What it is
Centered on the Miyuki-dori shopping street in Osaka's Ikuno ward, this district is known as Osaka Koreatown. It's an area where many Zainichi Koreans have lived since before the war, and is said to gather shops selling kimchi, namul, and other prepared foods, along with butchers and general stores. Around Kintetsu and JR Tsuruhashi Station, a wholesale market of yakiniku restaurants and dried-goods and seafood stalls also spreads out, and many visitors walk both areas together.
Tips for getting around and eating
Prepared-food shops often sell kimchi, jeon (savory pancakes), and tteokbokki by weight or in single packs. Some shops sell street-food items like cheese hot dogs and tteokbokki to eat on the go, and trying a few different shops is a common way to enjoy the area. Yakiniku restaurants range from spots where you can order for one to group-oriented places, so booking ahead is said to help on busy weekends.
When to visit
The shopping street tends to be busiest from midday into the evening. Around Lunar New Year and Chuseok, the area often gets especially crowded with gift-buying and family visits, though the timing and any events shift year to year, so it's worth checking current information before you go.
Beyond the Miyuki-dori arcade, a lively wholesale-market-style area spreads out, said to sell dried goods and chili peppers by weight. When taking photos, it's said to help to ask before pointing a camera at a shop's goods or stall while it's in business. Small sit-down eateries are also scattered through the shopping street, said to be used by visitors who want to set down their bags and rest for a moment.