Nipponbashi Denden Town — Attraction in Osaka

As a diehard anime, video game, and car enthusiast I'd visited Akihabara plenty of times, so for my first visit to Kansai I was very curious how Osaka's own anime district compared. Although understandably much smaller than Akiba it was great to see Den Den Town had a charm all its own that made it well worth the visit.

While Akihabara has a centrally located train station that shares its name, going to Den Den Town usually means going to a couple of train stations that are either just north or just south of it. As a result while Akiba greets you right away with a technicolor ad barrage as soon as you get near, Den Den Town starts off more subtly. In fact I had to double check my phone to make sure I was really in the right place as I walked north from Ebisucho Station since I wasn't seeing any obvious signs of anime or video game signage even after some walking.

The first definite evidence I was on the right track was a small street sign simply saying “Den-Den-Town” but it was still a bit further on before a large Gundam billboard confirmed I was in the right spot to indulge my geekery. While I was initially worried Den Den Town would be much less of a target rich environment for shopping, once I got to the heart of it Den Den was as densely packed with stores as any geek could want.

In the same way that Akihabara flows along Chuo-dori as its main artery and spreads out from there, Den Den Town mostly follows Sakaisuji Avenue but spills over into a parallel street affectionately known as Ota (short for otaku) Road. If you're well familiar with Akiba you'll find the same standby stores in Den Den including Animate, Volks, Mandarake, Taito, Kotobukiya, etc., branches of the popular maid cafes like Maidreamin and At Home Cafe, as well as plenty of smaller local shops.

While even the big name shops don't have as big a footprint as in Akihabara, hunters of anime, manga, and video game merch will find plenty to buy with some amazing bargains to be had (some smaller figures I saw had absolute fire sale prices and they were even from current series). It's also less crowded than in Tokyo making it easier to browse at your leisure, particularly on a weekday.

While not as prolific as in Akiba, plamodel enthusiasts will also still find plenty to scope out with several sizable stores catering to it, especially mecha kits. Based on my experience model car enthusiasts on the other hand will have to limit their expectations since it was very slim pickings. Although I did find some cool bargains in one store, it was just that one store with a limited selection – nothing like Akiba's TamTam Hobby or the other car-centric stores there.

Not to forget fans of more adult themed goods, Den Den also has “those” kinds of shops too, just like in Tokyo lol.

In the end, Den Den Town is like a quarter-scale version of Akiba, nowhere near as large but still just as full of energy. By being smaller it also feels less hectic and crowded which is no bad thing when you're scouring shelf upon shelf of great merchandise to choose from. Very much well worth the visit even if you've spent plenty of time in its Tokyo...

Not as overwhelming as Akihabara, Tokyo (秋葉原、東京), but has much less shops and less dizzying a selection of stores. They range from your usual Animate (anime goods store. No they don't stock everything under the sun. Merchandise isn't made for every Fandom... It's just business). They have three Joshins which are separated in three separate building that are not side-by-side. One is for kids with train models, mini race cars (think Tamiya because I think that's what really went out of Japan to become popular in other nations). Lots and lots of hobby gear like the God hand nipper for gunpla, Tamiya compounds, and more. Other floors are the usual toys for younger boys and girls. There is a life goods joshin with bags, medicines, beauty products, watches, and audio gear. Then there's the electronics one with appliances, serious audio gear, smartphones and accessories of said smartphones, and pc stuff though PC Ones is better for peripherals and pc parts (power supplies, monitors, gpu, cpu, hdd, ssd, nvme storage, motherboards, and much much more). Then there're a lot of second hand game stores that sell ps2, ps1, PS4, pc, Xbox, and much older console games with a dizzying selection for really cheap whose prices range from 700-3000 yen games depending on age of game and dvd/blu-ray scratching (PS4 games are really cheap and sometimes the damage is so minimal it doesn't matter. They show you before they put it in the game box so you can cancel your purchase before purchasing if it's bad. Everything is in Japanese Soooo be forewarned if you can't at least read and/listen to the language) There are also your plethora of questionable stores that have safe first floors and questionable upper floors (if you see explicit posters then go up or go down depending on your comfort level with going to said questionable floor). There is also a sex toy store with specialized lingerie and more for those needs. Generally, it'll cover you gear and anime freaks pretty damn well, and won't kill two days as is the norm for tourists...

Den Den Town in Osaka is a paradise for all lovers of anime, manga, video games, and vintage electronics. Often referred to as the "Akihabara of Osaka," this vibrant neighborhood offers an eclectic mix of figurine shops, electronic stores, and vinyl record shops that cater to every geeky desire.

If you're a collector or enthusiast, you'll find yourself in heaven as you wander through the array of figurine shops in Den Den Town. From mainstream characters to rare finds, these stores have an impressive selection of beautifully crafted figurines that will surely ignite your passion. Whether you're into anime, manga, or gaming, there's something for everyone here.

But Den Den Town doesn't stop at figurines. It's also a treasure trove of electronic stores, where you can find the latest gadgets, peripherals, and components. From retro gaming consoles to cutting-edge tech, these stores cater to the needs of tech enthusiasts and hobbyists alike. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly, eager to assist you in finding the perfect addition to your collection or the latest gadget for your everyday needs.

One unique aspect of Den Den Town is its selection of vinyl record stores. Music lovers and collectors will appreciate the variety of records available, ranging from classic hits to niche genres. Whether you're looking for a nostalgic vinyl or expanding your collection, these stores offer a diverse and...