Amerikamura

The American Village of Osaka, referred to as the ‘Amerikamura,’ is a pop culture hub like no other. A tiny slice of the United States of America with strong Japanese influences, this area could easily be the city’s answer to Tokyo’s Harajuku. This is where all of Osaka’s eccentric fashion trends emerge from, and it is therefore a wonderful place to shop for clothes and accessories. Expect to find oversized t-shirts with the boldest of prints and colours, and glittery earrings the size of your face. The caps and shoes up for grabs from one of Amerikamura’s many stalls could easily adorn the closet of a celebrated hip-hop star, except that everything here would come for less than half the price.
If your fashion sense is more of the subtle kind, this place is not for you. There is a lot of fast food to gorge on, and the music playing in its many establishments are the catchiest of the lot. Do remember that shopping at the American Village during night-time is a lot more exciting and the bargains are better. There is a weekend flea market for even cheaper buys. It is just a few minutes from the Shinsaibashi Station and very close to Dotonbori. Spending a few hours at Amerikamura, and indulging in some impulsive purchases is imperative for all those who visit Osaka.