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Sightseeing
Kansai Region

Kita (Umeda)
Minami (Namba)
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Osaka Castle
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Umeda Sky Building
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Osaka Museum Guide
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Cherry Blossom Spots

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Itami Airport
Osaka: Access and Orientation

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Japan Sightseeing Guide
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Home - Travel - Sightseeing Guide - Kansai
Osaka
# 3   of 117 destinations
in our travel guide

With a population of 2.5 million, Osaka is Japan's third largest and second most important city. It has been the economic powerhouse of the Kansai region 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.

In the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi chose Osaka as the location for his castle, and the city may have become Japan's capital if Tokugawa Ieyasu had not terminated the Toyotomi lineage after Hideyoshi's death and moved his government to distant Edo (Tokyo).

Gourmet Navigator

Attractions
Central Osaka
 1  Osaka Aquarium
One of Japan's most impressive aquariums.
User rating: 84/100 (264 votes)
Visited by: 439 users
 2  Minami (Namba)
Southern downtown of Osaka.
User rating: 82/100 (411 votes)
Visited by: 701 users
 3  Sumiyoshi Taisha
Head shrine of all Sumiyoshi Shrines.
User rating: 81/100 (55 votes)
Visited by: 119 users
 4  Shitennoji Temple
One of the oldest temples in Japan.
User rating: 81/100 (56 votes)
Visited by: 106 users
 5  Osaka Castle
Reconstruction of the large castle.
User rating: 80/100 (545 votes)
Visited by: 915 users
 6  Kita (Umeda)
Northern downtown of Osaka.
User rating: 78/100 (369 votes)
Visited by: 643 users
 7  Museum of History
Well done museum about the city's history.
User rating: 75/100 (17 votes)
Visited by: 39 users
 8  Bunraku Theater
Venue for Japanese puppet theater plays.
User rating: 80/100 (50 votes)
Visited by: 96 users
 9  Umeda Sky Building
Skyscraper with observation deck.
User rating: 79/100 (277 votes)
Visited by: 475 users
 10  Peace Osaka
Museum about the horrors of World War II.
User rating: 78/100 (55 votes)
Visited by: 107 users
 11  National Art Museum
Art exhibitions from Japan and overseas.
User rating: 78/100 (9 votes)
Visited by: 28 users
 12  Science Museum
Interactive museum about science.
User rating: 76/100 (9 votes)
Visited by: 21 users
 13  Bay Area
New distrcits built on man-made islands.
User rating: 74/100 (70 votes)
Visited by: 136 users
 14  Shinsekai
Nostalgia evoking district around Tsutenkaku.
User rating: 73/100 (24 votes)
Visited by: 50 users
 
Side Trips from Osaka
 1  Kyoto
For over 1000 years the capital of Japan.
User rating: 97/100 (1196 votes)
Visited by: 2237 users
 2  Mount Koya
Atmospheric temple mountain.
User rating: 93/100 (121 votes)
Visited by: 204 users
 3  Nara
Japan's first permanent capital.
User rating: 91/100 (728 votes)
Visited by: 1305 users
 4  Himeji
Site of Japan's most beautiful feudal castle.
User rating: 87/100 (464 votes)
Visited by: 840 users
 5  Kinosaki
Pleasant, old-fashioned hot spring resort.
User rating: 87/100 (33 votes)
Visited by: 67 users
 6  Kobe
Harbor city, recovered from 1995 earthquake.
User rating: 80/100 (419 votes)
Visited by: 780 users

Access and Orientation
Access and Orientation
How to get to and around Osaka.

About transportation in Japan

Accommodation
Search a Hotel in Osaka:
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Hotel Ichiei
A comfort modern Japanese hotel located in the center of Osaka. 3 train stations of Namba within a walking distance.
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Japanese style budget ryokan. From 5,775yen.
Right next to Dotonbori in Osaka.
ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka
Experience ANA Crowne Plaza Osaka, formally known as ANA Hotel Osaka, in Osaka starting October 1st 2008.
Weekly Mansion Osaka
Furnished apartments in the middle of downtown Osaka for short and extended stays. Free In-Room Broadband.
Japan Osaka Ryokan Association
For business or pleasure, search by area for the perfect traditional Japanese ryokan to match your Osaka accommodation needs.
Hotel Wakamizu
A luxury ryokan in Takarazuka Onsen, 25min from Osaka. Offering soothing hot spring baths and delicious Japanese food.
Kaneyoshi Ryokan
A modern Japanese inn in Dotombori. the center of Osaka. 2 subway stations nearby. Close to many shops and Osaka Castle.

Restaurants

All of Osaka Umeda/Osaka Station Namba/Dotonbori
More about restaurants in Japan

Tours and Packages
Osaka Tours
Various tours and travel packages for Osaka and surroundings.

Shops
The Hilton Plaza
The Hilton Plaza is a shopping facility in the Umeda district of Osaka, the largest city in Kansai. Divided into...
Miki House - Umeda Head Store
Miki House is a renown children's clothing brand from Japan. We don't just stock clothing, but also babies'...
Animate (Nihombashi)
If you're looking for popular anime and game merchandise, please come check us out! Animate Nihombashi is part...
More shops...

News and Reports
Osaka Cherry Blossom Report
April 15, 2009
Osaka Cherry Blossom Report
April 6, 2009

Travel Community
Popularity of Osaka:
Users who have been to Osaka: 1641
Most visited: Ranked 3rd out of 117 destinations

Have you been to Osaka?

Ratings for Osaka:
japan-guide.com Rating:
  best of Japan  
User Rating (by 908 users):
85/100
  recommended

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English Links
Osaka City
Official English website.

Japanese Links
Osaka City
Official website.

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