5 Best Sights in The Kansai Region, Japan

If you only have one night in Osaka, the neighborhood of Dotonbori (named after the canal and adjacent street of the same name) is the place to go. Once Osaka's old theater district, Dotonbori is now a lively pedestrian zone centered around the Ebisu-bashi Bridge, which lies under the neon lights of the Glico 'Running Man' sign, one of Osaka's main landmarks and popular hangout spot. Nearby streets are filled with restaurants, shops, and the shouts of countless touts, each proclaiming (usually falsely) that their restaurant is the only one worth visiting. Sadly, many of the restaurants on the main street are being replaced by drugstores catering to overseas tourists, but the side streets in the area are a culinary treasure-trove. Stroll along the riverfront walkways to avoid the crowds, or slip into Hozenji Yokocho Alley, two blocks south of Dotonbori-dori, to splash water on the moss-covered statues at Hozenji Shrine or dine in any of the excellent restaurants hidden away on this quiet street.

Stepping into Shin Sekai is a chance to see the Osaka of a generation ago. Built in 1912, the neighborhood was meant to emulate New York and Paris (complete with its own Eiffel Tower). After the war the area fell into neglect and became one of the few dangerous areas in Osaka. Over the past few decades, Shin Sekai has cleaned up its act while retaining its retro feel. On weekends everyone lines up to try kushi katsu, or batter-fried meat and vegetables on skewers. Near Tennoji Park and Shitennoji Temple, it's an excellent afternoon or early-evening stop. After dinner visit Tsutenkaku Tower for lovely night views of Osaka.

Though it takes its name from the original shops that sold cheap American fashions and accessories, Amerika-mura (meaning "America Village"), or Ame-mura (pronounced “ah-meh moo-ra”) as it's more often called, is now a bustling district full of trendy clothing stores, record stores, bars, cafés, and clubs that cater to teenagers and young adults. Shops are densely packed, and it's virtually impossible to walk these streets on weekends. To see the variety of styles and fashions prevalent among urban youth, Ame-Mura is the place to go in Osaka.

If you're heading to Meriken Park, consider a short stop in Kobe's Chinatown. The area was originally a center for Chinese immigrants, though it is now mostly popular with Japanese tourists looking for souvenirs and food. To find Nankin-machi from Moto-machi Station, walk on the port side and enter the neighborhood through the large fake-marble gate.

All the latest video games, computers, cameras, phones, build-your-own-robot kits, and other gadgets are on display here. Even if you are not in the market for electronics, a stroll through Den Den Town provides an interesting look at Japan's anime, video game, and computer subcultures. "Den Den" is derived from the word denki, which means “electricity.”