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Introducing Nihonbashi Ota Road, the largest electric town in western Japan and a favorite of 2D fans!

Introducing Nihonbashi Ota Road, the largest electric town in western Japan and a favorite of 2D fans!

2023-04-17 Management office

Nihonbashi and Ota Road have become a sacred place for anime fans representing western Japan.
It follows the same lineage as Akihabara in that it once flourished as an electric town and then as a radio town with goods and related products such as various anime works, manga, and games.
For otaku living in western Japan and the Kansai region, it is truly a key point of interest. In this article, we will introduce its charms.

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The largest anime-related single street in western Japan



Like Akihabara in Tokyo, Ota Road in Nihonbashi, Osaka, is an area where anime goods, related products, and a variety of two-dimensional culture are pushed to the forefront.
Although there are some cases where single stores such as Animate and Melon Books are located in local shopping malls or as stand-alone stores, the fact that they are comprehensively condensed into a single shopping street makes them very convenient.
This makes it a very popular area for geeks, and it is also convenient for shopping around.

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Dense, motley culture tugs at the heartstrings of two-dimensional otaku



Otaku culture, as represented for example by comic markets and other sales events, has been fostered by people gathering together to share their hobbies and favorite things.
Therefore, while Akihabara and other areas have of course had a large presence, Ota Road has become the most important point of interest in western Japan.
This city, where "likes "of all kinds of two-dimensional culture gathers, is always crowded with geeks.
Events and independent projects are very exciting, and we can catch glimpses of our own tastes blossoming in the midst of this frenzy.
It is of course accessible to those who want to see all kinds of goods, and some people feel a sense of treasure hunting that they can't get enough of, no matter how many hours they have.
It is interesting that such an extraordinary place is set up in the middle of the city.
A huge oasis for anime lovers, you'll want to check it out first!

The very standard animate must visit.



Animate is the first store that comes to mind when we think of stores that sell a comprehensive range of anime goods, original works, manga, and other items.
In many cases, animate stores by themselves are located in larger cities and commercial facilities in each prefecture, but this animate store is a whopping four stories high.
Anime fans will definitely want to visit this building, where numerous two-dimensional worlds are condensed into a single building.
It is very satisfying, and it is no exaggeration to say that you can get everything you want first.

A full overview of the animate



As mentioned above, this animate has four floors.
First of all, the first floor is filled with manga, light novels, and other two-dimensional book works. The excitement never ceases as the store also sells CDs, disks, and character songs by voice actors.
The second and third floors are each devoted to the sale of anime goods, with the second floor featuring many new items, while the third floor, "Rashinban ", is devoted mainly to the resale of used goods.
There is even a possibility that you may come across a treasured item that you missed out on or a valuable item that can only be found here.
Prices vary widely, from inexpensive key chains to expensive life-size panels, so you can find the right product for your own personal taste.
Mellon Books on the 4th floor is a treasure trove of doujinshi. Of course, there is a large selection of new paperbacks, books, manga, etc., but it is the dojinshi that have supported the rise of two-dimensional culture to this point.
They can create derivative works of their favorite works as they wish and put them into books. This freedom to develop culture is the secret to its popularity.
This Melon Books is one of the largest doujinshi sales venues on Otaku Road, making every day feel like Comiket.
They have different tastes, ranging from fun books for all ages to more extreme books for adults.
Since the corners are well classified, we encourage you to find the work that best suits your needs.
Thus, while Otaku Road as a whole has an extremely wide selection of products, it is strong enough to be completed in a certain way within Animate.

"information "
Name: Animate Osaka Nihonbashi (Animate Osaka Nihonbashi)
Address: 4-15-17 Nihonbashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Business hours: 10:00 - 20:00
Access: 5 min. walk from Nankai Namba Station
10 minutes walk from Kintetsu Nihonbashi Station

Next large store to visit: Gamers.



Gamers is a two-dimensional retail store on Otaku Road that is a twin of Animate.
Despite being a one-story store, Gamers has a long depth and a well-balanced store with new light novels and manga in the front and an extensive book inventory plus CDs, DVDs, and exclusive new anime goods in the back.

A store with a lot of fixed fans with a lot of benefits.



