Osaka means "large hill" and that description of this major economic power still fits. Blessed with a superb natural harbor, Osaka has always been a center for commerce and trade, and by the late nineteenth century it was known as "the Manchester of the Orient" for its industrial prowess. Today, Japan's second largest city is the seventh largest metropolitan economy in the world and home to international companies like Sharp and Panasonic.worldtravelguide.net There's a lot of history in Osaka. The noble Osaka Castle, built in the 16th century, is a magnificent architectural specimen of feudal Japan. Once the largest of its kind in the country, the castle's museum and gardens make it an ideal first stop for newbies.tripadvisor.com Shitennoji Temple, the oldest in Japan and built over 1,400 years ago, offers another window into the city's glorious past.
As well as the actual shrine you will also find a park here which features a bridge that stretches over a glassy pond. The Umeda Sky Building is one of the main landmarks in Osaka and you can see it from all over town. The building soars to a height of 173 meters and it has an observatory which is located on the 39th floor which is known as the Garden Observatory. This is one of the famous floating gardens for which Japan is well known and you can come here to check out this hanging garden which is filled with local flowers and plants. The National Bunraku Theater is the place to come if you want to check out the Japanese art of bunraku.
This is a kind of puppet theater which would have started out life in the Edo Period, and you can now come here to watch a performance in person. Bunraku features large puppets which are operated by as many as three puppeteers and tell the story of Japanese epics and legends from the 17th and 18th centuries. Fortunately there is also an English translation on offer so that you can work out what is going on. Dotonbori is known is Osaka as the place to come if you want to go out and enjoy the best of the city. This part of Osaka is the central hub of bars, restaurants and cafes, and you can come here in the evening to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.
Many of the cafes and restaurants here also have their own roof terraces and this means that you can sit out, listen to some live music and look out across twinkling Osaka at the same time. Osaka Aquarium is also known as Kaiyukan and is located inside Tempozan Harbor Village that backs on to Osaka Bay. This is one of the largest aquariums in Japan and has eight floors of exhibits which include a plethora of marine life such as whale sharks, otters, dolphins and turtles. There is also one main tank in the aquarium which is some nine meters in length and is a riot of color thanks to the tropical fish and other marine animals like seahorses that bob around inside.
Locals will tell you that the best place to go shopping in Osaka is in the Shinsaibashi District which sells pretty much anything and everything. This part of town is a collection of arcades which means that this is a good place to come on a rainy day and you will find items such as souvenirs, handicrafts, clothes and household objects. If you want some gifts or mementoes of your time in Osaka then this is the best place to come and shop up a storm. Osaka is known in Japan for being something of a foodie paradise so if you like to eat then you have come to the right place! You can also try the kushikatsu which consists of skewers which feature different ingredients such as meat and vegetables which have been deep fried in breadcrumbs.
Latest Update: If you are planning to visit Japan this autumn in 2019 to see autumn leaves, you can take a look at the following reports to get some useful travel info. These reports indicate where to visit in Japan to see autumn foliage between late September and early December.insidekyoto.com September 21, 2018 - The fall foliage season has finally arrived in Japan. The Daisetsuzan National Park in the Hokkaido region has reached its peak color! The surrounding areas of the Mount Asahidake and Mount Kurodake are currently ablaze with colors. It’s obvious that the fall colors there are at their peak! September 30, 2018 - Visitors traveling along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route now can also see fall foliage at Murodo, and Tateyama Ropeway.
October 09, 2018 - People visiting Nasu Onsen now can see incredible fall foliage vistas. It’s peak colors there! October 15, 2018 - The best time to see autumn foliage has arrived! Visit Jozankei Onsen in Sapporo to see gorgeous fall foliage. October 17, 2018 - It’s peak color around Yumoto Onsen area in Nikko. On the other hand, it would take at least a week or few more days to see the best fall foliage around Lake Chuzenji. October 20, 2018 - Anyone traveling to Sapporo this weekend should visit Mount Moiwa, Makomanai Park, Maruyama Park, and Nakajima Park. Autumn leaves there are looking gorgeous now!
