{"id":1018,"date":"2024-03-28T10:05:21","date_gmt":"2024-03-28T01:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osaka-info.jp\/local_journey\/en\/?p=1018"},"modified":"2024-03-28T10:56:14","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T01:56:14","slug":"fuse-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osaka-info.jp\/local_journey\/en\/oneday-tour\/fuse-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Find the yokai in town! The mysterious charms of Fuse, a downtown shopping district"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The shopping district of Fuse, a downtown district that has flourished since the Taisho era, is full of yokai\u2026? Here is a model sightseeing course, the \u201c1 DAY Local Tour\u201d, recommended by Gin-san, a Fuse guide, that leads you through a secret Osaka only known to insiders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Located on the western edge of Higashiosaka, the Fuse* (pronounced \u201cfoo-seh\u201d) area has flourished as an important transportation hub connecting Osaka and Nara since the local station opened in 1914. Today, it is one of the largest commercial centers in the advanced manufacturing city of Higashiosaka. Fuse is also known as the town of Ebessan, the god of business prosperity also known as Ebisu, as it is home to Fuse Ebisu Shrine.1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n

  1. *Fuse, Kawachi, and Hiraoka were merged to form Higashiosaka in 1967, so there is no administrative municipality known as Fuse today. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n
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    The area around Fuse Station is just a 10-minute train ride from Kintetsu Osaka Namba Station Here, you\u2019ll find the Kintetsu Department Store directly connected to the station, as well as many stores and facilities, including a shopping mall and a home improvement center. The shopping district, which traces its history to before the beginning of World War II, is lined with a variety of stores that play their part in supporting the lives of the city\u2019s residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One event that has been livening up the Fuse shopping district in recent years is Yokai Atsume (Yokai Collecting), which began in 2017. Yokai are monsters and spirits from Japanese folklore. Participants in the event can find and take photos of yokai hiding in the shopping district; if they do, they can enter a raffle to win prizes. Yokai Atsume has become an autumn tradition that attracts more than 3,000 people, children and adults alike.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Taking photos with yokai<\/div>
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    Many people visit the Fuse shopping district<\/div>
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    Poster announcing Yokai Atsume in 2023<\/div>
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    The man behind this event is Gin-san, a sculptor from Hiroshima Prefecture. When he was 21 years old, he happened to stop by this place and ended up settling here. We had him guide us through Fuse, the city of yokai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Making an appearance in a pink nuribotsuke (lacquered Buddha mask)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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    \\ Today’s Guide \/<\/div>\n
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      Gin<\/div>\n
      Born in Hiroshima Prefecture. After running a business from a mobile kitchen car in his hometown, he moved to Osaka at the age of 21. In 2017, he started the Yokai Atsume event to revitalize the shopping district, and in July 2023, he opened Biribiri Monster, a store specializing in yokai.\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

      The Fuse shopping district spreads out like strands of a web<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      The Fuse shopping district consists of many shopping arcades spreading out like strands of a web, including Petit Road Hirokoji, which stretches southward from the traffic circle in front of the station; Flower Road Honmachi, which runs southward from under the elevated railroad tracks on the west side of the station; and \u201cBrandori Fuse,\u201d which runs northward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Mawaru Genroku Sushi Honten, the original conveyor belt sushi restaurant, is located on Ichijo-dori street, which runs alongside the railroad tracks connecting Petit Road Hirokoji and Flower Road Honmachi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      This neighborhood is also the setting for Journey Under the Midnight Sun<\/em>, the popular novel written by Keigo Higashino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      First, let\u2019s take a stroll through the shopping district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Flower Road Honmachi, a road overflowing with warmth where you can eat while you walk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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      Flower Honmachi, which leads up to Fuse Ebisu Shrine, is a downtown shopping arcade dotted with old-fashioned stores. It is characterized by the many restaurants and eateries that offer light meals that you can eat while walking, such as okonomiyaki (cabbage pancake) and kamaboko (fishcake) stores that specialize in takeouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Founded over 70 years ago, Niku no Yamajin is popular not only for its meat, but for the more than 30 varieties of fried food it offers, including croquettes, minced pork cutlets, and fried shrimp. The hamburgers and bento boxes made with freshly fried ingredients are also delectable.<\/p>\n\n\n

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      Cheap and delicious! This is fried food heaven!<\/div>
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      Handmade croquettes (\u00a570 including tax). This store once sold more than 3,000 of them in a day. <\/div>
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      This is Mitsuya Kamaboko Honpo, a store selling unique fried fish cakes. There are always about 15 kinds of fried fish cakes on the shelves, ranging from standard items to rotating exclusives made using seasonal vegetables. The store is run by three people: a couple and their daughter, an elementary school student who is the store mascot. Many regular customers have fun chatting with them whenever they visit the store.<\/p>\n\n\n

