Osu Shopping Street in Nagoya

18/01/2025

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Tourists destination in Nagoya!

If you visit Nagoya, you should definitely take a stroll through the Osu Shopping Street. To put it simply, it’s like a compact blend of Tokyo’s Asakusa, Akihabara, and Ueno. With its wide variety of products, you’re sure to find something that piques your interest. I’ll explain what this area is like using plenty of photos from my visit to the Osu Shopping Street.

History of Osu shopping street

Here’s a brief summary of Osu’s history:

1613: Osu Kannon temple is relocated to its current site, and the area thrives as a temple district (teramachi) in the Nagoya Castle town.
1860–1923: The area becomes a bustling red-light district.
World War II: The district is devastated by air raids.
Post-War Revival: Osu Shopping Street is rebuilt but faces decline in the 1970s.
Subway Construction: The new subway stations help attract people back, leading to its revival as an electronics district and later an otaku hub.
Present Day: A blend of traditional shops, unique stores(electronics and otaku goods), and international cuisine, making it a vibrant destination for locals and tourists alike.

What most readers might find intriguing is point 2. Osu Shopping Street was once home to a red-light district. Today, none of the buildings from that era remain. However, if you look closely, you can still find traces of its past. For example, there’s a large stone monument near the gate of Osu Kannon. Try going around to the back of it.

Since the kanji might be difficult to read, here’s a bullet-point summary of the meanings.

名古屋市旭廓: Nagoya city Asahi red light district
千寿楼: Senjuro (brothel name)
服部為吉: Hattori Tameyoshi ( Owner’s name)

The impressive stone monument in front of Osu Kannon is believed to have been donated by the owner of a brothel. At the time, it was a government-sanctioned red-light district in Nagoya.

Exploring Osu shopping street

The current Osu Kannon area has transformed into a lively district with electronics shops, otaku stores, and a variety of international restaurants. I’ve taken some photos of the streets to share, but the best way to experience it is to visit and see it for yourself.

The shopping street is also home to many unique and quirky shops. This shop is a quirky store themed around Alice in Wonderland, offering various themed goods.

There is also a shop selling anime T-shirts.

Recently, there has been an increase in shops catering to foreign visitors. You can enjoy flavors from a variety of countries.

A Southeast Asian grocery store.

A Mexican restaurant.

Within the Osu Shopping Street, there are historical sites and temples. These range from ones with a history of over 1500 years to temples that are the origin of the area’s name.

The hill-like structure in the photo above is called a kofun, which is an ancient burial mound. It is believed to date back to around the 5th century.

Event at Osu shopping street

Osu Shopping Street holds various events throughout the year. One that I personally find interesting is the antique market held on the 18th and 28th of every month. It’s a great opportunity to explore unique and vintage items in a lively setting.

Our map

I’ve compiled a list of Nagoya’s places that I’ve personally visited. Is Nagoya boring? Not at all! While it has developed as an industrial city, it also hides interesting places full of history and culture. Use this guide to explore Nagoya and discover its hidden gems.