Osaka(大阪) — 3rd city of Japan (2.7 million), the economic heart of Kansai region. Called‘Japan kitchen’(天下の台所, tenka no daidokoro) — citizens spend the most on food in the country. CultureKuidaore“Eat until you fall.” Three days is a minimum to get to know.
Day 1: Dotonbori, Namba, Shinsaibashi
Dotonbori (道頓堀)
A cult promenade along the Dotonbori Canal, surrounded by neon advertisements. Icons:
- Glico Running Man— 1935 neon, 6th version. Place selfies #1 Osaka
- Kani Doraku— giant mechanical crab over a crab restaurant
- Kuidaore Taro— a mechanical clown playing a drum since 1949.
Food:Takoyaki Wanaka— 8 balls for 600 JPY, classic.Ichiran Ramen— flagship online store, open 24/7.
Namba
Main station + mall.Namba Parks— vertical garden on the roof of the mall, 8 floors. Modern.
Shinsaibashi
Commercial street 600 m with 180 shops:Shinsaibashi-suji. Uber Eats, Zara, GU, Uniqlo. It shines at night.
Amerika-mura
"American Village" — youth district, cosplay, streetwear. Harajuku climate but less.
Day 2: Osaka Castle, Umeda, Sky Building
Osaka Castle (Osaka-jō)
The symbol of the city. Built 1583 byToyotomi Hideyoshi— unifying Japan. Destroyed in 1615, rebuilt 1931 (a concrete, like all JP's "locks". Interior: Sengoku Museum. Introduction 600 JPY. It is surrounded by a 4 km2 park with 3,000 cherries.
Umeda
North center, mostly business.Umeda Sky Building(173 m) — pair of skyscrapers connected to the Floating Garden Observatory (1600 JPY). 360° view of the city.
HEP Five
Shopping centre witha red devil wheel on the roof(drive 900 JPY).
Grand Front Osaka + Yodobashi Camera
Modern shopping complexes near Umeda Station.
Day 3: Universal Studios Japan
Ranking #1 in the world of amusement parks according to TripAdvisor (2019). Sections:
- Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade, castle, Forbes Journey queues
- Super Nintendo World: OPENS 2021 — Mario Kart AR, an interactive Power-Up Band bracelet game
- Jurassic Park: water queues
- Minion Park: for children
- Halloween Horror Nights(September-November): 20+ haunted houses
Tickets: 1-Day 8600-10 400 JPY (dynamic).Express Pass(skip queues): +5000-15 000 JPY/person. Buy ONLINE a week in advance — 3-hour queues at the entrance without booking.
Day tours from Osaka
Later (45 min)
First imperial capital of Japan (710-794). 1200the holy deerwalking in the park — you can buy a ‘shika senbei’ for 200 JPY. Main attraction:Tōdai-ji— a Buddhist temple with a 15-metre-long bronze Daibutsu. Introduction 600 JPY.
Kobe (30 min)
Wagyu Kobe steak — steakhouses from 15,000 JPY. Port Tower, Chinatown.Arima Onsen(30 mins with Kobe).
Himeji (45 min Shinkansen)
Himeji Castle— White Stork, Japan's most famous castle, UNESCO. The largest preserved original wooden castle. Introduction 1000 JPY. You can connect to Kobe.
Kyoto (15 min Shinkansen, 30 min JR)
The Imperial capital, described in a separate article.
Kitchen Osaka — 5 compulsory dishes
1. Okonomiyaki
"Japanese pie" made of cabbage and flour. Osaka-style: all ingredients mixed in pre-fried dough (vs Hiroshima-style — layers). Legendary:Mizuno(Dotonbori, 800-1500 JPY).
2. Takoyaki
It was invented in Osaka in 1935. Octopus balls (that's what they are), with sauce+majonez+bonito. Networks:Maize,Wanaka.
3. Kushikatsu
Panned shishy. DistrictShinsekaiThe new world is famous for it. Principle:Don't have another one in the sauce.(hygiene).
4. Hakozushi
"Boxed sushi" — pressed sushi from Osaka (vs nigiri from Tokyo). Aesthetic, a gift.
5. Tako-tamago
Street: whole little octopus with a boiled egg in it, on a stick. 300-500 JPY.
Practical information
- Directions: Shinkansen of Tokyo 2h 22min (14 720 JPY). Kansai Airport (KIX) — 40 min to Osaka (rapid train 1370 JPY)
- Season: The whole year. Universal Studios: avoid school holidays (March, August — crowds)
- Transport card:ICOCA(Suca analogue for Kansai), 2000 JPY with 1500 JPY to use
- Hotels: quarter of Namba for nightlife, Umeda for business, near Shinsaibashi for shopping