With a population of 2.5 million, Osaka (大阪, Ōsaka) is Japan's third largest and second most important city . It has been the economic powerhouse for many centuries.
Osaka was formerly known as Naniwa. Before the Nara Period, when the capital used to be moved with the reign of each new emperor, Naniwa was once Japan's capital city, the first one ever known.
Osaka forms one contiguous urban area with neighboring Kyoto and Kobe. This region, known as the Keihanshin Metropolitan Area, has a population of 19 million people. Osaka isn't just big, it's unique. Many people are surprised to find that Osaka has a completely different personality from Tokyo. Where Tokyo is reserved, Osaka is extravagant. Where Tokyo is shy, Osaka is warm and outgoing.
National Art Museum:
The National Art Museum of Osaka occupies two underground floors on Nakanoshima Island in central Osaka. The museum focuses on Japanese and foreign contemporary art, with exhibitions from the museum collection and special exhibitions.
The museum's current building was opened in 2007 and was designed to represent the growth and shape of a bamboo plant. The facility was formerly housed in the Expo Museum of Fine Arts, built for the Osaka Expo in 1970.
Osaka was formerly known as Naniwa. Before the Nara Period, when the capital used to be moved with the reign of each new emperor, Naniwa was once Japan's capital city, the first one ever known.
Osaka forms one contiguous urban area with neighboring Kyoto and Kobe. This region, known as the Keihanshin Metropolitan Area, has a population of 19 million people. Osaka isn't just big, it's unique. Many people are surprised to find that Osaka has a completely different personality from Tokyo. Where Tokyo is reserved, Osaka is extravagant. Where Tokyo is shy, Osaka is warm and outgoing.
National Art Museum:
The National Art Museum of Osaka occupies two underground floors on Nakanoshima Island in central Osaka. The museum focuses on Japanese and foreign contemporary art, with exhibitions from the museum collection and special exhibitions.
The museum's current building was opened in 2007 and was designed to represent the growth and shape of a bamboo plant. The facility was formerly housed in the Expo Museum of Fine Arts, built for the Osaka Expo in 1970.
Minoo park:
Minoo Parkis a forested valley on the outskirts of Osaka, just north of the urban sprawl. During the fall, it is one of the best places in the Kansai Region to see the autumn colors in a natural setting, as opposed to the attractive fall foliage found at temples and gardens. The colors are usually best in the second half of November.
Especially on weekends, many people come here to enjoy walking on the main paved trail: Takimichi. Built around 1886, Takimichi is a walking trail which leads to one of the most famous spots here, the Minoh Waterfall
Universal Studios:
Universal Studios Japan currently has eight sections: Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Waterworld , Amity Village, Universal Wonderland and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Visitors are able to enjoy many amusement rides, ranging from child-friendly carousels to thrilling roller coasters and simulators based on popular movies such as Spiderman, Back to the Future, Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park.It had 11 million visitors in its first year. It was the first theme park anywhere to get that many visitors in its opening year.
Osaka Aquarium:
Osaka Aquarium, also known as Kaiyukan , is located in the Tempozan Harbor Village of Osaka's bay area, and is one of Japan's most spectacular aquariums. It introduces various forms of life inhabiting the Pacific Rim in a well organized and impressive way.
A total of 27 tanks are designed to make the visitor feel they are under the sea with the fish. They are constructed using 346 tons of acrylic glass that hold 10,941 tons of water.
Science Museum :
The Osaka Science Museum on Nakanoshima Island has four floors of interactive exhibits and displays. The museum was designed with children in mind and takes visitors through displays on the universe, chemistry, electricity and energy. A science show is held three times a day.
In addition to the exhibits, the Science Museum has a planetarium with multiple daily shows and an Imax Dome Theater, called "Omnimax", with a rotating selection of Imax films at additional cost. The Imax films are only aired on weekends.
Bunraku Theater:
Bunraku is traditional Japanese puppet theatre. This is one of the best places to see it.
Bunraku puppets are about 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall. Each puppet is controlled by three people — the main puppeteer, right puppeteer and left puppeteer. It can take 30 years of practice to become a main puppeteer.
The National Bunraku Theater in Osaka is one of the few places to view the fascinating art form today. English programs and earphones are available. Performances are usually held in three week runs in January, April, June, July/August and November.
Bay Area :
The Osaka Bay Area is a collection of young city districts on man-made waterfront islands and peninsulas, built to accommodate Osaka's sprawling growth. The districts host a variety of tourist attractions, such as museums, theme parks, observatories and shopping centers. Osaka's domestic and international port facilities are also found in the area.
: Tenjin Matsuri
Having a history of more than 1,000 years, the Tenjin Matsuri, which is one of the three greatest festivals of Japan, is also the world's greatest boat festival. It is a summer festival held at the Tenman Shrine dedicated to Sugawara-no-Michizane (845-903), who is deified as Tenman Tenjin, the patron god of learning and art. On the days of the festival, traditional Japanese performing arts such as kagura music, which is performed when paying homage to gods, and bunraku theatrical performances using puppets are performed in all parts of the city, and the entire city becomes filled with a festive mood.
Shinsekai:
Shinsekai is Osaka's "new world," a district that was developed before the war and then neglected in the decades afterwards. At the district's center stands Tsutenkaku Tower, the nostalgia evoking symbol of Shinsekai.
Another noted attraction is kushikatsu, one of Osaka's best known specialties. It is a dish, composed of various skewered, battered and deep fried foods. Varieties on offer range from chicken and beef, to pumpkin and asparagus, to the banana and ice cream dessert varieties. Many of Shinsekai's kushikatsu restaurants are open 24 hours, but only truly come alive when the lights come on at night.
Shinsekai is also home to Spa World, a huge bath complex with a large number of pools on a European themed floor and an Asian themed floor (enjoyed naked and gender separated). The floors are switched between genders each month. Natural hot spring water is pumped up from far below the earth's surface.
Shinsaibashi:
A large shopping district centered around the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade.
Tsuruhashii (Korea Town):
Osaka's Korea town has been here since before WWII. It's well-known for its Korean BBQ restaurants (bulgogi), traditional Korean dresses and vegetable stands.
Tempozan Ferris Wheel:
The Tempozan Ferris Wheel was the World's tallest ferris wheel from 1997-1999. Its neon lights predict the weather for the next day — orange for sunny, green for cloudy and blue for rain.
It's located beside the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan at Tempozan Harbor Village.
Amerikamura (American village):
A large shopping and entertainment district popular with young people and foreign residents of Osaka. It's similar to Harajuku in Tokyo.
America-mura is near the Shinsaibashi shopping street and is centered around a small-scale reproduction of the Statue of Liberty.
Video Game Bar Space Station:
A bar in Amerikamura , that lets you play old school video games while you drink. Great lighting and decor.
We hope you enjoy your stay . Do share about your experiences with us.
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- The Atoz Travel Team