Shinsekai

There are low quality and garish colored signboards and bright neon lights, energetic voices of vendors, loud pachinko slot sounds, a variety of small incomprehensible businesses on the streets, and many more.

Furthermore, the main cast of this “show” are the whacky old men who seem to to have a loose screw or two.

They drink from the middle of the day, play Shogi, prowl around the streets and become angry, they mutter, and sometimes laugh out loud.

“This cannot be Japan” is the first impression of the Shinsekai area among foreigners who see the above.

Any normal Japanese person would feel the same way.

In contrast to the “Well-organized, neat and diligent” general image of Japan, Shinsekai is known as being “chaotic, noisy, dirty and strange”.

Having said that the area is different from the dangerous slum areas in the world.

Shinsekai is still a town in Japan, one is extremely unlikely to face a dangerous situation just by walking; it’s quite safe.

“People who are slightly unique are living their lives in their own way, surrounded by weird things in a lively manner”.

It is difficult to accurately describe Shinsekai through words.

If you like weird things even the slightest bit, visit Shinsekai, take it in with you eyes and feel the atmosphere yourself.

Brief History

The area was filled with farmlands and wilderness until the beginning of the 20th century.

It was once developed for a huge exhibition that was held in 1903, and afterwards, it became a popular entertainment area after having amusement parks and cinemas constructed under the theme of “Paris and New York”.

Shinsekai flourish for 30 years, but it declined and lost vigor after WW2, and people who walked around the city were mostly poor workers from a neighboring skid row, Airin District.

Since 1961, the impression of Shinsekai worsened greatly as a “scary city” due to the numerous riots the workers from Airin District caused.

However, the area became popular among the young generation from the retro atmosphere of the city in the 1990s as “Showa no nagori [reminder of Showa Era]”, and its impression became better after being used in several films, novels and manga, which made it into a tourism spot.

Shinsekai used to be an area that was “strange and exciting”, but recently it seems like the area has turned into a normal city.

It is difficult to say if this is a good or a bad phenomenon…

Moreover, Shinsekai is the third greatest gay town in Osaka, and the greatest red-light district in Japan, Tobitashinchi, is located nearby.

Nearby Excursions

Shinsekai is located near the Minami Area (Namba・Dotonbori・Shinsaibashi), and because it is only a few minutes walk from Shinsekai, visiting the area altogether is a good sightseeing plan.