Japan is among the prime locations on this planet for Filipino vacationers. Osaka, together with Tokyo and Nagoya, is taken into account one of many three main cities. This huge port metropolis and business middle situated within the Kansai area of Honshu in Japan is thought for its fashionable structure, nightlife, and road meals.
Due to its mixture of conventional and fashionable sights and laid-back vibe, Osaka is a good alternative for first-time vacationers to Japan, and households touring with children and seniors. It’s not as fast-paced and overwhelming as Tokyo, it’s simpler to navigate the trains right here, and there are a lot of family-friendly sights in and close to the town you can go to on day journeys. From Osaka, you’ll be able to take day journeys to different superb locations like Nara, Kyoto, Kobe, and even Hiroshima (by bullet prepare).
I first traveled to Osaka in 2016 and had an opportunity to revisit the town twice this yr, on a week-long summer season journey with my household and for a fast work journey final November through the autumn season. Listed here are a number of the highlights that first-time vacationers can do in Osaka.
Probably the most well-known historic landmark inside Osaka itself is Osaka Fortress. This Japanese Fortress performed a significant position within the unification of Japan through the sixteenth century. The citadel itself has undergone a number of restorations. The tower is fashionable inside and options an elevator for simpler accessibility. The inside of the tower incorporates a museum in regards to the citadel’s historical past, which vacationers can go to for a minimal charge. The ticket value for adults is 600 yen, whereas kids under the age of 15 can enter freed from cost.
Most vacationers are content material to simply stroll across the Osaka Fortress Park and gardens, which you’ll be able to go to freed from cost. The citadel grounds, which cowl roughly 61,000 sq. meters include 13 buildings denoted as “essential cultural belongings” by the Japanese authorities. It’s the biggest metropolis park of Osaka with completely different actions, like boating across the moat, so it’s price exploring by itself.
The citadel grounds are surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom bushes that are available full bloom through the Sakura season (spring). Festivals and occasions are held yr spherical right here, so that you may end up partaking in one of many many festivities throughout your go to.
However even with none occasions taking place, your complete Fortress Park grounds provide an important place for locals to stroll, run, or bike. There are additionally meals stalls and occasional retailers across the grounds for vacationers and locals to take pleasure in.
READ MORE: Biking round Osaka, Japan
In relation to consuming out and purchasing for souvenirs in Osaka, Dohtonbori affords the final word hotspot. This riverside strip is stuffed with towering neon indicators, golf equipment, bars, and eating places that serve Japanese delicacies and native eats, and a dizzying array of low cost chain retailers like Don Quijote.
The identify “Dotonbori” refers each to the Dotonbori Canal and to Dotonbori Road which runs parallel to the canal’s southern financial institution. Since this is among the most colourful areas in Osaka, it’s develop into a must-visit location when touring by way of Kansai area.
Dohtonbori is the place the place you will discover well-known billboards, together with the Glico working man above Ebisubashi Bridge. The primary model of the 20-meter tall commercial for Glico sweet, which exhibits a person working on a blue monitor along with his arms raised in victory, was put in again in 1935, so the billboard has develop into a develop into a landmark in Osaka over time. Different 3D billboards and signages within the space present large replicas of Osaka favorites like the large pufferfish, takoyaki, octopus, and Kani Douraku crab, which add to the theme park-like environment of the road.
Dotonbori is named a gastronomic wonderland, the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in an evening out at on the riverside grills, eating places, road aspect meals stalls, and bars. The vibe right here may be very thrilling (and a bit overwhelming), so it may be troublesome to decide on the place to eat. Get your fill of takoyaki, okonimiyaki, yakiniku, kushikatsu, and extra within the numerous eating places right here.
Kuromon Market affords a much less crowded place to eat and store for native sweets in Osaka. Kuromon Market is a lined 600-meter lengthy public market with about 150 retailers that promote fish, meat and produce, together with conventional sweets and low priced garments and homeware. The market is claimed so far again to the Edo Interval, so you’ll be able to really feel the old-school vibe as you stroll round and take a look at completely different road meals.
Kuromon Market affords the whole lot from contemporary seafood, blow fish, fruit and veggies, meat, pickled items, dried meals, Japanese sweets and Western desserts.
Apart from serving the wants of locals who purchase seafood and produce in bulk for cooking, the retailers right here promote smaller parts of meals that vacationers can eat on the spot.
Some stalls can grill seafood like crab legs and oysters, yakitori, sea urchin, sushi, eel, and seafood skewers. You can too purchase packs of seasonal fruits like contemporary strawberries, matcha soft-serve ice cream, and different sweets and eat them as is. It’s greatest to cross right here within the morning or early afternoon, because the stalls shut early.
