Just a few blocks south of the city of Nagoya's downtown shopping district of Sakae lies the neighborhood of Osu. Reachable by municipal subway via either Osu Kannon station or Kamimaezu station, Osu is home to a dynamic shopping district that draws visitors from around the world.

Osu comprises some 1,200 shops, restaurants, and other such businesses. The arcade proper is made up of eight shopping streets on which around 400 of these establishments are located.

The stores and eateries on these streets are highly varied, ranging from neighborhood markets for fish and produce to used-apparel and trendy fashion shops, maid cafes, and even upscale bars, bringing in visitors of all ages and economic levels and imbuing the neighborhood with an appealing funky charm.

And of course there are great places to get souvenirs of Osu, Nagoya, and Japan.

Two of the pizza chefs at Cesari Solo Pizza in Osu are top winners of the World Pizza Championship in Napoli, Italy, and the pizza served here is genuinely world-class.

Just off the arcade you'll also encounter many fun-to-explore small streets and alleyways that are also filled with shops and places to get food and drink.

Just down the alley that runs by Solo Pizza is Niomon-yu, which is a sento, or public bath.

Stepping inside Niomon-yu is like stepping back in time to a Japan of yesteryear.

Just inside the entry is a high desk where you pay the bathing fee. Sex-segregated changing rooms are on either side. Once inside, there's a bank of key-equipped lockers for your belongings, with the bath itself reached through a door at the far end of the changing room.

The bathing area has tubs containing water of varying temperatures and qualities, as well as low stools and basins for washing up first using the bank of shower heads and spigots along both sides.

There's even a small sauna.

After your bath, back in the changing room, there are such amenities as old-style massage chairs, a scale for weighing yourself, and a refrigerator of cold beverages available for purchase.

If you want to experience this public bath yourself, the charge is 420 yen for adults (junior-high age and up), 150 yen for elementary-school students, and 70 yen for preschoolers. You can bring your own towels, soap, and shampoo, but they are also available for purchase at the entry desk.

The Osu shopping district is anchored at the west by the Buddhist temple of Osu Kannon.

On the 18th and 28th of every month, an antique market is held on the temple grounds, drawing vendors from all over to sell their wares.

The temple's gate features two statues of Nio, the Buddha's wrathful guardians.

At the opposite end of the arcade is Banshoji, another Buddhist temple, whose architecture is decidedly modern.

Banshoji features a giant white dragon.

At certain set times, the dragon comes to exciting life with sound, flashing colored lights, and exhalations of mist and water.

South of Banshoji by a couple hundred meters is a little open area. Nicknamed the "Maneki-neko Plaza" after the giant figure of a maneki-neko cat at its center, the square is a well-known landmark and popular meet-up spot.

On weekend afternoons, the plaza is also where you can find friendly Osu guides – volunteers whose have demonstrated deep knowledge of Osu by achieving high scores on a tough written test. The Osu guides are happy to help you find just what you're looking for in the neighborhood's daunting maze of streets and shops.

Local girl-idol group Osu Super idol Unit OS☆2U ("oh ess you"), whose mission since their start in 2010 is to promote and encourage Osu, also frequently gives free live song-and-dance shows at the plaza.

Another musical unit that performs at the Maneki-neko Plaza every Thursday evening is five-member boy-idol harmony and dance unit Cool-X.

If you're in Osu at the right time, be sure to catch their show!

Osu awaits you! Have fun exploring!