Shinsekai district and Tsutenkaku Tower

Shinsekai, which in Japanese means "new world", is one of the most authentic and photogenic districts of Osaka. It was built in 1912 inspired by two cities: the north of the district imitated Paris and the south, Coney Island in New York. Today, with its vintage neon facades, its smoke-filled izakayas and its cobbled lanes, Shinsekai has a unique retro energy that contrasts radically with modern Osaka. The most iconic element is the Tsutenkaku Tower, 103 metres tall, which presides over the district like a nostalgic lighthouse; you can go up to the covered observatory for around 900 yen or the outdoor one for around 1.200 yen, open from 9:00 to 21:00. But the real experience of Shinsekai is on the street: try the kushikatsu at one of its classic restaurants (remember the rule: don't dip twice in the shared sauce), explore the retro souvenir shops and watch the locals playing mahjong in the ground-floor bars. The district is especially recommended at dusk, when the neon comes to life. The nearest subway station is Dobutsuen-mae (Midosuji and Sakaisuji lines).