Tsūtenkaku

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"Darn! Why does this town smell so nostalgically warm and familiar!" In "Crayon Shin-chan: The Adult Empire Strikes Back," Hiroshi walks through a village bathed in the twilight, smelling the nostalgic scent of the 20th century, yet he turns away and sheds a tear. Perhaps it's the harsh reality of daily life that makes the past smell so fondly missed, even though one may wish to live submerged in memories forever for the sake of their family, moving forward into the future is inevitable. Today's location is Shinsekai (New World), a place of memories for our fathers or grandfathers' generation when they were young. Unlike other areas in Osaka, Shinsekai has an old feel. It was developed in 1903, clearing farmlands to create the Osaka Exhibition's venues, hence the name Shinsekai was born. Amusement parks like Luna Park and motifs of Paris' Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower inspired the construction of Tsutenkaku tower. Afterwards, cinemas, theaters, and restaurants emerged, making it the biggest entertainment district in Osaka. By 1912, Luna Park closed, and Tsutenkaku was dismantled during the World War for military supplies, leading to its decline. However, it was rebuilt in 1953, along with the revival of surrounding restaurants, making it what it is today. Near Tsutenkaku, the arcade-style shopping district houses restaurants, supermarkets, go salons, and bars, with many standing bars and kushikatsu (skewered fried food) restaurants visible. Go and shogi salons were also plentiful, with the sight of elders giving unwarranted advice from outside the windows, offering a different atmosphere from other bustling areas in Osaka. Young people looking for gourmet places or observation decks, families visiting the nearby zoo, and older adults spending time in a place filled with nostalgia all fill Shinsekai. A new world becomes an old world as another new world emerges. Though the world continues to change, will the memories held by those people remain a new world in their hearts forever? Additional Information on Tsutenkaku Location: 1 Chome-18-6 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0002 Japan Operating Hours: 10:00~19:30 (final admission time) Closed: Open all year Admission: 900 yen (high school students and above), 400 yen (ages 5~junior high school students) If you have an Osaka Enjoy Pass, you can enter the observation deck and tower slide for free. The admission fees mentioned above are for the regular observation deck. Prices vary for the regular observation deck/regular observation deck + outdoor observation deck/tower slide, so please keep this in mind when visiting.