ABOUT OSAKA
ABOUT OSAKA
Hi everyone! Nice to meet you!
I’ m KOBAY, the official character of “Osaka Local Tours”!
I was born and raised in this city to tell everyone about the charms of Osaka. I may look like this, but I’m multilingual and can speak 5 different languages. Please pardon my Japanese as I speak in Kansai-ben (Kansai accent)!
I will introduce the city of Osaka to those who are considering or are interested in visiting Osaka!
ABOUT OSAKA
Osaka city is the capital of Osaka prefecture located in the center of Kansai region.
It is the 2nd biggest city in Japan with a population of 2.75 million after Yokohama city even though it’s small. Isn’t that great?
Osaka has been called “the kitchen of the country” as it has a looong history of achieving prosperity as a major city where things gather from all over the country. There are many shopping streets from long ago where you can enjoy many gourmet foods such as “takoyaki”.
Osaka is the 2nd biggest metropolitan area after Tokyo, so there are many modern sightseeing spots! It’s a wonderful city where you can enjoy history, shopping and gourmet foods!
I will share my recommendations for places to visit because I want you guys to come to Osaka.
City Area
「North Area（Umeda, Osaka）」
– Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street
The longest shopping street in Japan, with a length of about 2.6 km!
Not only is the street long, but the history is just as lengthy as the street itself!
It has been running since the Edo era (1603-1867)! Because of its length, there are about 600 stores there. The streetscape is unique to Osaka, and the large dolls and torii gates floating on the ceiling are very impressive. You can find everything from inexpensive and delicious local foods to souvenirs here!
– Nakanoshima・Kitahama Area
In this area which is accessible on foot from Umeda, there are many retro architectures such as the Osaka City Central Public Hall and Nakanoshima Library.
There are many cafes concentrated in the Kitahama area where you can relax and enjoy the view along the river.
It is also a good idea to take the Aqua Liner from this area to Osaka Castle while enjoying the water city of Osaka.
「South Area（Shinsaibashi、Namba）」
– Dotonbori・Ebisubashi
This area comes to mind whenever you think of Osaka.
You must have seen the signs with the big crabs and octopuses, right?
You do want to take a picture of yourself with the same pose as the Glico Man in the Ebisubashi bridge, don’t you?
Osaka is also famous for comedy!! There are comedy shows at the Nanba Grand Kagetsu and Yoshimoto Manzai Theatre which are mainly for young comedians. If you have time, you must definitely go see these shows!
If you go to Kuromon Ichiba, you can enjoy a wide variety of food and drink.
– Shinsaibashi
The American village is a place for young people. I also recommend Horie, a fashionable area. You will love exploring the stores in this area.
Bay Area
「Universal Studios Japan」
Everyone knows about USJ, right? In Osaka it is called “Yuniba”.
There are many exciting attractions such as Mario, Jaws, and Harry Potter.
You can enjoy spending the whole day at USJ!
「Kaiyukan (Aquarium)」
Kaiyukan is one of the largest aquariums in the world and the second largest aquarium in Japan.
The highlight is the whale sharks! Kaiyukan was the first place in the world to exhibit whole sharks! It has many large water tanks, and they are very impressive. Exhibits are faithfully reproduced from the seas of various countries around the world!
Osaka Castle Area
「Osaka Castle」
Osaka Castle was built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi and later extended by the Tokugawa family. It had played an important role in Japanese history.
The view from the castle tower is a must-see! You can see the moat, the buildings in Osaka, and even the mountains far away. The castle is also open as a museum, where you can learn all about the Sengoku Period and Hideyoshi Toyotomi.
Tennoji Area
「Tsutenkaku・Shinsekai」
Do you know Tsutenkaku? It’s not as big as the Tokyo Skytree, but it has a wonderful view. There is the golden Billiken sitting on the observation deck.
You can go outside the observatory and go down the slide that goes around the outside of the tower. There are a lot of fun things to do!
Shinsekai’s flashy billboards and neon lights are so typical of Osaka.
You should also enjoy the gourmet food at the kushikatsu and doteyaki restaurants, where you are allowed to dip your food in the container of sauce only once.
Sakai Area
「Daisen Kofun」
It is known as the tomb of Emperor Nintoku.
It is the largest forward-rectangular tomb in Japan and is said to be one of the world’s three great tombs along with the Pyramid of Pharaohs Khufu in Egypt and the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huangdi in China!
It takes about 50 minutes to walk around the tomb. There are also many small tombs nearby.
It’s so big that you can’t see the distinctive keyhole shape at close distance…. Try a balloon ride or a Cessna helicopter ride!
I’ve introduced a lot of places to visit in OSAKA, but there are many, many more great places to visit! It’s a pity I can’t show you everything. Anyway, I’m sure once you come here, you’ll understand what OSAKA is all about!
Come and visit the place! If you are lucky, you might even meet KOBAY!
