Ōsaka is the third largest city in Japan, with a population of more than 17 million for its entire metropolitan area. It is the metropolis of the Kansai region on Honshu Island and the largest of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto trio.
| Ōsaka ((ja)大 阪) | |
| | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Kansai |
| Rivers | Yodo |
| Area | 222.30 km² |
| Population | 2,663,096 hab. |
| Density | 11,979.74hab./km² |
| Postal Code | 530-0002-559-0034 |
| Fusher | UTC+09:00 |
| Location | |
| 34°40′30′ N 135°30′0′ E | |
| Official Site | |
| Tourist site | |
Understand
| Osaka and the "808 bridges" (八 百 八 橋)
橋 (hashi, often pronounced -bashi, when it is a suffix in a name) is the kanji character meaning "bridge". |
Ōsaka is the third largest city in Japan, after Tokyo and Yokohama. The city has a very large bay and a port that has been very active for centuries, making it a very important trading center in Japan.
Osaka's history goes back to the Asuka and Nara eras. It was, under the name of Naniwa (難 波), the capital of Japan between 683 and 745, long before Kyōto prevailed. Even after the capital was moved elsewhere, Osaka continued to play an important role as a hub for land, sea and river. During the Tokugawa era, when Edo (now Tokyo) served as an austere seat of military power and Kyōto, the home of the imperial court, Osaka was the "nation's cuisine" ("天 の 台 所" tenka-no-daidokoro), the gathering and distribution point of rice, the most important measure of rice wealth. As a result, it was also the city where merchants made and lost their fortunes, happily ignoring repeated shogunate warnings to reduce conspicuous consumption. When the samurai people experienced financial ruin from the end of the seventeenth century, merchants' ruin increased steadily, especially in Osaka. The city has become the national center of commerce and industry: large companies flourished, factories flourished, and the city is renowned for having the most sophisticated businessmen in Japan. Today, if Osaka Prefecture were a country, its gross GDP would be one tenth in the world.
With the help of the merchant princes that have succeeded each other over the centuries, Osaka has become a great Japanese art center. Following the great fire in Edo (former Tokyo), kabuki actors (Japanese theater) emigrated there. Osaka is also the city of bunraku (puppet theater).
The Second World War and its bombings did not spare Osaka. All the historical monuments were destroyed except for its castle, a copy of the original concrete rebuilt in 1931. The result is a chaotic, overcrowded, and polluted concrete agglomeration. The city's main tourist attraction is its lively nightlife, trendy districts and high-quality gastronomy. You can visit Osaka from Kyoto in a day or two.
Go
By plane
Osaka has two airports.
- 1 Kansai International Airport (関 空 港, IATA: KIX) - It is the main airport for international flights. The airport is located to the south-west of the city and is served by bus lines (Airport limousine) and two train lines: the JR West and the Nankai (allow between 50 minutes and 1h10 to reach Osaka, depending on the destination). Several special tickets from Kansai Airport are available, which may interest foreign visitors:
- The JR offers the ICOCA & HARUKA offer, only for foreign tourists. For 3,030 JPY the go or 4,060 JPY the round trip, you will have a place without reservation on the Haruka limited express, and can continue to any JR station in Osaka in a certain area. You will also have an ICOCA card with an initial amount of 2,000 JPY (including 500 JPY security deposit) that can be used to travel around the Kansai region. You can also purchase a one-way JR ticket from ATM machines; 1 190 JPY for Osaka station. Some international maps may not work on these machines and species may be required.
- The Nankai offers the Kanku Chikatoku Ticket for 1,000 JPY go. You can get to Namba station on the Nankai line, then take any Osaka metro station.
- 2 Osaka International Airport (伊 空 港, itami kūkō, IATA: ITM) - This is the point of arrival for most domestic flights (despite its name, it no longer hosts international flights). The airport is located northwest of Osaka, in Hyogo Prefecture (兵 庫 県). It can be accessed by several means:
- Osaka Monorail (大 モ ノ レ ル, ōsaka monorēru) - The airport is connected to the monorail, but it is expensive and follows a curve around the northern suburbs, asking to change for the Hankyu suburban train line to reach the city center.
- Bus Airport Limousine
from 500-600 JPY.. - The bus will be a more convenient choice for most. He frequently leaves Itami to various destinations in Osaka and the region (including Kansai Airport),
- Taxi
approximately 4,000 JPY plus 700 JPY toll for the vicinity of Osaka Castle..
By train
3 Shin-Osaka Station (新 阪 駅, shin-ōsaka-eki) - This is where Shinkansen trains, local trains and a metro line pass. The approximate distances and prices from the major cities are as follows, from west to east:
- Hiroshima (300 km): in Shinkansen, 2 h (7 000 JPY).