October 24, 2018 - Visit Hirosaki Park in Aomori to be impressed by fall foliage. November 07, 2018 - Naruko Gorge, one of the famous fall foliage spots in the Tohoku region is at peak colors. November 8, 2018 - Trees along the northern shores of Lake Kawaguchiko are approaching peak colors. November 30, 2018 - Peak colors in Kyoto, Tokyo, Nara, and Osaka. Autumn is one of the most delightful and admiring seasons to experience in Japan. Taking a trip to some areas where leaves have turned red & yellow, especially in the mountains, public parks, or temple & shrine grounds is called momijigari in Japanese.
The map shown below indicates that how the autumn foliage season of Japan goes downward from the top elevations. Typically, Japan’s autumn foliage season starts in mid September in the Hokkaido region. The average time for appearing autumn foliage in Japan may vary depending on temperatures. Before you embark on a fall trip to Japan, you should always be aware of the fall foliage forecast. Usually, it is published in different media such as on TV, newspaper, radio, website and regional tourist information centers throughout Japan. You can feel the autumn atmosphere in different places from Mid October to Early December except Hokkaido region.
Though some part of Kanto and Chubu regions provide plenty of incredible fall colors in early October. Are you planning to visit Japan in future? Do you want to learn how to survive while traveling across Japan? Then read this recommended travel guide that tells you about the rules of Japanese etiquette. One statistic shows that it is difficult to communicate with locals in a foreign language in Japan. To overcome this problem you have to use Pocketalk, a Multilingual Interactive Communication Device. This voice translator is a must have travel accessory alongside this simple pocket WiFi device whenever you visit Japan. 100 off (Use Promo Code: KYUH). Becki and Shawn at Japan and More offer exclusive Japan tour packages and have extensive knowledge on Japanese culture, history, and attractions. Visit this page often to get the latest news on Japan autumn leaves forecast. Thank you very much.
If you’re in a hurry and want to see the really important parts of Osaka, our Must-See Osaka 1-Day Itinerary is for you. It’s the most efficient way to see the city fast. One day is enough to get a good taste of Osaka. Stay in a place like Kita, Central Osaka or Minami to save time. The must-see attractions in Osaka are Osaka Castle, the Kita District and the Minami District. This itinerary covers all three. 9am: Start the day at Osaka Castle. From JR Osaka Station, take the Osaka Loop Line to Osakajokoen Station. After checking out the castle and park, take the subway or the Osaka Loop Line back to JR Osaka Station. 10:30am: Stroll around the Kita District, which is centered on JR Osaka Station and Hankyu Umeda Station.
The real must-see sight in Kita is the district itself, and all the great shopping to be found there. Three great shops to check out are Yodobashi Camera, Grand Front Osaka, and Hankyu Department Store. Check out the Kita District page for details. 11:30am: Eat an early lunch in Kita. Because Kita is a business district, the restaurants will be packed on weekdays during lunchtime (noon to 1pm). So try to get to a restaurant a bit before noon. See our Kita District page for our Kita restaurant picks. If you’re not hungry yet, you can eat later on in Minami, which is your next stop.
1pm: Start exploring the Minami District. From Kita, take the Midosuji subway line south from Umeda Station to Shinsaibashi Station. 2 from Shinsaibashi Station and walk for a few minutes to Tokyu Hands, one of the best hobby and gadget shops in the world.youtube.com Next, cross south over Nagahori-dori Street and walk one block west to enter Shinsaibashi-suji, one of Osaka’s famous shotengai (covered shopping arcades). Walk south through Shinsaibashi-suji. If you didn’t eat lunch in Kita, you’ll find plenty of good restaurants in this area. See our Minami District page for details on shops and restaurants in Minami. 3pm: Explore the Dotombori area. Walk south through the Shinsaibashi-suji arcade and you’ll eventually get to Ebisu-bashi Bridge over the famous Dotombori Canal.accuweather.com This is the most iconic sight in all of Osaka.
