Despite its name, I’m not so sure this area of Osaka is an “American village.” Regardless, Amerika-mura is a hip area with great street food!
Amerika-mura is a small open area of shops, clubs, and street food stands that attracts many youthful visitors who are into Western culture, fashion, and music. While the big English billboards, giant TV screens, and mini skate parks bear a slight resemblance to New York City, the area is still very Japanese in my opinion.
Ghetto Vibes
There’s definitely a Grand Theft Auto vibe at Amerika-mura (for all you gamers out there). From thrift stores to food stands, the atmosphere feels a little ghetto and a little gangsta, and you’ll probably see more graffiti here than anywhere else in Japan!
American fashion is definitely a thing here, particularly among young men who opt for baggy basketball trousers and Lakers tops while hitting the skateboard slopes in their Air Jordans. You can surely get a degree of American vibes at Amerika-mura, but the many Asian street food stands make it feel more like a Chinatown district of the USA rather than a New York.
Delicious Street Foods
It may be called Amerika-mura, but you won’t be getting hotdog and burger stands here, after all, you’re still in Japan! So why not indulge in an Osakan classic like this tray of piping hot takoyaki (octopus dumplings)?
Sitting down with a friend while munching on delicious street foods and watching the youngsters skating it out is one of my fondest memories of Amerika-mura. For that reason, I always advocate checking out this little “American village” despite not feeling so American, because it has a worthwhile vibe of its own!
Room For Dessert?
If your stomach is anything like mine, then you know there’s always room for dessert! To this day, one of the most memorable desserts I’ve had across all of Japan is this simple but scrumptious soft-serve fried sandwich.
You can purchase them in the heart of Amerika-mura from the kind lady running the store. With an abundance of soft-serve flavors to choose from including chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, I say you can’t go wrong with matcha green tea!
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