- Himeji (80 km): in Shinkansen, 30 min (2 500 JPY); online JR, 1 h (1 200 JPY) every 15 minutes.
- Kobe (30 km): in Shinkansen, 15 min (1 200 JPY); online JR, 20 min (300 JPY) every 15 min.
- Nara (30 miles), in the south: online JR or Kintetsu, 30 min (400 JPY, every 15 minutes.
- Kyoto (50 km): in Shinkansen, 17 min (1 500 JPY); online JR: 30 min (550 JPY) every 15 min.
- Tokyo (550 km): in Shinkansen, 2 h 30 (14 000 JPY, every 10 min
The Kita district has several train stations, close to one another and served by different companies.
- 4 JR Osaka (大 駅, ōsaka-eki) - Dessert Kyoto and Kobe, Tokyo, Himeji, Hiroshima Airport etc.
- 5 Umeda Station (梅 田 umeda-eki) - Served by Hankyu and Hanshin companies, and by the subway.
- 6 Kitashinchi JR Station (北 新 地 kitashinchi-eki) - Allows you to access the JR Tōzai line.
The Namba district also has several train stations for the different companies, within a 10 minute walk:
- 7 JR Namba (JR難 波 駅 JR namba-eki) - Terminus of the Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line) to the Kansai International Airport, also allowing to reach the JR Loop Line via the stations of Imamiya and Shin-Imamiya.
- 8 Namba Station (難 駅, な ん 駅, namba-eki) - Besides the subway, it is the main station of the Nankai company. The latter offers two south-facing lines: the main line Nankai (Nankai Main Line, 南 本 線, nankai-honsen) to Kansai and Wakayama Airport, and the Kōya line to Mount Kōya.
- 9 Ōsaka Namba Station (大 難 波 駅, Ōsaka-Namba-eki) - Served by Kintetsu and Hanshin companies.
Other major JR stations are:
- 10 JR Kyōbashi (京 駅, Kyōbashi-eki)
- 11 JR Tennoji (天 寺 駅, Tennōji-eki) - Dessert Nara, Wakayama, Kansai International Airport
The five private companies that serve Osaka are:
- Hankyu for Kobe and Kyoto (Main Station: Umeda).
- Hanshin for Kobe, Himeji and Nara (Main stations: Umeda Hanshin and Namba Hanshin).
- Kintetsu that serves Nara, Ise, Nagoya, Yoshino and the east of Kansai (Main Station: Abenobashi).
- Keihan for Kyoto and Nara (Main Station: Kyōbashi).
- Nankai for Kansai International Airport, Wakayama, Mount Kōya, southern Kansai.
By bus
Since Osaka is a big city, there are many day and night buses running between Osaka and other places all over Japan, which can be a cheaper alternative to Shinkansen.
Buses in Osaka drop off and pick up at one or more different locations throughout the city, so be sure to check the details before booking a trip. Major stops include the JR Highway Bus Terminal at Osaka Station for JR buses, the Willer Bus Terminal at the Umeda Sky Building and the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) at Namba Station. Some also serve Shin-Osaka Train Station for high-speed trains and Universal Studios Japan.
From Tokyo
The route between Tokyo and the Kansai region is the most accessible in Japan. Buses from Tokyo take either the Tōmei Highway or the Chūō Highway to Nagoya, then the Meishin Highway to Osaka. Trips take approximately 8-9 h depending on the itinerary and the stops.
The fierce competition between bus companies in recent years has led to improved equipment and lower prices. This led to dynamic pricing strategies across multiple routes. This generally means that daytrips, weekday trips, pre-purchased tickets and buses carrying more passengers are cheaper, while overnight, weekend or holiday trips, unbooked fares, and buses with fewer (and more comfortable) seats will be more expensive.
In general, the rates for a day trip from Tokyo to Osaka during the week are approximately 4,000-6,000 JPY per person, and about 5,000-8,000 JPY at night. Children's rates are generally half those for adults.
The two most important operators between Tokyo and Osaka are Willer Express and JR Bus. Tickets can usually be purchased at major departure points and also at kiosks inside mini-rettes (help for the Japanese language required).
Willer Express operates day and night buses with a variety of seating options ranging from standard bus seats to high-end hull seats. Journeys can be booked online in English, and the Japan Bus Pass in Willer is valid for all of their routes with a few exceptions. In Tokyo, Willer buses depart from the Shinjuku Bus Terminal (Basuta Shinjuku), above the JR tracks of Shinjuku Station, which is served by many Japanese bus companies. Willer also sells tickets for other bus operators, but these trips are not covered by Willer's Japan Bus Pass.
