Japan is without doubt one of the high locations on this planet 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 heart positioned within the Kansai area of Honshu in Japan is understood for its fashionable structure, nightlife, and avenue meals.
Due to its mixture of conventional and fashionable points of interest and laid-back vibe, Osaka is a superb selection for first-time vacationers to Japan, and households touring with youngsters and seniors. It’s not as fast-paced and overwhelming as Tokyo, it’s simpler to navigate the trains right here, and there are numerous family-friendly points of interest in and close to town you can go to on day journeys. From Osaka, you’ll be able to 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 town twice this yr, on a week-long summer season journey with my household and for a fast work journey final November throughout the autumn season. Listed here are a few 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 throughout 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 concerning the citadel’s historical past, which vacationers can go to for a minimal price. The ticket worth for adults is 600 yen, whereas kids under the age of 15 can enter freed from cost.
Most vacationers are content material to only 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 comprise 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 value exploring by itself.
The citadel grounds are surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom timber that are available full bloom throughout 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 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 get pleasure from.
READ MORE: Biking round Osaka, Japan
In the case of consuming out and looking for souvenirs in Osaka, Dohtonbori gives the last 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 title “Dotonbori” refers each to the Dotonbori Canal and to Dotonbori Road 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 turn out to be a must-visit location when touring by way of Kansai area.
Dohtonbori is the place the place you could find 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 reveals a person working on a blue observe along with his arms raised in victory, was put in again in 1935, so the billboard has turn out to be a turn out to be a landmark in Osaka through the years. Different 3D billboards and signages within the space present huge replicas of Osaka favorites like the large pufferfish, takoyaki, octopus, and Kani Douraku crab, which add to the theme park-like ambiance of the road.
Dotonbori is called a gastronomic wonderland, the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from an evening out at on the riverside grills, eating places, avenue facet meals stalls, and bars. The vibe right here could be very thrilling (and a bit overwhelming), so it may be tough 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 gives a much less crowded place to eat and store for native sweets in Osaka. Kuromon Market is a coated 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 claimed thus far again to the Edo Interval, so you’ll be able to really feel the old-school vibe as you stroll round and check out completely different avenue meals.
Kuromon Market gives every part from contemporary seafood, blow fish, fruit and veggies, meat, pickled items, dried meals, Japanese sweets and Western desserts.
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 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 move right here within the morning or early afternoon, because the stalls shut early.
In case you’re touring with youngsters, Common Studios Japan in Osaka is most probably in your itinerary. You’ll want a full day (or extra) to attempt all of the rides on the eleven completely different themed zones of USJ. The most recent themed zone, Tremendous Nintendo World opened simply final March 2021.
The themed zone is predicated 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 progressive expertise impressed by Nintendo’s characters and video video games, interactive areas, and themed procuring and eating.
Rides and points of interest 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 wonderful consideration to element.
Right here, you’ll be able to absolutely immerse your self on this planet that you simply noticed within the motion pictures, and expertise a really extraordinary journey.
Those that need to get a panoramic view of 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 gives nice views of town by way of 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 using up the escalator is an expertise in itself.
From the identical inventive group 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 house 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. 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 have got time earlier than your flight again and need to do some critical procuring, you’ll be able to head to Rinku Premium Retailers, the biggest outlet procuring heart in western Japan. Rinku Premium Retailers is positioned simply throughout from Kansai Worldwide Airport. The two-story constructing within the type of the outdated American port city Charleston homes over 210 outlets, together with footwear, outside 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 crammed with sliced octopus, ginger, spring onions, and tempura crumbs
- Okonomiyaki – savory pancake constructed 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
Situated within the heart 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 gives free WiFi, 2 eating places and breakfast. The rooms are compact, however snug. Sensible choice for households.
The resort is inside a 15-minute stroll of Dotonbori. There are many small, quiet eating places on the facet 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.
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 positioned 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 house, 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 positioned 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
