Japan is without doubt one of the prime locations on the earth for Filipino vacationers. Osaka, together with Tokyo and Nagoya, is taken into account one of many three main cities. This massive port metropolis and business middle positioned within the Kansai area of Honshu in Japan is thought for its fashionable structure, nightlife, and avenue meals.
Due to its mixture of conventional and fashionable sights and laid-back vibe, Osaka is a superb selection 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 that you could go to on day journeys. From Osaka, you may take day journeys to different wonderful 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 12 months, on a week-long summer season journey with my household and for a fast work journey final November throughout the autumn season. Listed below are a number of the highlights that first-time vacationers can do in Osaka.
Essentially the most well-known historic landmark inside Osaka itself is Osaka Fort. This Japanese Fort performed a serious function within the unification of Japan throughout the sixteenth century. The fort itself has undergone a number of restorations. The tower is fashionable inside and options an elevator for simpler accessibility. The inside of the tower contains a museum concerning the fort’s historical past, which vacationers can go to for a minimal charge. The ticket worth for adults is 600 yen, whereas youngsters beneath the age of 15 can enter freed from cost.
Most vacationers are content material to simply stroll across the Osaka Fort Park and gardens, which you’ll be able to go to freed from cost. The fort grounds, which cowl roughly 61,000 sq. meters include 13 constructions denoted as “essential cultural belongings” by the Japanese authorities. It’s the most important metropolis park of Osaka with totally different actions, like boating across the moat, so it’s price exploring by itself.
The fort grounds are surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom timber that are available in full bloom throughout the Sakura season (spring). Festivals and occasions are held 12 months spherical right here, so that you would possibly end up partaking in one of many many festivities throughout your go to.
However even with none occasions occurring, your entire Fort Park grounds supply an important place for locals to stroll, run, or bike. There are additionally meals stalls and occasional outlets across the grounds for vacationers and locals to take pleasure in.
READ MORE: Biking round Osaka, Japan
In the case of consuming out and searching for souvenirs in Osaka, Dohtonbori affords the final word hotspot. This riverside strip is crammed 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 outlets like Don Quijote.
The identify “Dotonbori” refers each to the Dotonbori Canal and to Dotonbori Avenue which runs parallel to the canal’s southern financial institution. Since this is without doubt one of the most colourful areas in Osaka, it’s change into a must-visit location when touring by Kansai area.
Dohtonbori is the place the place you will discover well-known billboards, together with the Glico operating man above Ebisubashi Bridge. The primary model of the 20-meter tall commercial for Glico sweet, which reveals a person operating on a blue monitor along with his arms raised in victory, was put in again in 1935, so the billboard has change into a change into a landmark in Osaka through the years. Different 3D billboards and signages within the space present large replicas of Osaka favorites like the enormous pufferfish, takoyaki, octopus, and Kani Douraku crab, which add to the theme park-like environment of the road.
Dotonbori is called a gastronomic wonderland, the place you may take pleasure in an evening out at on the riverside grills, eating places, avenue 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 varied 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 outlets that promote fish, meat and produce, together with conventional sweets and low priced garments and homeware. The market is alleged thus far again to the Edo Interval, so you may really feel the old-school vibe as you stroll round and take a look at totally different avenue meals.
Kuromon Market affords all the pieces from recent seafood, blow fish, fruit and veggies, meat, pickled items, dried meals, Japanese sweets and Western truffles.
Other than serving the wants of locals who purchase seafood and produce in bulk for cooking, the outlets 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 too can purchase packs of seasonal fruits like recent strawberries, matcha soft-serve ice cream, and different sweets and eat them as is. It’s greatest to go right here within the morning or early afternoon, because the stalls shut early.
In case you’re touring with children, Common Studios Japan in Osaka is probably in your itinerary. You’ll want a full day (or extra) to attempt all of the rides on the eleven totally 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 the earth of Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach.
The land options rides and modern know-how impressed by Nintendo’s characters and video video games, interactive areas, and themed buying 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 may dine on Mario-themed dishes.
You too can 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 awesome scale and with wonderful consideration to element.
Right here, you may totally immerse your self on the earth that you just noticed within the films, and expertise a very extraordinary journey.
Those that need 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 ground.
The observatory affords nice views of the town by its home windows and from its open-air deck.
The constructing’s basement additionally has a restaurant ground 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 staff as teamLab Planets in Tokyo, the teamLab Botanical Backyard Osaka is an open-air exhibit that transforms a conventional botanical backyard right into a mesmerizing artwork area by using digital know-how 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 serious revamp in March 2022. A number of 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 might have time earlier than your flight again and need to do some critical buying, you may head to Rinku Premium Retailers, the most important outlet buying middle in western Japan. Rinku Premium Retailers is positioned simply throughout from Kansai Worldwide Airport. The two-story constructing within the model of the outdated American port city Charleston homes over 210 outlets, together with sneakers, outside put on, toys, LEGO, and extra.
The buying 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 crammed with sliced octopus, ginger, spring onions, and tempura crumbs
- Okonomiyaki – savory pancake comprised of 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 Resort Osaka
Positioned within the middle of Osaka, IP Metropolis Resort in Osaka is an effective base to go to many vacationer locations. The three.5-star business-friendly lodge in Osaka affords free WiFi, 2 eating places and breakfast. The rooms are compact, however snug. Good selection for households.
The lodge 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 brief stroll to public transportation: Nagahoribashi Station is 4 minutes and Shinsaibashi Station is 5 minutes away.
Handle: 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 lodge. Mercure is positioned near the principle streets Midosuji Boulevard and Dotonbori, among the many hottest spots in Osaka.
The entire lodge feels darkish and moody, with cutting-edge inside design of the and calming visitor rooms. The lodge has a Seize & Go area, the place anybody can drop by freely to socialize with others. The lodge places you proper close to essentially the most vibrant buying and eating areas. It’s positioned a 5-minute stroll from both Namba or Shinsaibashi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line.
Handle: 2-4 Nishishinsaibashi 2-chome, 542-0086 Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka