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      The most popular item is onion tempura.<\/div>
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      Sweet and crunchy!<\/div>
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      Shichimi-ya Koguma\u2019s owner, an old woman, makes shichimi (a traditional seven-spice blend) to her own liking on the spot. This store originally sold children\u2019s clothing, but due to the declining birth rate, it changed to selling okonomiyaki instead. The owner is currently continuing her business by only selling shichimi, which she started selling at the same time as her other offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n

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      Still working at 89 years old! Work is the secret to good health<\/div>
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      We asked for extra chili and pepper.<\/div>
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      Fuse\u2019s beloved grandmother soothes and cheers you up<\/div>
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      The never-changing Koguma name. The sign is adorable!<\/div>
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      Many of the stores in this shopping arcade are run by families, making you feel as though you\u2019re a guest in their living rooms.<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Petit Road Hirokoji, a street cut in half by the widening highway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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      Visible from the central south exit, Petit Road Hirokoji (on the west side of the former Hirokoji shopping arcade) is a shopping arcade. Due to the opening of the Osaka Electric Railway between Uehonmachi and Fuse in 1914, this area underwent significant expansion until the post-war economic boom. Due to road widening carried out in 1977, the eastern half of the shopping arcade became a road (now Prefectural Route 172), leaving only the western half.<\/p>\n\n\n

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      Chestnut manju in the shape of fruits. Exciting!<\/div>
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      As big as the size of your palm \u2014 quite substantial!<\/div>
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      Wayogashi Momoya, which is adorned with a large peach symbol, is a Japanese and Western confectionery store offering a variety of confections including daifuku, manju, and okaki, which are perfect for enjoying at home as well as for souvenirs. The popular mixed juice daifuku, a daifuku filled with Osaka\u2019s famous mixed juice, sometimes sells out by noon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      The brioche, made with plenty of butter, is a popular item.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Located south of Petit Road Hirokoji is the famous local bakery Kintaro Pan, which has been in business for nearly 100 years. The store was so named in the hope that the children of Fuse will grow up healthy and with vitality, just like Kintaro, a hero from Japanese legends. This store, which has been passed down through generations, always has more than 30 types of unique breads on its shelves.<\/p>\n\n\n

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      All the breads sold here are elaborately-crafted and unique breads.<\/div>
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      Kintaro adorns the storefront and the takeaway bags! Look for him in the store, too!<\/div>
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      Many other well-known and locally loved stores remain, including Matsui Instruments Store, which sells Japanese musical instruments such as shamisen, koto, and shakuhachi, as well as maneki-neko statues; and Oboko Hanten, a Chinese restaurant with an eye-catching yellow sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      This is a street where you can have fun just by looking at these long-established stores. Japanese musical instruments are popular with foreigners, so I highly recommend coming here!<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      A Mecca for Kaku-uchi Bars \u2014 \u201cBrandori Fuse\u201d is packed with bars and pubs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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      Brandori Fuse is a shopping arcade located to the north, across the elevated railway tracks from Flower Road Honmachi, with a total distance of 600m across the first to the fourth streets. There are a variety of restaurants here, but it is famous for being a mecca for \u201ckaku-uchi\u201d bars, which are standing bars that double as liquor stores. You can drink at the many bars and pubs here even during the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Awaji-ya is a popular local izakaya (Japanese pub) whose distinguishing characteristic is its low-hanging curtain. It attracts a wide range of customers, from elderly local men to young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Sake-dokoro Hirata, which has unfortunately closed its doors, was a beloved kaku-uchi spot that served excellent oden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      I don\u2019t drink, but I love bars. Hirata is the bar that I would like to see make a return the most. There are so many people that miss it\u2026!<\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Biribiri Monster \u2014 the base for Fuse\u2019s yokai city project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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      Biribiri Monster, which opened its doors in 2023, is located directly underneath the base that Gin-san used as his studio for many years. Specializing in yokai, it sells T-shirts and miscellaneous goods, on top of making original rugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Gin-san has always loved music. On his way to Saitama to obtain a license as a keyboard instructor, he happened to stop by the town of Fuse and fell in love with it. He settled here, and has been living here for almost 28 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cStarting when I was 18, I ran my own business in Hiroshima, running a mobile kitchen car for about 3 years. Once I had saved up enough money, I thought, \u2018I\u2019m going to do what I love.\u2019 I was going to attend a specialist keyboard school in Saitama, but I ended up living in \u2026 Fuse,\u201d he said with a laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Rugs designed to look like various kinds of yokai. The pink yokai, which is also used in Yokai Atsume posters, is called Hajikkaki.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Later, he became a sculptor because he also liked to draw, and he found himself becoming popular in Fuse as a young person who was brightening up the shopping arcade. Local leaders asked Gin-san for advice as to how to rejuvenate the shopping arcade, where more and more stores were shuttered due to the aging of the population. After thinking about it, he came up with the idea of Yokai Atsume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cAt the time, most of the members of the shopping arcade association were over 60 years old, and I, as a younger person in my 40s, was asked to come up with ideas. I wasn\u2019t the kind of person who could revitalize a community, but I thought that this was an opportunity to do something I liked, so I proposed that we turn Fuse into a town of yokai.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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