Midōsuji (御堂筋, Midō-suji) Avenue is the primary main street in central Osaka, Japan. It runs north-south, passing Umeda, Nakanoshima, Shinsaibashi, Dōtonbori, Ame-mura, and Namba districts. Underneath the street is the Midōsuji Line subway. Especially in autumn when leaves of the ginkgo roadside trees turn yellow, a beautiful landscape can be seen.
Midōsuji becomes the Shinmido-suji in Kita-ku, Osaka, running concurrently with Japan National Route 423. After travelling about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) to the north it becomes the Minō Toll Road.[1] To the south, Midōsuji becomes the Kishu Highway.[2]
In Edo period, Midosuji was just a narrow street called "Yodoyabashisuji (淀屋橋筋)". Midōsuji was built in the Taishō period, widening an existing north-south street and extending it to run all the way to Umeda in the north and Namba in the south.
Today Midōsuji is an ultra high-class shopping street, housing clothing stores by such brands as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, major hotels, and even an Apple flagship.[3]
The area has been referred to in songs by popular artists such as Hitomi Yaida on her 2006 album It's a New Day.[4]
