NAMBA

Namba Osaka is famous for its giant crab and other restaurants. Namba is an entertainment district of Osaka.

Namba (難波, Nanba, IPA: [namba]) is a district of Osaka, Japan. Namba is regarded as the center of so-called Minami ("South") area of Osaka. Its name is a variation on the name of the surrounding ward, Naniwa. Namba is located in Chūō and Naniwa wards. Namba is best known as the city's main south-central railway terminus: JR, Kintetsu, Nankai, and three lines of the Osaka Municipal Subway have stations there.

Dotonbori

Some of the most famous images of Osaka, including the Glico Man and the Giant Crab, are located around the Dotonbori canal in Namba. Namba is also known as an entertainment district, and hosts many of the city's most popular bars, restaurants, nightclubs, arcades, and pachinko parlors. The area is also known for shopping, with the Takashimaya department store (for older styles) and the sprawling underground Namba City shopping mall (for newer styles).

Namba Giant Crab

Kani Doraku Crab
This six and a half meter crab is on the front of the crab restaurant Kani Doraku. It is mechanized, being able to move its arms and eyestalks. Built in 1960, this mechanical billboard soon spawned imitations, including a squid that puffs steam and oni (demons) that light up at night.

Namba Parks

Namba Parks is a new development consisting of a high office building, called "Parks Tower," and a 120-tenant shopping mall with rooftop garden. Various kinds of restaurants (Japanese, Korean, Italian, etc.) are located on the 6th floor, and shops on the 2nd to 5th floors. Parks Garden features enough greenery to help visitors forget that they’re in the middle of the city. There is also an amphitheatre for live shows, as well as space for small personal vegetable gardens and wagon shops.

Yoshimoto Shotengai
A new comedy theatre.

Namba City - Namba Station

Namba City is large shopping mall located upon Namba Station of Nankai Line. Namba City has 2-stories underground and 2-stories above ground with 300 shops of clothing, brand items, restaurants and cafés. A huge replica of the “N-1 Rocket” which launched Japan’s first geostationary satellite in 1977 is displayed on the B1 floor of the main building. This area is nicknamed ‘Rocket Square’ by young people and is their favorite meeting place. “City Men’s” opened in September, 2006 on the 2nd floor of the main building. Shops are lined up on the street under the concept of shop gallery.