Domain until the early time of the Meiji, later the ruin of this castle was reconstructed to use as a large park for citizens.
Kanazawa Castle Park was once the residence of the Maeda family of the Kaga Domain and is now an important place to learn about Kanazawa's history and architectural culture. The park preserves historic buildings such as the Ishikawa Gate and Sanjikken Nagaya, and castle structures such as the Hishi Yagura, Gojikken Nagaya, and Hashizume Gate have also been reconstructed. The Gojikken Nagaya is particularly impressive. One of the most fascinating features of Kanazawa Castle is its variety of stone walls, with distinctive masonry styles from different periods. You can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring and fall foliage in autumn, and each season offers a different view. It's a great place to visit together with nearby Kenrokuen Garden.
-
-
Kanmon Straits
Located at the westernmost end of Honshu, separating Yamaguchi Prefecture's Shimonoseki City and Fukuoka Prefecture's Kitakyushu City, it's said to have formed about 6,000 years ago. The name "Kanmon Straits" is derived from the initials of Shimonoseki, historically known as Makan, and Moji, a district in Kitakyushu City.
The Kanmon Straits lie between Japan's islands of Honshu and Kyushu. They are an important sea route connecting the Seto Inland Sea and the Sea of Japan, and also separate Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture from the Mojiko area of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture. At their narrowest point, the straits are only a few hundred meters wide, and ships pass through very frequently. If you're visiting Mojiko or Shimonoseki, it's worth stopping by for a walk.
-
-
Kanmon Bridge
Opened in 1973, Kanmon Bridge is a suspension bridge connecting Moji in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, with Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Spanning the Kanmon Straits, the bridge measures 1,068 meters in total length and was the longest bridge in Asia at the time of its completion. It forms part of an expressway linking Mojiko IC and Shimonoseki IC, and is open only to motor vehicles (excluding vehicles not permitted on expressways).
This large bridge over the sea connects Fukuoka Prefecture in Kyushu with Yamaguchi Prefecture in Honshu. Looking out from the Mojiko area, you can take in the expansive scenery created by the bridge and the straits. It's especially impressive on a clear day, when the blue sky, sea, and bridge complement one another. While strolling through the Mojiko Retro district, you can also enjoy views of the Kanmon Bridge from different angles, and you may even see ships passing underneath it!
-