Reservations for JR Bus are possible in English on their website Kousoku Bus Net (en). You can also book at the railway stations at the "Midori-no-Madoguchi" counters used to reserve seats on the trains. Buses leave from Tokyo Station (Yaesu exit, 八 洲 口) and Basuta Shinjuku bus station.
At a much higher price, Kanto Bus and Ryobi Bus provide the Dream Sleeper. The bus only carries 11 passengers, each with a reclining seat in an individual cabin with a sliding door offering intimacy. Operating between Ikebukuro station in Tokyo and OCAT station in Namba, rates start at 18,000 JPY per trip and tickets can be booked online in English. Rate at 15,000 JPY available for advance purchase (online in Japanese).
From Yamaguchi Prefecture
Bocho coaches offer a night bus from the cities of Hagi, Yamaguchi, Hofu, Tokuyama and Iwakuni to Kobe and Osaka. This costs between 6 300 JPY and 9 480 JPY for a one-way ticket depending on the journey. The bus leaves from Hagi Bus Station at 7:55 p.m each evening and arrives at Osaka Station at 7:15 a.m the following day. The bus leaves from Osaka station every evening at 10:05 p.m to arrive at Hagi bus station at 9:25. Full details (including return prices) are available on their website (in). A good deal if you have time.
From other places
Night coaches are available from Yamagata, Sendai, Koriyama, Fukushima, Maebashi, Mito, Iwaki, Ashikaga, Saitama (Omiya), Tokyo, Kawasaki, Yokohama, Kofu, Karuizawa, Yamanouchi (Yamanaka), Niigata, Shizuoka, Mishima Kurashiki, Hiroshima, Kurayoshi, Yonago, Izumo, Tsuwano, Imabari, Matsuyama, Kōchi, Sukumo, Susaki, Fukuoka, Kurume, Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki (Miyako City) and Kagoshima.
Day buses depart from Tokyo, Kawasaki, Kofu, Nagano, Matsumoto, Minowa, Toyama, Kanazawa, Fukui, Obama, Hamamatsu, Nagoya, Takayama, Yokkaichi, Maizuru, Fukuchiyama, Kyoto, Shirahama (Adventure World), Shinonsen, Kinosaki Onsen, Arima Onsen, Okayama, Kurashiki, Tsuyama, Maniwa, Niimi, Shobara, Miyoshi, Hiroshima, Tottori, Kurayoshi, Yonago, Izumo, Tokushima, Naruto, Takamatsu, Marugame, Imabari, Matsuyama, Kochi, Muroto and Susaki.
By Car
By boat
- Osaka International Ferry Terminal (南 港) (in Nankō (南) in Osaka Bay.) - There is no bank, post office, shops or restaurants in the terminal. The nearest underground station is the 12 station of Cosmosquare (C1), about 15 minutes on foot from the terminal. A free shuttle, as well as taxis, is available at the resort.
- China-Japan International Ferry Co - Offers a ferry to Shanghai (China) several times a month. The latter alternates between Osaka and Kobe nearby.
Ferry Terminal
- From 13 Suminoekoen station (住 江 公 園 suminoekōen-eki) - Take the New Tram to Nankōguchi (南 港 口)
- From Shin-Osaka station (Shinkansen line)
Trip time: at least 40 minutes to Cosmosquare..
310 JPY.. - At JR Shin-Osaka station (M13), take the Midosuji metro line (red) to Hommachi station (M18), then change to Chūō metro line (green) to Cosmosquare station (C10) - Since Namba (難 波)
Trip time: at least 30 minutes to Cosmosquare.. 270 JPY.. - Midosuji metro line (red) at Namba station (M20) → Hommachi station (M18) → change for Chūō metro line (green) → Cosmosquare station (C10) - Since Tennoji Trip time: at least 40 minutes to Cosmosquare.. 310 JPY.. - Midosuji metro line (red) at Tennoji station (M23) → Hommachi station (M18) → change for Chūō metro line (green) → Cosmosquare station (C10)
- By taxi - Ask the taxi driver to take you to the International Ferry Terminal of the Port of Osaka (Natto), otherwise he could take you to the domestic ferry terminal.
- By Car 200 JPY by car for toll.. - From the exit of the Hanshin Tenpozan motorway to the port of Osaka and after passing the Osakako-Sakishima tunnel, turn left at the first crossing, and follow the road.
Osaka-Busan
PanStar Line operates a ferry between Osaka and Busan. He leaves Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 3:10 p.m. from both Osaka and Busan, and arrives the following morning at 10 a.m. In Busan, check-in time (12:40 - 14 h) is before the registration of the passengers (2:15-(2:45). In Osaka, luggage is at 1 p.m - 2 p.m. and the one for passengers at 1 pm - 2 pm 30.. There are a wide range of rooms available, including family rooms. Prices start at 17,000 JPY and the different rates go up to 250,000 JPY for the presidential suite. Tickets can be purchased online, but most of the website is only in Japanese and Korean, and perhaps difficult to navigate for those who speak French. Tickets can easily be purchased from travel agencies in Japan or Korea.
