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Jan
10
Osaka Travel & Sightseeing Guide
Filed Under Japan
A trip to Osaka
Osaka, Japan’s second largest city, is centrally located and served by two airports, making it a convenient place to visit for those interested in its rich and fascinating history and culture and nightlife scenes, which are as diverse as Tokyo’s. The city is situated on the island of Honshu, on Osaka Bay, and historically has been Japan’s commercial capital.
Flights to Osaka
The Kansai International Airport is located on a manmade island some 30 miles offshore, serving not only Osaka but also the cities of Kobe, Kyoto and Nara. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Osaka try Thomas Cook. Bus and train services provide convenient and quick transfers to all these locales. The second facility serving the region is Osaka International Airport, handling most regional and domestic services to the metropolitan region: it’s just 10 miles from Osaka.
In addition to Osaka’s Municipal Metro system, state and private rail lines connect surrounding communities with the city. Taxis are plentiful, but quite costly, so public transport is often the option of choice.
Osaka
Sightseeing in Osaka
Osaka Castle is one of the most formidable castles you’ll find in the country and boasts a history closely linked with that of Japan. Its interior has been converted into a museum, providing visitors a glimpse into the castle’s past as home to a number of famous warlords.
Japan is known worldwide as a leader in the world of high-technology and electronics, and the Osaka Science and Technology Museum is a fascinating place to see what this actually means. There are displays on modern advances in technology and science, exhibits on all the latest gadgetry and interactive, multimedia corners where kids and adults alike can experience the best in what the country has developed.
Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
Osaka offers visitors a nightlife scene that’s on a par with Tokyo’s, found in the Kita area which surrounds the Umeda railway station and the Minami area, between the Shin-Sai-bashi and Namba districts. Osaka’s young and hip residents tend to hang out in Chuo-ku, Amerika-Mura, where there are seemingly innumerable bars and nightclubs. Kita, on the other hand, tends to attract an older crowd including office workers. For those interested in cultural activities and events, Osaka offers live theatre and music including performances staged by visiting ballet and opera companies.
The cuisine on offer here is extraordinarily diverse in that every imaginable cuisine of the world is available. Those looking to tuck into Japanese cuisine can expect it to be served up beautifully. The regional dishes of Osaka include such favourites as okonomiyaki, a batter cake that’s pan-fried; takoyaki, dumplings made with octopus; and udon, a popular noodle dish. Regional sushi selections and other typical traditional Japanese fare are also readily available.
Fun by day - shopping and activities
Shoppers will have a field day here: there’s a huge range of options from markets to designer boutiques and everything in between. Many top designers are represented here in chic Kita and Minami, and also along upscale Mido-Suji avenue. Well-known labels are also featured at the many shopping malls and popular hotel arcades. Hip and trendy fashions are highlights of the Amerika-Mura and Nishi Horie sector.
Daytrips
Osaka’s location is an ideal base for making one-day trips to close-by cities such as Kobe (20 minutes), Kyoto (30 minutes) and Nara (40 minutes). The multicultural city of Kobe is home to innumerable ethnic restaurants and a bustling Chinatown; the ancient capital of Kyoto boasts plentiful historical temples, while Nara is a more intimate city that used to be the country’s first imperial capital.
Should Osaka’s concrete jungle start getting to you, head for the lush greenery and diverse temples of Mount Koya, a totally different world, just 90 minutes away by train. Major highlights include the mausoleum of Kukai, illuminated by 1,000 lanterns, the Garan temple complex with the Konpon Daito pagoda, and the Kongobu-ji temple, impressive headquarters of the Shingon sect.
Quite a different experience is the Expo Park in Suita, north Osaka. This huge amusement park is home to over 40 attractions and several appealing visiting spots, including the Museum of Ethnology, Japanese Garden and Expoland. The park’s landmark is the Tower of Sun designed by famed sculptor Okamoto Taro. You can take a taxi from here to Tadao Ando’s world-renowned Church of Light.
Must-see attractions
Situated near Osaka Station, the futuristic Floating Garden Observatory looks like a spacecraft gliding between the Umeda Sky Building’s two towers at 557 feet above sea level. Two super-fast glass-enclosed elevators will take you from the 3rd to the 39th floor, from where you can enjoy a jaw-dropping panorama of the whole of Osaka, making it a favourite nightspot for dating couples.
Another draw for height lovers are the Universal Studios Japan, the country’s second-largest fun park. This is considered the best movie theme park on the globe, featuring an abundance of exhilarating attractions such as thrilling rides and authentic Hollywood shows. However, you should expect a lot of Japanese synchronisation over the movie characters.
Among the plethora of temples in Osaka, there are two outstanding examples which should not be skipped. Constructed in 593, Shitennoji is the oldest state-founded temple in Japan and conveys the continental style from the 6th century to the present through the positioning of the diverse buildings. Sumiyoshi Taisha belongs to the country’s oldest Shinto shrines boasting a 1,800-year history, its park-like surroundings providing a relaxing break from Osaka’s busy environment.
Best time to go
In general, spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons to visit the Osaka region, while the summers are hot and muggy, and the winters rather cold. In spring, the temperatures remain cool until May, and people enjoy the eye-catching cherry blossoms. Autumn stays fairly warm until November so you can take a walk in the parks and forests to watch the maple leaves changing colours.
Rainy day suggestions
A must-see, and not only to bridge a day of bad weather is Kaiyukan, one of the largest aquariums in the world. Placed at Tempozan, Osaka’s seafront leisure area, this tourist draw presents 580 species of marine life, including numerous sharks, dolphins, seals and otters inside 11,000 tons of water. At weekends, street performers and musicians offer additional entertainment outside the aquarium.
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