Minami Guide
GuideWhat kind of town is Minami?"
The area called "Minami" in Osaka refers to Namba (Namba), Dotonbori with its Glico sign and giant three-dimensional crab sign, and the downtown area around Sennichimae.
Recently, people in the media, including TV programs, refer to the area as "Minami," but there is no actual place name "Minami"; it is more of a nickname used by the locals.
Now, where did this designation "Minami" come from? How far does "Minami" extend? The following is a detailed introduction to what kind of town Minami is.
Where is "Minami" in Osaka? Thorough explanation of a simple question!
Did you know that there are two areas in Osaka called "Kita" and "Minami"? Even local Osaka residents have different perceptions of these areas.
To learn more about the history of Minami, click here.
Namba, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi - 400 years of history in Osaka's Minami district (Part 1)
The Dotonbori River, now a world-famous landmark, is a canal that was created in 1615. Minami is a shopping district that was built around the Dotonbori River over a period of 400 years. Its scale is said to be one of the largest in the world.
Namba, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi - 400 years of history in Osaka's Minami district (Part 2)
The Dotonbori River, now a world-famous landmark, is a canal that was created in 1615. Minami is the downtown area that was built around the Dotonbori River over a period of 400 years.
About the area called "Minami
1. first, the most traditional area is here
The area is known as Dotonbori, Soemon-cho, Sennichimae, Namba, Ebisubashi Suji, and Shinsaibashisuji. The area is about the size of four Koshien stadiums. Doton Naruyasu of Hiranogo, with the permission of Taikoh Hideyoshi, built a moat along the Dotonbori River (1615) and proceeded to develop the area. The south side of the Dotonbori River was turned into a theatrical district, and five hanamachi (Soemon-cho, Kuroemon-cho, Yaguromachi, Sakamachi, and Namba Shinchi = five hanamachi in Nanji) were established around the river. Shinsaibashisuji and Ebisubashisuji developed as shopping streets. The area is said to have been called "Nanchi" or "Minami" because it was located south of the center of Osaka called Semba and Shimanouchi, and because the Dotonbori River was initially called "Minamihori River.
2. area where the downtown area gradually expanded from the Meiji Era to the prewar period
To the south, Takashimaya Osaka, Sennichimae Doguya-suji, and Namba Kagetsu; to the east, Kuromon Market and Nihonbashi (which used to be an old book district); to the north, Daimaru Department Store and Shimanouchi up to Nagahori Dori turned into downtown areas. In this area, there are less than 20 Koshien!
3. current area that has continued to expand
The extent to which the area is called "Minami" changes with the times. The south side is Namba City, Namba Parks, and Ota Road, the east side is the National Bunraku Theater, and the west side is America-mura, Horie, and Minatomachi (O-CAT, etc.). The area is the size of 50 Koshien stadiums; it is impossible to visit in a single day, so please come and enjoy it as many times as you like.
Thus, starting from the Dotonbori River, Minami has developed into one of the largest downtown areas in the world.
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