The ferry holds musical performances, magic shows and other entertainment during the trip. Schedules vary.
You can take your car on the ferry, but steps are necessary, and you should look at the website for more information. For a basic single room and a car, this will cost 690 000 KRW. It is possible to take superior class rooms. Temporary insurance must be purchased upon arrival at the port of Osaka.
Osaka-Shanghai
Shanghai, China: twice a week.
Circulate
Subway
The modern and very clean Osaka metro system is very well developed. The signage, ticket office and subway operation in Osaka are identical to its Tokyo counterpart. Prices range from 200 JPY to 350 JPY depending on distance. The station arrivals are posted and announced in Japanese and English. Keep your ticket when you enter the train, it is necessary when you leave. Beware of bans on smoking, drinking or eating or very heavy fines.
There are 9 metro lines in Osaka.
| Color | Symbol | Number | Line | Route | Length | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | 1 | Midosuji-Line | Esaka (M11) - Nakamozu Station|Nakamozu (M30) | 24.5 km | 20 | |
| T | 2 | Tanimachi Line | Dainichi (T11) - Yaominani (T36) | 28.3 km | 26 | |
| Y | 1 | Yotsubashi-line | Nishi-Umeda (Y11) - Suminoekōen (Y21) | 11.8 km | 11 | |
| C | 4 | Chuo-Line | Cosmosquare (C10) - Nagata (C23) | 17.9 km | 14 | |
| S | 5 | Sennichimae-line | Nodahanshin (S11) - Minami-Tatsumi (S24) | 13.1 km | 14 | |
| K | 6 | Sakaisuji Line | Tenjimbashisuji 6-chome (K11) - Tengachaya (K20) | 8.1 km | 10 | |
| N | 7 | Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi line | Taisho (N11) - Kadomaminami Station|Kadomaminami (N27) | 15.0 km | 17 | |
| I | 8 | Imazatosuji line | Itakano (I11) - Imazato (I21) | 11.9 km | 11 |
By train
True to its name, the JR Osaka Loop Line (環 線 Kanjō-sen) makes a loop within Osaka. It is not as convenient or as busy as the Tokyo Yamanote Line, but it stops at Umeda and Tennoji, and near Osaka Castle, allowing you to visit a few sites using the JR Pass. Namba and Universal Studios Japan are connected to the Loop Line of short connections. Prices range from 120 JPY 250 JPY, depending on distance.
Talk
Japanese spoken in Osaka is a particular dialect, which is preferred by many actors in popular Japanese culture. The Osaka dialect is traditionally associated with the merchant class, and as such its sound is considered by many Japanese to be rather harsh. If this is not usually a problem for advanced Japanese speakers, it might be hard to understand if you just started learning Japanese. That said, all the non-elderly locals can speak and understand standard Japanese, and so if you can't understand, politely ask the person to repeat in standard Japanese (標 準 語 hyōjungo) and usually they will.
As in most major cities in Japan, English is spoken at major tourist attractions and in major international hotels, but in other cases it is spoken very little.
See
Monuments
- 1 Ōsaka Castle (大 城/大 阪 城, ōsaka-jō) (Tanimachi line from Osaka station to Tanimachi 4-chome, then cross the park to the castle. Or JR Loop Line to Osakajō-kōen or Morinomiya.)
+81 6-6941-3044
daily 9 am - 4 pm 30, closed from 28/12 to 01/01.. Adults 600 JPY, free for under 15s.. - Osaka's most famous site. It is a concrete copy of 1931 of the castle originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1585. Even it is nothing compared to, for example, Himeji's, see it as a museum built in the form of a castle, rather than a real historic castle. However, from the top floor there is a beautiful view of the city and the park surrounding the castle, and it is pretty from the outside, especially during the cherry blossom season when the inhabitants flock to the castle park to picnic and party. The park of the Naniwa or Naniwanomiya palace site is located south of the park of Osaka Castle (although it is one of the oldest habitats and palace site in Japan, today it is little more than an empty grass field where the outlines of the foundations of the Naniwa palace dating back to around the year 643 have been partially recreated concrete). - 2 Umeda Sky Building (梅 ス カ イ ル) 1-1-20 Oyodonaka, Kita-ku (10 minutes walk from JR Osaka and Hankyu Umeda stations.) every day 10 am - 22 h 30, admission until 22 h.. Observatory: 700 JPY.. - Built in an attempt to modernize Osaka's slightly sad Kita neighborhood, the project was not quite the commercial success hoped for, but this 40-story 173 m building of bizarre shape is still a symbol of the city. Take the aerial escalator to the rooftop observatory for an open-air view of Osaka at the Blade Runner, which is particularly impressive on a clear night. There's a love seat, where, if you hold your partner's hand, and everyone presses a metal button on the seat, the floor around you will turn on forming a heart. You can buy an engraved padlock (1,000 JPY) and attach it to the wall of padlocks around the seat (padlocks only available after 7 pm). The basement has a reconstruction of a Meiji-era street, with a few small restaurants and bars in the same style. There is also a small shop downstairs where you can buy quality mochi for cheap.
