Dotonbori Glico Sign goes dark on 30 November 2026

Dotonbori’s Glico Sign will show its current sixth-generation display for the final time on 30 November 2026, before renewal work begins in Osaka. The change affects the illuminated landmark beside the canal, while its familiar runner figure is planned to continue on the replacement sign.

Dotonbori Glico Sign begins a planned renewal

Ezaki Glico announced on 14 October 2026 that the sixth-generation display at Dotonbori will end at the close of November. The company plans to start renovation work in December 2026 and introduce a seventh-generation sign in spring 2027. The exact design has not been released, but the runner at the centre will remain.

The company’s announcement identifies the sign as a landmark in Osaka’s Chuo ward and gives its address as 1-10-4 Dotonbori. The final date is also reported as 30 November 2026, giving visitors a fixed point for seeing the present display before work begins. Ezaki Glico’s renewal announcement sets out the planned transition.

The sign links Dotonbori’s canal view to 1935

The first Dotonbori sign was installed in 1935, and the current sixth generation was unveiled in 2014. The present display is 20 metres tall and 10.38 metres wide, according to The Straits Times report.

That history gives the November change a specific place in the district’s visual development. The sign is not being removed as a permanent landmark: the current display is being replaced, and the runner’s raised-arm pose is expected to carry forward into the seventh generation.

What changes around the canal after November

The renewal will alter a familiar photo viewpoint from December 2026, when the existing display is no longer operating. The company has not yet published the new design or a detailed programme for the construction period.

The sign faces Ebisu-bashi, the bridge associated with the well-known view across the Dotonbori canal. Visitors arriving before 30 November 2026 can still see the sixth-generation display; those arriving from December should expect renovation work instead of the current illuminated panel.

Visiting Dotonbori: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The current Glico Sign remains on display until 30 November 2026, with Ezaki Glico’s renewal work scheduled to begin in December.
• The main change concerns the sign itself: the sixth-generation display ends, while the runner is planned to remain in the seventh-generation version.
• The sign stands at 1-10-4 Dotonbori in Osaka’s Chuo ward, facing Ebisu-bashi over the canal. Osaka Metro Namba and Shinsaibashi are the nearest named stations identified for the area.
• Visitors in Japan will encounter Japanese and the yen.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Dotonbori

What changes at Dotonbori on 30 November 2026?

The sixth-generation Glico Sign ends its display on 30 November 2026, with renewal work planned from December. A seventh-generation sign is scheduled for spring 2027.

What is the Glico Sign at Dotonbori?

It is an illuminated landmark beside the Dotonbori canal in Osaka. The first sign was installed in 1935, while the current sixth generation dates from 2014.

Where is Dotonbori and how do you get there?

Dotonbori is in Osaka’s Chuo ward, in Japan’s Minami district. The Glico Sign stands at 1-10-4 Dotonbori, facing Ebisu-bashi, with Osaka Metro Namba and Shinsaibashi identified as nearby stations.