In the event you’re touring with children, Common Studios Japan in Osaka is most definitely in your itinerary. You’ll want a full day (or extra) to strive all of the rides on the eleven completely different themed zones of USJ. The latest themed zone, Tremendous Nintendo World opened simply final March 2021.
The themed zone relies on Nintendo online game franchises, primarily the Mario and Donkey Kong franchises. Tremendous Nintendo World immerses guests on this planet of Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach.
The land options rides and revolutionary expertise impressed by Nintendo’s characters and video video games, interactive areas, and themed procuring and eating.
Rides and sights embody Mario Kart: Koopa’s Problem, Yoshi’s Journey, and Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown. Eating places embody Kinopio’s Cafe and Yoshi’s Snack Island, the place you’ll be able to dine on Mario-themed dishes.
You can too discover The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened again in July 2014, and seasonal anime-themed occasions inside Common Studios Japan. This magical space reproduces the world from the Harry Potter tales on an amazing scale and with superb consideration to element.
Right here, you’ll be able to absolutely immerse your self on this planet that you simply noticed within the films, and expertise a very extraordinary journey.
Those that wish to get a panoramic view of the town can head to the Umeda Sky Constructing.
This excessive rise constructing within the Kita district of Osaka, close to Osaka and Umeda stations is a 173-meter tall constructing that consists of two towers related with one another by the “Floating Backyard Observatory” on the thirty ninth flooring.
The observatory affords nice views of the town by way of its home windows and from its open-air deck.
The constructing’s basement additionally has a restaurant flooring that replicates a city of the early Showa Interval, whereas workplaces occupy most different flooring. Simply driving up the escalator is an expertise in itself.
From the identical artistic crew as teamLab Planets in Tokyo, the teamLab Botanical Backyard Osaka is an open-air exhibit that transforms a standard botanical backyard right into a mesmerizing artwork area by way of using digital expertise and projections.
The Nagai Botanical Backyard, a park that’s been round since 1974, opened as a everlasting nighttime exhibit and interactive wonderland in Osaka Metropolis. teamLab gave the park a significant revamp in March 2022. Among the artwork installations just like the clusters of ovoids or eggs immediately change shade and emit a mild melody when touched or pressed.
In case you’ve time earlier than your flight again and wish to do some critical procuring, you’ll be able to head to Rinku Premium Retailers, the biggest outlet procuring middle in western Japan. Rinku Premium Retailers is situated simply throughout from Kansai Worldwide Airport. The two-story constructing within the type of the previous American port city Charleston homes over 210 retailers, together with footwear, out of doors put on, toys, LEGO, and extra.
The procuring space has family-friendly options like rental child buggies and a nursing room. Guests can hop on the shuttle bus from the Kansai Worldwide Airport (one-way journey ￥200 for grownup,￥100 for youngster) which runs on a regular basis.
- Takoyaki – ball formed dumplings is a batter or eggs and flour stuffed with sliced octopus, ginger, spring onions, and tempura crumbs
- Okonomiyaki – savory pancake created from eggs, flour, grated yam and shredded cabbage
- Kushikatsu – deep-fried skewers/ kebabs of meat, seafood, or greens
- Yakiniku – Barbecued beef
- Pufferfish hotpot (tecchiri) and sashimi (fugusashi)
- Okonomiyaki
- Field sushi (hakozushi)
IP Metropolis Lodge Osaka
Positioned within the middle of Osaka, IP Metropolis Lodge in Osaka is an efficient base to go to many vacationer locations. The three.5-star business-friendly resort in Osaka affords free WiFi, 2 eating places and breakfast. The rooms are compact, however snug. Good selection for households.
The resort is inside a 15-minute stroll of Dotonbori. There are many small, quiet eating places on the aspect streets and comfort shops close by. The property is only a quick stroll to public transportation: Nagahoribashi Station is 4 minutes and Shinsaibashi Station is 5 minutes away.
Deal with: 2-12-22 Minamisenba, Shinsaibashi, Osaka, Japan, 542-0081
Mercure Tokyu Keep Osaka Namba
For contemporary enterprise vacationers who need more room and room to socialize, Mercure Tokyu Keep Osaka Namba is a complicated, luxurious city resort. Mercure is situated near the principle streets Midosuji Boulevard and Dotonbori, among the many hottest spots in Osaka.
The entire resort feels darkish and moody, with cutting-edge inside design of the and calming visitor rooms. The resort has a Seize & Go area, the place anybody can drop by freely to socialize with others. The resort places you proper close to probably the most vibrant procuring and eating areas. It’s situated a 5-minute stroll from both Namba or Shinsaibashi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line.
Deal with: 2-4 Nishishinsaibashi 2-chome, 542-0086 Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka
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