- 3 Tsūtenkaku Tower (通 天 閣) Access to the top 600 ¥, 1,400 supplement for external platform with guide and seat belt.. - While the tower was built at the beginning of the 20th century, the current version was designed by the same professor Naitō who also designed the Tokyo Tower. This monument built in the middle of Shinsekai (新 世, new world) is a symbol of the reconstruction of the city of Osaka after the Second World War. There is a "Sky Billiken" on the platform that will fulfill your wishes once you rub his feet! And if you're lucky, your guide will also become an actor!
- 4 Sumiyoshi Shrine (住 大 社, sumiyoshi-taisha) (Access from Sumiyoshi Station on the Nankai Line; local trains run from Namba Station to Osaka Central Station.) free.. - One of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, with a history dating back 1800 years. Its traditional architecture is unusual among Japan's sanctuaries, and its park-like surroundings with its sacred bridge spanning a quiet pond make it a relaxing setting in the lively Osaka environment.
- 5 Shitennōji Temple (四 王 寺) 1-1-18 Shitennōji Tennōji-ku (05 minutes walk from Shitennōji-mae-Yuhiga-oka subway station, or 15 minutes walk north of Tennōji station) - Concion Originally built by Emperor Suiko in 593. Although today's buildings are mostly post-WWII reconstructions, the temple is a rare example of continental style (including individual positioning of buildings within the complex) from the 6-7th century to the present.
- 6 Currency of Japan (造 幣 局) 1-1-79 Temma Kita-ku (15 minutes on foot from Temmabashi metro station) Free.. - It is not widely known, even by people from other parts of the country, that the Mint of Japan has its head office in Osaka. For the locals, this establishment is bound to evoke Sakura-no-tōrinuke (桜 通 り 抜, the sakura tunnel), attracting a large number of visitors, almost 1 million, during the 7 days of the event in mid-April. A must if you are in love with nature and have the opportunity to spend time in Osaka during this season.
Parks
- 7 Utsubo Park (靱 園, utsubo-kōen) (in the city center) - Sakura (cherry blossoms).
- 8 Nagai Park (長 公 園, nagai-kōen) (south of Osaka) - Botanical garden (water body with lotus, magnolias), playgrounds, Osaka Stadium, Natural History Museum of the city.
- 9 Sakuranomiya Park (桜 宮 公 園, sakuranomiya-kōen) (near Osaka Castle) - Sakura fireworks display in July
- 10 Osaka Castle Park (大 城 園, osaka-jō kōen) - The park surrounding Osaka Castle
Quarters
- Minami-ku is Osaka's most dynamic and colorful neighborhood, partly covered with archways, and located to the south of the castle. In the northern part of the neighborhood, Shinsaibashi, you will find the Amerikamura and the Yoroppamura (respectively "the American quarter" and the "European quarter") which are trendy meeting places and luxury shops. South of the arcades, Dotombori is a famous entertainment district in Osaka.
Museums
- 11 Osaka Science Museum (大 市 立 科 館, ōsaka shiritsu kagakukan) (From the Higobashi or Yodoya-bashi underground station, walk respectively 500 m or 900 m. You can also walk from Osaka Station, which will take at least 25 minutes.) Tue.- dim.: 9:30 - 17 h, closed 28 Dec-4 Jan and public holidays.. adults 600 JPY, 300 JPY.. - Large interactive activity center on several floors. Ideal for children. Planetarium and cinema (with scientific films) downstairs.
- 12 Osaka History Museum (大 歴 史 博 館, ōsaka rekishi-hakubutsukan) 1-32 Otemae 4-Chome Chuo-ku (05 minutes on foot from Tanimachi 4-chome metro station, also accessible via Osaka Castle or JR Osaka-jō station) sea.- moon.: 9:30 - 17 h, Fri.: 9:30 - 20 hr.. 600 JPY.. -
An ideal place to learn everything about Osaka's history. Nice view of the castle and the skyscrapers of OBP.
