A hub for Osaka's youth culture, America Mura refers to area from Nagohori Street on the west side of Shinsaibashi Station until Dotonbori. There are about 2500 stores, including second-hand clothing and CD shops. It's about a 2-minute walk from the station. The current America Mura had its start in 1969, with the opening of the coffee shop, Loop. Afterwards, the number of shops selling American goods, such as apparel imported from the west coast and Hawaii, increased. The name came into usage after stores held an event they called "America Mura Natsu-no-Jin." In the 1980's, the area took on further American influence with the opening of music record and second-hand clothing shops. From then on, America Mura came to be known for fashion and for being a place that young people gathered. At the turn of the century however, Minamisenba, Horie, and eastern Umeda's Chayamachi began to grow in popularity, reducing the daily number of visitors on weekends and holidays from 70,000 in 1998 to half by 2005. In 2014, there was a sudden upsurge of graffiti which continues today, prompting stricter patrols by the Osaka government.
Address
1-chome~2-chome Shinsaibashi Chuo-ku, Osaka, 542-0086
Access
3 mins. walking from Osaka Metro Midosuji Line [Shinsaibashi Station]