Osaka’s Den Den Town is a renowned hub of subculture, often compared to Tokyo’s Akihabara. Initially starting as an electronics market, Den Den Town gradually transformed into a subculture epicenter, featuring stores dedicated to animation and similar works, much like Akihabara. Comparatively, it exudes a vibe similar to Yongsan Electronics Market or the Southern Terminal Shopping Area in South Korea.
- Osaka Den Den Town, Hub of Subculture: Osaka, Haven of Subculture: “Den Den Town”
“Jungle Figure Shop in Osaka Den Den Town”
In Den Den Town, there are a few must-visit places to indulge in subculture, and Jungle is undoubtedly one of the main stores. Jungle is a shop that showcases and sells animation and game character figures, as well as related goods.
While the store isn’t excessively large, it is densely packed with figures and goods. It’s an excellent place for those interested in the field to spend a considerable amount of time exploring.
“A Structure with Two Connected Buildings”
Jungle comprises a main building and an annex combined into one. Both buildings have two floors each, allowing visitors to explore the 1st and 2nd floors of both the main and annex. Although the 1st floors are interconnected, the 2nd floors are not, requiring visitors to move through the 1st floor to access the next building. It seems like the name “Jungle” might have been inspired by the arrangement of products, extending like a jungle.
“Visited Early in the Morning”
During this trip, exploring Osaka’s Den Den Town was a must, even in the early morning due to the schedule. Visiting stores that sell subculture products at such an early hour on the weekend added a unique experience to the journey. It felt like eagerly waiting for the store doors to open, entering, browsing, and leaving, resembling the actions of a true otaku.
Certainly, besides myself, I observed other people exploring the stores early in the morning. It seemed that Den Den Town wasn’t just arbitrarily considered a subculture hub in the Osaka region.
However, even during this trip, I didn’t spend an extended amount of time in Osaka’s Den Den Town. After exploring a few stores and realizing the similarities in concepts and products, I decided to move on to other places, as I didn’t possess a specific, enthusiast-level interest in subculture.
“Osaka Den Den Town, Jungle”
- Address: 3 Chome-4-16 Nipponbashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0005, Japan
- Phone Number: +81 6-6636-7444
- Website: Jungle
- Operating Hours: (Mon-Fri) 12:00 – 20:00, (Sat-Sun) 11:00 – 20:00