- 13 Outdoor Museum of Old Farms (日 本 民 家 集 博 , nihon minka shūraku hakubutsukan) 1-2 Hattori Ryokuchi Ryokuchi-kōen (Take metro line Midōsuji to Ryokuchi),
+81 6-6862-3137 Tue.- dim.: 9:30 - 16:30.. 500 JPY.. - The Ryokuchi park itself is very pleasant, and inside is a museum of a dozen old Edo period farms, moved across the country and lovingly reassembled. You can also go to Himeji-jō or the ancient palace of Kyōto and see how the rulers lived, but here you will discover the lives of ordinary people. Thanks to the efforts of an Australian volunteer, they offer a great brochure in English to guide you. - 14 Osaka International Peace Center (大 阪 国 際 平 和 セ , ōsaka kokusai heiwa sentê) 2-1 Osakajo, Chuo-ku, +81 6 6947-7208 Tue.- dim.: 9:30 - 16:30.. 250 JPY.. - A museum dedicated to promoting peace through exhibitions on war. Because it's an Osaka museum, it tells about the consequences of the bombing of Osaka during the Second World War. While this is interesting, exhibitions depicting Japan's atrocities against China, Korea, and South Asia do what the museum really deserves. There is also an exhibition about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Exhibitions have explanations in English.
- Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum (上 方 浮 絵 館, kamigata uiyoe-kan) , +81 6 6211-0393 mar.- dim.: 11h - 18 h.. 500 JPY.. - In Namba, a small museum dedicated to ukiyoe, Japanese prints. The museum's interior resembles something of an adobe house. It can be more interesting for someone who is already familiar with art, because most of the information inside is only in Japanese.
Modern architecture
- Austrian architect Hundertwasser built three architectural works in Osaka in the late 1990s:
- Kodomo no Machi (こ も の 街) (walk from Osaka station (20 minutes walk east); by metro: Saikasuji line, get off at Ogimachi; JR Loop line, get off at Temma), +81 6-6311-6601, fax: 06-6311-6605 from 9.30am to 5.00am during the week and from 9.30am to 7.00pm on the weekend and during school holidays. Closed on Monday, from 28/12 to 02/01.. 300 JPY child, 600 JPY Collegiate, 1 200 JPY adult.. - (1996-1997) Populated with monkey bridges, slides and other ladders was built to serve as a playground for the children of Osaka. It is at the heart of Kid's Plaza, dedicated to children.
- Maishima Sludge Center (舞 ス ラ ジ セ ン 洲) (Maishima island, in the west of the city; take the JR to Sakurajima or Universal City, then a bus to Maishima Island. From Sakurajima station, you can also walk 45 minutes and cross the huge bridge that leads to Maishima to reach the factory.), +81 6-6460-2830 free entry.. - (2000) Hundertwasser rebuilt two factories on the island of Maishima, including this one. It is possible to come and observe the building closely and enter it to visit a kind of museum that explains the operation of the factory and presents Hundertwasser, the red lines symbolize flames of combustion (related to the activity of the factory), the blue sea and sky of Osaka Bay, the gilding at the top, dreams and hopes for the future.
- Maishima Waste Treatment Center (ゴ 処 場, gomi shorijō) (Maishima Island, in the west of the city, facing the other plant 05 minutes away) free entry.. - (1997-2001) This is the second factory rebuilt by the Austrian artist. It is also possible to come and observe the architecture closely and to go inside to have a look at a sort of small museum that explains the operation of the factory and a few other works by Hundertwasser.
- Kodomo no Machi (こ も の 街) (walk from Osaka station (20 minutes walk east); by metro: Saikasuji line, get off at Ogimachi; JR Loop line, get off at Temma),
Make
- 1 Kaiyukan Aquarium (海 遊 館) 1-1-10 Kaigan-dori, Minato-ku, Osaka adults 2 300 JPY, 900 JPY.. - It is one of the largest aquariums in the world, with 11,000 tons of water and lots of sharks (including a whale shark), dolphins, otters, seals and other marine creatures. The largest reservoir, representing the Pacific Ocean with 5,400 tons, is monumental. At weekends, musicians and street artists offer extra entertainment to people outside the aquarium.
- 2 Tenpōzan Ferris wheel (天 山 大 観 車, tenpōzan daikanransha) (Next to the aquarium in Tempozan district) 10 a.m - 22 a.m... 700 JPY, free for children under 3.. - There is also the Suntory Museum, a shopping center and a port for tourist boats. The shopping center has a wide variety of shops for fashionistas, otaku, tourists or dog lovers. There are also restaurants and fast food restaurants. The shopping center doubles as a kind of amusement park, with the big wheel; the best deal is to take the ferry from there to Universal Studios.
- 3 Sumō Spring Tournament (大 撲 春 場 (oozumō harubosho)) (Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, 10 minutes walk from Namba subway station.) 3 000 JPY-14 300 JPY.. - Japan's national sport Osaka tournament, sumō, is usually held in mid-March each year at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. Check ticket times and availability on the official website Nihon Sumō Kyōkai.