Another feature of Gamers is that it offers a wide range of unique benefits and other advantages.
In addition to the SS book sheets and covers for light novels and other items that are exclusive to Gamers, as the name implies, the service is generous when purchasing games.
If you visit occasionally, you can see that the game is being offered as an advance trial or that a box of early bird specials has been placed on hold.
The spacious layout of the store is very roomy, unlike, for example, "Rashinban "in Animate, and it is easy to calmly select goods.
The bookstore "and ", which specializes in selling doujinshi, were built on the second floor of the same building and sadly closed last summer.
Although the reason for the closure was a shift to online, it is a little sad to see a traditional, permanent store close its doors.
Even today, remnants of the building still exist faintly, so please check it out, even if only from the outside.

"information "
Name: Gamers Namba Store
Address: 3-8-16 Nihonbashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Business hours: 10:00 - 21:00 (weekdays, weekends and holidays)
Access: 5 min. walk from Nankai Namba Sta.
8 minutes walk from Kintetsu Nihonbashi Station

A variety of hands-on facilities such as maid cafes, con cafes, and sleep-along refreshments



So far, we have introduced the significance of Otaku Road as a geek shopping destination and its famous spots, but that is not the only attraction of Otaku Road.
"The building functions as a mecca for moe "and is also home to maid cafes, con cafes, and sleep-along refreshment stores.
In fact, walking around the middle of Ota Road, you can see pretty women dressed in various cosplay costumes handing out flyers and touting their wares.
We believe that it is a good idea to visit this interesting experience, which is not easily experienced in daily life.

What's a con-cafe? What's a Concealment Reflex?



Maid cafes emerged in the early Heisei era when "Train Man "and other maid cafes flourished, and when moe culture in Japan had a negative impression of something dubious and creepy, a form that continues today.
Women dressed in maid costumes will provide rations, food and drink, and will be excited by the lovely service.
It is always crowded with people, including foreigners, for their standard Japanese sightseeing.
The subspecies that emerged were con cafes and sleepover refreshments.
The con café is a bar counter-like place where women in cosplay enter and offer food and drink.
In addition to the enjoyment of a near one-on-one conversational basis, there is a strong culture of drinking alcohol.
However, it is distinct from a cabaret club. For example, if you just want to drink as much alcohol as you can, the price is around 2,000 yen per hour.
It is recommended for those who want to drink while casually talking with women.
The latter is an exciting place where you sleep alone with a woman in a private room.
Services vary from store to store, but stores on Osaka's Ota Road often offer unlimited hugs, body touches, and other massages built into their service fees at reasonable prices.
Stores in the same line in Akihabara are more expensive, each with its own billing system.
It looks expensive indeed, 5-6,000 yen for 30 minutes, but it is a daily

Junk food is a favorite of Ota Road residents!



Inseparable from otaku culture is junk food.
This type of inexpensive, extremely filling dining experience is a friend to otaku who tend to prioritize the purchase of goods and books.



There are not many restaurants present in Ota Road, but they are grainy and varied.
Walking from the direction of Namba Station, the first thing you will see is a house-shaped ramen store and a meat bowl restaurant.
And if you continue south toward Animate, you will find several Jiro-style ramen stores and even a steakhouse.
One of the best is "Mianya Gaten Z ". The junky mixed soba noodles, which are served with garlic and bean sprouts stirred vigorously in a style that is both destructive and delicious, are through and through.
The back oil and soy sauce-based sauce clings tightly to the noodles, and the stimulation of garlic and its texture make this power rice dish appetizing.
Highly recommended due to its counter style and high turnover rate.

"information "
Name: Mianya Gaten Z (Mianya Gaten Z)
Address: 1-1-5 Nippombashi Nishi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Hours of Operation:
[ Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday ]11:30-15:00
17:30~21:30
[ Saturday, Sunday, Holidays ]
11:00~16:00
17:30~22:00
Access: 5 min. walk from Nankai Namba Station
10 minutes walk from Kintetsu Nihonbashi Station

summary

Thank you for reading this far.
We have compiled a complete overview of Ota Road, from the flourishing two-dimensional culture of the mainline to the hands-on stores, restaurants, and eateries.
Please take a look at this article and visit.

[Access information
5 minutes walk from Subway/Kintetsu "Nihonbashi station "

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