Dotonbori Glico sign goes dark on 30 November

Dotonbori’s Glico sign will complete its current display on 30 November 2026, when Ezaki Glico ends the sixth-generation landmark before renovation work begins. The illuminated board overlooks the canal in Osaka’s entertainment district and stands beside Ebisu Bridge.

The sign is commonly known for its running figure, which will remain in the seventh-generation design. The local landmark is therefore changing rather than disappearing permanently.

Dotonbori’s Glico sign ends its sixth generation

Ezaki Glico plans to switch off the present sign on 30 November 2026. Nippon TV reports that the sixth-generation display, unveiled in 2014, will be renewed with updated LED technology and replaced by a seventh-generation version in spring 2027. The company has not released the new design.

The renewal follows the ageing of the existing LED bulbs. The first Glico sign at this location appeared in 1935, linking the upcoming change to nine decades of illuminated advertising above the canal. The current version was the first at the site to use LED lighting instead of conventional neon, according to Nippon TV’s report on the renewal.

What the renewal means beside the Osaka canal

The sixth-generation board will no longer provide its familiar illuminated backdrop after 30 November 2026. Renovation work is scheduled to begin in December, while the seventh-generation sign is planned for spring 2027. The company has confirmed that the raised-arms runner image will remain, but has kept the rest of the design secret.

The sign’s history gives the date a specific importance for visitors. A first version was installed in 1935, the current generation arrived in 2014, and the next change will be the first replacement in 13 years. The Straits Times reports that the current board measures 20 metres high and 10.38 metres wide, and that LED technology will also be used for its successor.

That combination of a fixed final display date and a planned replacement changes what travellers will see at the best-known photo location. The canal, bridge and surrounding streets remain part of the visit, but the sixth-generation board will not be the background after the November change.

Visiting Dotonbori: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The final display date is 30 November 2026. Renovation work is scheduled to begin in December, with a seventh-generation sign planned for spring 2027.
• The access change concerns the billboard itself: the sixth-generation sign will no longer be displayed after 30 November 2026, while the canal-side district and Ebisu Bridge remain the relevant viewing area.
• The sign overlooks the Dotonbori canal in Osaka, and Ebisu Bridge is the recognised viewpoint for the familiar front-facing view.
• The landmark’s sign tradition began in 1935, while the current sixth-generation board was unveiled in 2014.
• The replacement will continue to use LED technology, and Ezaki Glico says the runner image will remain.

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Frequently asked questions about Dotonbori

When does the Dotonbori Glico sign change?

The sixth-generation display ends on 30 November 2026, and renovation work is scheduled to begin in December.

What has changed at Dotonbori?

Ezaki Glico is replacing the sixth-generation sign with a seventh-generation LED design planned for spring 2027. The runner image will remain.

Where is Dotonbori and how do you get there?

Dotonbori is a canal-side district in Osaka, Japan. The Glico sign stands beside Ebisu Bridge, which provides the recognised view across the canal.