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The city of Osaka holds many attractions. And, specially, if you are a visitor from some foreign land, Osaka might seem to you like a box full of magic and charm. Large streets are called either 'dori' or 'suji' in Osaka. The streets running from north to south are called 'suji' and those running from east to west, are called 'dori'. Dotonbori-dori in Osaka is the famous stretch of road running alongside the Dotonbori canal, between the Dotonboribashi Bridge and the Nipponbashi Bridge. One of the prime tourist destinations in Osaka, it is actually a single shopping-restaurant street. You can feel the pulse of Osaka here in this pleasure district of Dotonbori which bustles with its surrounding theatres, shops, restaurants and the shimmering neon and mechanized signs, including the snack-candy manufacturer Glico's giant electronic display of a runner crossing the finish line. History of Dotonbori-dori in Osaka The history goes back to 1612 when entrepreneur Doton Yasui was expanding the small East-West running Umezu River by connecting the two branches of the North-South running Yohori River with a canal. After his death in the ill-fated Siege of Osaka, his cousins finished the canal in 1615. The new lord of Osaka Castle named the avenue Dotonbori in honor of its visionary. Dotonbori was designed as the theater and entertainment district of Osaka in 1621. By 1662, the avenue became the proud owner of six Kabuki theaters, five Bunraku theaters and the unique Takeda Karakuri mechanical puppet theater. To cater to the need of the tourists and entertainment seekers thronging the Dotonbori-dori, many restaurants and cafes were built. The Bridges of Dotonbori-dori in Osaka There are many bridges over the massive canal of Dotonbori. There are two bridges flanking the Dotonbori canal. The Dotonboribashi Bridge, popularly known as Midosuji Boulevard, is on one end and the Nipponbashi Bridge, also called Sakaisuji Boulevard, is on the other end. There are several footbridges in between connecting the Namba and Shinsaibashi shopping districts to Dotonbori, such as Tazaemonbashi and Aiaibashi. The Ebisubashi Bridge lies under the Glico Man billboard. Originally built to provide access to the nearby Ebisu shrine, the bridge is famous for being the ultimate pick-up spot in Osaka. Ebisubashi Bridge is the most convenient location for a meting or for going out into the lively Osaka nightlife. Landmarks of Dotonbori-dori in Osaka Wonder never ceases in Dotonbori-dori with fascinating buildings and interesting billboards. There are three main landmarks that best represent the spirit of Osaka. Kuidaore Taro This is a mechanical drum-playing clown in front of the restaurant Cui-daore. It is also known as Kuidaore Ningyo. Installed in 1950, it gained instant popularity among the tourists. Kani Doraku Crab This six and a half meter crab will greet you to the famous crab restaurant Kani Koraku. This mechanized crab can move its arms and eyestalks. Built in 1960, it was followed by rip-off models including a squid that puffs steam and oni that light up at night. Glico Man Originally installed in 1919, the giant athlete is a symbol of Glico candy, featuring a running man on a blue track. The giant neon sign has been improved on several occasions to celebrate events such as the World Cup and to bolster team spirit for Osaka's baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers. Restaurants of Dotonbori-dori in Osaka Dotonbori-dori is the main destination for food travel in Osaka. It is always featured in guidebooks for both foreign tourists and local people. Osaka's regional cuisine includes okonomiyaki (pan-fried batter cake), takoyaki (octopus dumplings), udon (a noodle dish), as well as regional sushi and other traditional Japanese foods. Some of the famous restaurants along the Dotonbori-dori are Kinryu Ramen, Kani Doraku, Otakoya, Tzubora-ya, Dotonbori Ramen Taishokudo and Restaurant Cui-daore.
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