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Osaka Vacation Guide
Another intense corner of urban Japan, Osaka lacks the hidden gems of Kyoto or the manic pace of Tokyo, but is nevertheless well worth exploring. The capital of Japan’s most cultural-heavy region, Kansai, Osaka was almost bombed to the ground during the Second World War, so you won’t find much in the way of history in the city itself. It’s an essential stopping off point for anyone with a passion for ancient Japan, though, and not without plentiful charms.
It might be dominated by over ground highways and clinking pinball parlors, but Osaka comes alive at night. Neon lights dominate a cityscape that’s bordering on the surreal, glowing with sparkling neon and futuristic streets that feel like a scene from a high-technology movie. It’s often ugly, sure, but it’s actually surprisingly charming, too, especially once you find yourself sipping sake in a local karaoke room, or waiting for your favorite dish to make its way round the sushi conveyor belt.
Osaka’s aquarium is a surprising highlight, being home to 15 recreated environments that even host a whale shark; it’s also housed in a beautiful, sparkling new building. The intimidating Osaka-Jo castle contains plenty of relics from the once ruling Toyotomi family, while its gardens are dripping with beautiful pink cherry blossom in spring. The ceramics museum stores pieces of national importance, and stands amid a picturesque 19th century park.
Explore the enormous Ferris wheel that looks out over the city, or make the most of Osaka’s reputation as the ‘kitchen of Japan’ and indulge in plenty of hearty food. You can even check out the local entertainment specialty, Banraku Puppet Theater, before heading off into the province to explore Nara, Mt Koya and Kobe.
At its core, Osaka remains a merchant city; a place where fireworks and pharmaceutical companies each have their district, and dominate the streets. To dismiss the city as only this, though, is to miss the point. It might not be picturesque, but its lively, playful, and a taste of a more typical urban Japan.
It might be dominated by over ground highways and clinking pinball parlors, but Osaka comes alive at night. Neon lights dominate a cityscape that’s bordering on the surreal, glowing with sparkling neon and futuristic streets that feel like a scene from a high-technology movie. It’s often ugly, sure, but it’s actually surprisingly charming, too, especially once you find yourself sipping sake in a local karaoke room, or waiting for your favorite dish to make its way round the sushi conveyor belt.
Osaka’s aquarium is a surprising highlight, being home to 15 recreated environments that even host a whale shark; it’s also housed in a beautiful, sparkling new building. The intimidating Osaka-Jo castle contains plenty of relics from the once ruling Toyotomi family, while its gardens are dripping with beautiful pink cherry blossom in spring. The ceramics museum stores pieces of national importance, and stands amid a picturesque 19th century park.
Explore the enormous Ferris wheel that looks out over the city, or make the most of Osaka’s reputation as the ‘kitchen of Japan’ and indulge in plenty of hearty food. You can even check out the local entertainment specialty, Banraku Puppet Theater, before heading off into the province to explore Nara, Mt Koya and Kobe.
At its core, Osaka remains a merchant city; a place where fireworks and pharmaceutical companies each have their district, and dominate the streets. To dismiss the city as only this, though, is to miss the point. It might not be picturesque, but its lively, playful, and a taste of a more typical urban Japan.
Popular Hotels in Osaka
Osaka Travel Blogs
Jul 25, 2008 – Apr 04, 2009
Osaka, Japan -› -› …
...Was our first plan.. lol Started raining around noon. Ayaka, Yasuyo and I were there and wished hard to stop raining but got harder....Messaged to most TBs that hanami is canceled and go to bowling instead. Waited for Simon and Ted. Simon showed up on time at the station where we were supposed t…
Apr 15, 2009 – Sep 18, 2009
Osaka, Japan -› Nara, Japan -› …
We have summer vacation which called OBON in Japan. It's from the 12th to 16th August. I was welcoming Gloria(TB) and her friend's Marco from Italy for 3 days at my home before OBON. Gloria made suggestion us to make fireworks meetup during they are in Osaka! That's nice idea! We were maki…
Jul 25, 2008 – Sep 18, 2009
Osaka, Japan -› Arima, Japan -› …
Satoshi one of the Osaka Tb's is leaving for Phillipines for an internship , so if he was doing a good cause, we thought we should do a good cause to him and throw him a farewell Party, good luck satoshi and have fun in the Phillipines, my friend. 11 of us joined the fun at Ume hachi an Izaka…
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