- 4 Universal Studios Japan (At Universal-City station on the JR Yumesaki line, 10 from Osaka.) Daily ticket: adults 6,980 JPY, children 4 880 JPY.. - Japan's second largest theme park. Expect a lot of Japanese dubbing of your favorite characters and movies.
- 5 Umeda Joypolis Sega (ジ イ ポ リ ス) (Next to Umeda Station (Osaka)) 11 a.m - 23 a.m... 500 JPY-600 JPY attraction.. - Occupies the 8th and 9th floors of the Hep Five building with arcade games and a big wheel at the top. Local laws prohibit the presence of children at night, even with their parents, so if you want to bring children, go early. The HEP5 wheel is correct.
- 6 Spa World (Just behind the Tsūtenkaku tower in Shinsekai, accessible from JR Shin-Imamiya station) 24 hr.. 2 400 JPY for 3 h, 2,700 JPY (~21,73 € - price of 11/11/2020) (~23,49 Fr. the day. Supplement of 1,300 JPY between midnight and 5 a.m... - Spas with European and Asian themes (separate men/women), saunas and a family pool with slides and other fun (don't forget your swimsuit). Open 24 hours a day if you are homeless or stuck after the curfew of your hotel following an evening in town: pay, wear one of their cotton suits and relax in one of their comfortable leather armchairs with as many blankets as you like. Outside rooms (avoid sunburn though). Bar with huge TV. Gym included in the entrance fee. End of the daily pass at 9m. Special offers at 1,000 JPY offered from time to time, often in March, perfect for a relaxing afternoon. Persons with permanent or temporary tattoos are not allowed.
- 7 National Theater of Bunraku (国 文 楽 劇 場, kokuritsu bunraku gekijō) - One of the last places in the world where you can attend performances of bunraku, a form of puppet theater dating from the Edo period. The great puppets, each requiring three operators, are accompanied by traditional music and narration, and play excellent 17th and 18th century Japanese pieces. Transcripts in Japanese and abstracts in English are provided.
- 8 Shiki Theater of Ōsaka (劇 四 季, gekidan shiki) (on the 7th floor of the HERBIS PLAZA ENT, Umeda) - The branch of Ōsaka of one of the largest troops in Japan, offering theater and musicals.
- 9 Ando Momofuku Museum of Instant Ramen (イ ス タ ン ト ラ , Intanto ramen hatsumei kinenkan) Ikeda (30 minutes from Umeda on the Hankyu line. Katakana indications show the way to the south exit.) sea-dim, open sunbathe holidays, 9:30 - 16 h.. Free visit, free audio guides with deposit, ramen workshop: adults 500 JPY, 300 JPY.. - A tribute to the universal Noodle Cup, with more varieties than it would take to fill a supermarket alley. Among other things, he has a statue of Momofuku Ando, the creator, standing on a giant Noodle Cup pot and wielding a bunch of instant ramen.
- 10 Zepp Namba Naniwa-ku, Shikitsuhigashi 2-1-39 (Near Cosmo-squair Station) - A concert hall.
- 11 Billboard Live Osaka (ビ ー ド ラ イ ル ) (Near Osaka Station, in HERBIS PLAZA building.) - A jazz club, previously "Blue Note Osaka".
- The City Country Club Hyatt Regency Osaka Hotel, 1-13-11 Nanko-Kita, Suminoe-Ku, +81 6 6612-1234, email: [email protected] - A spa.
- The Hall Festival in Nakanoshima, near Umeda, and the Symphony Hall in Umeda host classical and modern recitals, while Umeda Koma in Umeda, and Shin-Kabukiza in Uehommachi offer enka performances. For more independent or underground music, try Banana Hall in Umeda or Big Cat in Amerika-mura.
Work
Buy
- The most famous shopping area of Ōsaka is Shinsaibashi (心 桥), which offers a mix of huge department stores, top-of-the-range boutiques by Western designers, and independent shops ranging from very cheap to very expensive. In Shinsaibashi, the Amerika-mura neighborhood (ア カ 村, often abbreviated as "Amemura") or "American village" is particularly popular among young people, and is often seen as the source of most trends in fashion for young people in Japan. Near Amerika-mura , Horie (堀 江) is the shopping street with mainly Japanese brands. The many shops in Umeda are also popular with fashion lovers, especially in the Hep Five and Hep Navio adjacent to Umeda Hankyu Station, although these stores tend to be too expensive to attract the interest of most tourists. The buildings "E-ma" next to the Hanshin department store and "Nu-Chayamachi" (Nu 茶 屋 町), opened in October 2005 near Hankyu Umeda station, are examples of this.
- For electronics, the district of Nipponbashi (日 桥) south-east of Namba, and in particular the shopping street "Den-Den Town" [1], was once considered the Akihabara of western Japan. Nowadays, more people prefer to go to buy in the new and huge Yodobashi Camera (ヨ ド カ ラ) in Umeda or Bic Camera (ビ ) and in LABI1 in Namba, although Nippombashi still offers good deals on many gadgets, components of PC and on new or used industrial electronic products.
- For Japanese and foreign books, try Kinokuniya at Umeda Hankyu Station, or Junkudo south of Ōsaka Station.
- The official Hanshin Tigers (baseball team) store is located on the 8th floor of the Hanshin department store in Umeda.
- It is said from the Tenjinbashi-suji shopping street (天 橋 筋 街 Tenjinbashi-suji Shōtengai) that it is the longest covered long straight shopping street in Japan, with about 2.6 km in length. The arcade is on a north-south axis along Tenjinbashi-suji street and is accessible from several metro stations or JR, for example, Tenma, Minami-Morimachi, Tenjinbashi-suji 6-chome, etc. If it is not designed for tourism, this arcade, opened since the Edo period, shows the daily life of Ōsaka.
Eat
Osaka is known throughout Japan for his cuisine. According to a proverb, "the people of Osaka ruin themselves to eat" (大 の 食 い れ, Osaka no kuidaore). The city has famous specialties. Here are some of them:
- the takoyaki: octopus balls
- the okonomiyaki: a pastry-based dish on which you put the ingredients of your choice (a sort of pancake)
- the kushikatsu: skewers surrounded by meat and panure.
Stay
Cheap
- 1 J-Hoppers 4-22, Fukushima 7-chome, Fukushima-ku, Osaka-City (Near Fukushima JR station on the JR Osaka Loop line. At the north exit of the station, cross the road, follow the pedestrian street opposite to the left, the hostel is on the left side towards the end of the 2nd block before the 7-eleven), +81 6-6453-6669, fax: +81-6-6453-6669, email: [email protected] room available from 3 p.m - 10 p.m., to be released before 8 a.m - 11 a.m... dormitory 2 500 JPY, rooms 3,000 JPY/pers., +300 JPY/pers. high season and Saturday.. - Offers dormitory beds (mixed or women), twin rooms and double or triple rooms. Includes a kitchen (with crockery), a common room, showers, a free luggage storage room, washing machines/dryers available for a fee. Very well noted on different sites.
Capsule hotels
Average Price
- Kaneyoshi Ryokan (Namba Station), +81 6-6211 6337 6 300 JPY/pers... - Small hotel decorated in the style of a traditional Japanese inn.
Luxury
Communicate
Health
Manage daily
The surrounding area
- Its location makes Ōsaka a perfect base for day trips to nearby cities such as Kyoto (30 min), Kobe (20 min), Nara (40 min) or Himeji (1h) (typical durations with JR trains without extra express train charges, from the Ōsaka station).
- Expo Park - The huge 1970 World Fair Memorial Park, with its interesting Japanese garden and the National Ethnology Museum. It's a very large park, and a good place for a picnic.
- Hirakata - Hosts Hirakata amusement park, suitable for children, and Kansai Gaidai University.
- Church of the Light of Ibaraki (茨 春 日 丘 教 会 Ibaraki Kasuga-oka Kyoukai) (in Ibaraki.) - One of the masterpieces of Tadao Ando's architecture
- Minō - A popular place to watch maple trees in autumn, and enjoy nature all year round. From Hankyu Umeda station take the train to Minō station. There is a pleasant walk to the waterfall ( ≅ 30 minutes go ) through the shaded forest, with monkeys and wild deer. Try the local Minoh beer or maple leaves in sweet tempura.
- Mount Kōya (高 山, Kōya-san) - The green and temples of Mount Kōya, 90 minutes away by train, are a completely different world and the perfect place when you start getting enough concrete.
- Akashi Kaikyo Bridge - The suspension bridge, with the world's longest central gate, is located near Kobe, about 40 minutes away by train.
- Tokimeki Beach - It is a good way to go if you want to spend the day by the sea. Take the Nankai line from Namba station to Tannowa station. The trip costs approximately 720 JPY and takes about 45 minutes. The luggage and shower service is closed at 5 pm.
| Roads via Osaka |
| Hiroshima ← Shin-Kōbe ← | O  E | → END → joins the Tōkaidō line |
| joins the line Sanyō ← FIN ← | O  E | → Kyoto → Nagoya |
| FINN ← | O  E | → Nara → Nagoya |
| joins the line Sanyo ← Kobe ← | W  E | → Kyoto → Nagoya |