Namba, Entertainment district in Minami, Japan
Namba is an entertainment district in Chūō and Naniwa wards, Japan, that includes several train stations, shopping centers, restaurants, and leisure facilities around Namba Station. The area covers multiple blocks and connects underground shopping passages with tall buildings and covered streets.
The area grew into a commercial center during Japan's economic expansion in the second half of the 20th century. Different railway companies built their terminals here, which turned the surroundings into a major transport hub.
The name comes from Naniwa, the old word for Osaka, which people still remember when they walk through the area today. The district mixes traditional food stalls with modern department stores, where locals meet after work to shop and eat together.
Most shops and restaurants open around 10 or 11 in the morning and stay open late into the night. The underground passages offer weather-protected walking between the different building complexes and train stations.
A spiral garden with eight levels sits between the buildings and holds about 500 plant varieties on its terraces. This green space climbs over several floors and offers quiet areas between the shops.
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