Osu Shopping District & Osu Kannon

大須商店街

A vast arcade shopping district in front of Osu Kannon Temple, mixing vintage clothing, electronics, anime and snacks from many countries, Nagoya’s liveliest neighbourhood.

Osu lies in Naka Ward, south of Sakae, centred on Osu Kannon (officially the Hōshō-in of Shinpuku-ji, a Shingon Buddhist temple on Mount Kitano). Tokugawa Ieyasu moved the temple here from Gifu in 1612, and a bustling commercial district gradually formed in front of its gates. Today it is a huge district of about 1,200 shops spread across eight covered arcade streets, including Niomon-dori, Banshoji-dori, Higashi-Niomon-dori and Osu Kannon-dori, nicknamed ‘Nagoya’s Asakusa, Akihabara and Harajuku combined.’ The main hall of Osu Kannon was rebuilt in 1970, and pigeons gather on the square in front of the red hall. The temple’s Shinpukuji Library holds the oldest surviving copy of the Kojiki, a National Treasure. On the 18th and 28th of every month, an antiques market fills the approach with stalls. Highlights of the shopping streets: the largest concentration of vintage (secondhand clothing) shops in central Japan, with dozens of vintage stores; an electronics district (Daini Ameyoko, with computer and parts shops); anime, toy, gacha-capsule and trading card shops; and street food from many places, including Taiwanese, Turkish and Brazilian snacks. Osu’s specialties include fried chicken wings, Taiwanese karaage, Mr. Lee’s Taiwanese Specialties Stall, frog manju, takoyaki and popular dessert shops. Also nearby is Banshoji Temple, the Oda family’s family temple, which sits beneath a giant lucky-cat Kannon statue and is known for its mechanical Buddha statues and white dragon performances. Access: Osu Kannon Station on the Tsurumai Line, Exit 2, is right there; Maezu Station on the Meijo Line is a 5-minute walk away; from Sakae it is about a 15-minute walk. Allow 2–3 hours, as most shops close after 8 p.m. Tips: weekends are very crowded; few vintage shops accept bargaining, so check sizes; the antiques market starts in the morning and is busiest before noon; do not overfeed the pigeons at the temple.

Osu Shopping District & Osu Kannon

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby