Shinsekai<\/strong>, which literally means \u2018New World\u2019, is a district located in southern Osaka<\/a>. Its development began in 1912 and was presented as an ode to the future<\/strong> with great expectations of becoming a symbol of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My trip to the past through Shinsekai begins very close to the Tsutenkaku Tower<\/strong>, which is the emblem of Osaka<\/strong> and the seed from which the area began to be developed. During a time when the Western world was in vogue, Shinsekai was inspired by two of the most important landmarks in the world: the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Coney Island in New York<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The route to Tsutenkaku is short, but I cannot help but take my sweet time contemplating the plastic food replicas on display at the entrance of the restaurants and the extravagant and impressive facades and store fronts. Or stop to buy a small souvenir<\/strong> as a memento of my adventure in Shinsekai, the most unique neighborhood in Osaka<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reaching the bottom of Tsutenkaku and looking up, I am amazed by the beautiful ceiling painting that depicts three peacocks with ornate peonies and camellias. It\u2019s a reproduction of the original painting, which was created as an advertisement for a local cosmetics company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearby, I discover the tower entrance so I go down the colorful stairs and arrive at the first basement floor of the tower. Here, there are many shops where you can buy snacks and other limited goods from the Kansai region<\/strong>. Most of them are Takoyaki <\/a><\/em>and<\/a> Okonomiyaki<\/a> <\/em>theme-related, the soul food of Osaka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, there is a counter where you can purchase a ticket to ascend the tower<\/strong>. After you pay the admission, use the elevator to go up. There are many different observatories, souvenir stores, several exhibitions, and even a coffee shop<\/strong>! Click here to see the floor guide.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
But my favorite thing about Tsuntekaku is the external illumination<\/strong>, which changes monthly<\/strong>, representing the seasonal colors. March is pink, the same as the beautiful plum blossoms that usually bloom in this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But there\u2019s more! The top two bands of color on the tower indicate the weather forecast for the following day<\/strong> through simple color combinations. For example, if the upper color is red, and the bottom color is blue, it means that it will be cloudy in the first half of the day and then it will rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At sunset is when the area gets lively and both Japanese and tourists alike crowd into Shinsekai\u2019s restaurants to enjoy the local cuisine. There\u2019s a particular dish in the spotlight: Kushikatsu<\/a><\/em> (deep-fried skewers usually made with chicken, vegetables and seafood and is usually served with a kind of Worchester-like sauce). But in Osaka, when eating kushikatsu<\/em> there is a main rule: no double dipping! The sauce is shared with the other customers so, for hygienic reasons, you only can dip it once. My favorites are chicken kushikatsu<\/em> and cheese kushikatsu<\/em>. Delicious! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Besides kushikatsu<\/em>, Fugu<\/a><\/em> is another of the local specialties. It\u2019s the kind of thing that has to be experienced at least once in your lifetime since Fugu is a very special fish. It is the deadliest food you could ever eat<\/strong>. Due to its highly poisonous toxin (there is no antidote), it can only be manipulated, cooked and served by a licensed Fugu master. One of the most popular restaurants where you can eat it in Shinsekai is Zuboraya<\/strong>, although you can also find it in other places in Osaka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Billiken<\/strong> is a character well-known in Shinsekai and Osaka. He is a sort of elf with a mischievous smile and pointed ears that was created by an American art teacher. The very first representation of Billiken arrived in Japan in 1912 and it was installed in Luna Park<\/a>, an amusement park in Shinsekai that closed in 1923.<\/p>\n\n\n\n