A street food market on the levee, a barbecue area and cruise ships along the river? Starting with the somewhat innovative activity area “Minamo Juso” (located in the vicinity of 1-chome, Juso-Higashi, Yodogawa Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture), “WONDER BBQ FIELD Juso” and “OSAKA BUS WONDER CRUISE” all opened simultaneously on August 8. The site is a 5-minute walk from Juso Station, a major terminal on the Hankyu Railway line, and offers panoramic views of the Yodo River—which spans 800 meters in width including its riverbed—as well as a cluster of high-rise buildings such as the Umeda Sky Building and Grand Front Osaka, which stand approximately 180 meters tall. The exhilarating experience of enjoying exquisite cuisine and participating in various activities at this location offers something truly unique that can only be found here. However, the facilities in this area were forced to undergo repeated plan changes, resulting in an opening delay of one year and four months. Let’s discuss the future challenges and anticipated benefits while also hearing from the president of the operating company and the mayor of Yodogawa Ward about the circumstances that prevented the project from being completed in time for the World Expo.
A massive gathering of 22 food stalls on the levee! First, let’s step into the “Minamo Juso” food stall district. It’s about a 3-minute walk from Hankyu Railway’s Juso Station. As you walk up a gentle slope, you’ll find 22 container-style food stalls lined up along the flat, levee-like road (the top of the levee). The lineup of stalls is as follows (listed in order from the west side, closest to the station). Minamo Juso Stall List ・momose – Seasonal Vegetables, Snacks, and Sake – (Bar/Izakaya)
・~YHYH~ Woo-hoo~ (Café & Dining)
・The Lord’s Tea Room (Japanese Sweets & Light Bites)
・Takoyaki Highball Bar Hisago (Takoyaki & Izakaya)
・Charcoal-Grilled Yakitori at Kakashi (Yakitori)
・Katsuo Shokudo (Seafood Izakaya)
・Korean Street Food Hanjang (Korean Cuisine)
・100-Minute Kushikatsu at Ma-Oh (Kushikatsu & A La Carte Dishes)
・Sakaba Hachi (Japanese-style izakaya)
・Gyoza and Oden: Gon-chan (Gyoza, Oden)
・STAND RAW WEST (Creative Izakaya)
・Phed Phed (Thai cuisine)
・Yakiniku Yuzu-chan (Yakiniku)
・Yatai no Japonica (Casual Sushi Izakaya)
・Sushi Joe (Sushi)
・Casual Italian Restaurant Wachichi (Italian)
・Jidori Ramen Amon (Jidori Ramen)
・Lion Tacos (Tacos)
・Gossui Gyoza (Dumplings)
・Robatayaki and Sake at Yajima (Robatayaki and Sake)
・Charcoal-Grilled Free-Range Chicken “Andou” (Yakitori)
・Octopus Shabu-shabu and Charcoal-Grilled Dishes: Saeki (Octopus Shabu-shabu & Charcoal-Grilled Dishes) The menu features takoyaki, oden, ramen, gyoza, yakiniku, as well as Korean and Thai cuisine. The counter offers a lively atmosphere, where chefs prepare sushi and fillet whole octopuses right before your eyes. Additionally, most stores on the shared menu serve alcohol. Around the container-style food stalls, there are a few counter seats, and many have table seating where a small group can stand and drink. Overall, the space is compact with low canopies, so you might think, “Isn’t it too hot for standing and drinking?” But come evening, a breeze blows in from the Yodo River, making it feel just the right temperature. Juso is one of Osaka’s top drinking districts, and many of the shops on the shared menu serve alcohol. You might wonder if this leads to competition, but since “Minamo Juso” is located in a residential area near apartment complexes, its operating hours are somewhat short, ending at 11:00 PM. At 10:30 PM, a staff member goes around notifying each shop, “No more orders—time to pack up!” So, if you’re still not satisfied, it’s a good idea to head out into the streets of Juso on your way home.
© Source travel watch