Nipponbashi
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (April 2007) |
Nipponbashi (日本橋)
Although written with the same kanji 日本橋 in Japanese, Nihonbashi in Chūō, Tokyo is a different place and has a different pronunciation.
History
During the
The name "Nipponbashi"
"Nipponbashi" most properly refers to the bridge of the same name, which crosses over the Dōtonbori canal. However, the shopping district bearing the name of the bridge does not actually reach as far north as its namesake, though its northern areas are part of the "Nipponbashi" municipal designation (unlike Akihabara Electric Town which sits entirely apart from the origin of its name).
Den Den Town
Den Den Town (でんでんタウン, Den Den taun), or Denki no machi (電気の町) is an alternate name for Nipponbashi, as it is famous for its wide variety of consumer electronics stores, and especially famous for its negotiable prices—unique to Osaka and the
With the opening of Yodobashi Camera in Umeda and Bic Camera in Namba, Den Den Town saw a major fall-off in furniture and home-appliance sales, but has more recently become known as a haven for anime and otaku-related shopping, analogous to Tokyo's famous electronics district Akihabara. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as the "Akihabara of West Japan", or by the phrase "Akiba in the East, 'Ponbashi in the West".
Attractions
Besides the usual large electronics retailers such as Joshin, Sofmap, etc. Nipponbashi is also host to numerous retailers of anime, manga, and other otaku-related goods such as Mandarake, Tora no Ana, and Osaka Gundams—a two-story all-Gundam outlet. The town also features numerous maid cafés and cosplay cafés. These include small and simple maid-themed coffee shops, maid-staffed massage and beautician services, and sit-down style full service cabarets.
Transportation
References
- ^ "Nipponbashi Osaka, Otaku Road Osaka's most famous area for fans of Japanese geek culture". japan.travel. Japan National Tourism Organization. May 21, 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2023.