OSAKA--Littering has long soiled the bustling Dotonbori district here as tourists who enjoyed takoyaki and other local specialties often just tossed away the plastic trays and sticks. But now ...

For an unfettered celebration of Osaka's pleasure-seeking appetite, head to Minami. It straddles the Dotonbori Canal and glows with neon signs pointing to street food stalls and shopping arcades.

Dotonbori refers to a canal, a street that runs parallel to it, and the general entertainment district in the heart of Osaka. Its history dates back to 1612 when Yasui Doton (1533-1615 ...