Pause on the bridge to take some pictures and to soak up the atmosphere. Then, walk a short distance south and you’ll find yourself in the Dotombori arcade. This street is line with restaurants that have incredibly flashy signs and symbols outside to attract customers. For details on the places mentioned here, visit our Minami District page. 4:30pm: Visit Hozenji Yokocho. A short walk south of the Dotombori Canal is the incredibly atmospheric Hozenji Yokocho, a narrow pedestrian-only lane lined with traditional restaurants. Be sure to check out Hozen-ji Temple, where you’ll find the moss-covered Mizu-kake Fudo statue. For details on these sights, see our Minami District page.
5:30pm: Walk through Doguyasuji Arcade. Another short walk south of Hozenji Yokocho, you’ll find Doguyasuji Arcade, Osaka’s famous kitchen-supply street. Here, you will find an almost endless variety of kitchenware and tableware. For details, check out our Minami District page. 6:30pm: Eat dinner in Minami. Minami has the greatest concentration of good restaurants in Osaka. To help you decide, check out our recommendations on the Minami District page. 8pm: Evening views from the Abeno Harukas 300 observation decks in Tennoji. After dinner, take the Midosuji subway line south from Minami to Tennoji Station and follow the signs to Abeno Harukas. Take the elevators up to the Abeno Harukas 300 observation decks, which are open until 10pm daily (ticket sales stop at 9.30pm). The sunset and evening views here are absolutely awesome! If you plan to stay the night, we recommend that you stay somewhere central.
The most convenient and central districts are Kita, Minami and Central Osaka. See our Where to Stay in Osaka page for details. For hotel recommendations in Osaka, check out our Osaka Hotels page. If you don't want to visit the castle, you could start the day at the Umeda Sky Building in the Kita District. Alternatively, you could start the day at the Osaka Aquarium in the Osaka Bay Area.osaka-pref-rivercam.info Finally, if you’re too tired to visit the Harukas 300 observations decks after dinner, you could stay in Minami, which is filled with bars, clubs and other entertainments. A stroll around Amerika Mura might be interesting, as would a stroll around Dotombori in the evening. Dotombori and Amerika Mura are covered on our Minami District page. Where Are These Places Located?
You will see the list of places on the left hand side. Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want. Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.youtube.com If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location. Pay when you check out. Need tips on where to stay?youtube.com You can buy a Japan SIM card online from Klook for collection on arrival at Osaka's Kansai International Airport. Or rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router. Get a prepaid Icoca card to make travelling around Osaka easy - here's how. Find out why it's essential you have travel insurance for Japan - we recommend World Nomads.
OSAKA - After a number of natural disasters hit the area last summer, a government bureau in western Japan began trials Monday for a multilingual smartphone-based service to provide overseas tourists with disaster information. The service, operated by the Kinki Bureau of Telecommunications in Osaka, will ultimately provide weather news and evacuation orders in several languages, and will allow foreign embassies to issue messages to their nationals in emergency situations. Sightseeing information will be offered through the service when there is no disaster. Osaka is aiming to launch the service by June, when the city will host the Group of 20 summit.
On Monday personnel from the Vietnamese, Peruvian and Filipino consulates gathered at the bureau in central Osaka to confirm trial messages sent to smartphones using the existing news app for tourists, Portable News. Consul General of the Filipino Consulate Patrick Hilado said the system was easy to use, praising the capability it offers to narrow down an intended audience. As fake posts and rumors can spread through social networks during disasters, the bureau plans to limit the sources of information to public institutions and disaster-relief organizations. Osaka and other parts of western Japan were hit by earthquakes, torrential rain and typhoons last year. The city is also a major gateway to key tourist sites such as Kyoto and Nara.
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