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Amerikamura

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Triangle Park on a slow day
Triangle Park on a busy day
Triangle Park on a busy day

Amerikamura (アメリカ村, American Village) is usually referred to by locals as "Ame-mura." It is a sizable retail and entertainment area near Shinsaibashi in the Minami district of Osaka, Japan.

Amerikamura is identifiable by a small-scale reproduction of the Statue of Liberty that peers down on the streets. It is a well-known haunt of expatriate Westerners, and centres on Triangle Park, a concrete rest area surrounded by retail outlets of Western fashions, bars and nightclubs, some of which are run by Westerners.

Its repute as a hangout for Western foreigners is a matter of degree. Much as Osaka's registered foreign population is a small fraction of the total population, the makeup of the crowds and retail space in Ame-mura is predominantly Japanese. Locally, Ame-mura is known for being a place for observing some of the more "fashion intense" manifestations of Japanese youth culture.


Establishments

  • Big Cat: This is a live music venue in Osaka. In the same building — Big Step — there are domestic boutiques (Urban Research, Anna Sui, Jelly Beans, Ships, Stussy, United Arrows) and restaurants.

See also