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Japan is likely one of the high locations on this planet for Filipino vacationers. Osaka, together with Tokyo and Nagoya, is taken into account one of many three main cities. This massive port metropolis and industrial heart situated within the Kansai area of Honshu in Japan is understood for its fashionable structure, nightlife, and avenue meals.

Due to its mixture of conventional and fashionable points of interest and laid-back vibe, Osaka is a good alternative for first-time vacationers to Japan, and households touring with youngsters and seniors. It’s not as fast-paced and overwhelming as Tokyo, it’s simpler to navigate the trains right here, and there are a lot of family-friendly points of interest in and close to town you can go to on day journeys. From Osaka, you possibly can take day journeys to different superb locations like Nara, Kyoto, Kobe, and even Hiroshima (by bullet practice).

I first traveled to Osaka in 2016 and had an opportunity to revisit town twice this 12 months, on a week-long summer season journey with my household and for a fast work journey final November in the course of the autumn season. Listed here are a number of the highlights that first-time vacationers can do in Osaka.

Essentially the most well-known historic landmark inside Osaka itself is Osaka Fort. This Japanese Fort performed a significant function within the unification of Japan in the course of the sixteenth century. The citadel itself has undergone a number of restorations. The tower is fashionable inside and options an elevator for simpler accessibility. The inside of the tower incorporates a museum concerning the citadel’s historical past, which vacationers can go to for a minimal charge. The ticket value for adults is 600 yen, whereas youngsters under the age of 15 can enter freed from cost. 

Most vacationers are content material to simply stroll across the Osaka Fort Park and gardens, which you’ll go to freed from cost. The citadel grounds, which cowl roughly 61,000 sq. meters comprise 13 constructions denoted as “essential cultural property” by the Japanese authorities. It’s the most important metropolis park of Osaka with totally different actions, like boating across the moat, so it’s price exploring by itself.

The citadel grounds are surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom bushes that are available in full bloom in the course of the Sakura season (spring). Festivals and occasions are held 12 months spherical right here, so that you would possibly end up partaking in one of many many festivities throughout your go to.

However even with none occasions taking place, your entire Fort Park grounds provide a fantastic place for locals to stroll, run, or bike. There are additionally meals stalls and low retailers across the grounds for vacationers and locals to take pleasure in.

READ MORE: Biking round Osaka, Japan

Relating to consuming out and searching for souvenirs in Osaka, Dohtonbori gives the last word hotspot. This riverside strip is full of towering neon indicators, golf equipment, bars, and eating places that serve Japanese delicacies and native eats, and a dizzying array of low cost chain retailers like Don Quijote.

The identify “Dotonbori” refers each to the Dotonbori Canal and to Dotonbori Road which runs parallel to the canal’s southern financial institution. Since this is likely one of the most colourful areas in Osaka, it’s grow to be a must-visit location when touring via Kansai area.

Dohtonbori is the place the place you will discover well-known billboards, together with the Glico working man above Ebisubashi Bridge. The primary model of the 20-meter tall commercial for Glico sweet, which reveals a person working on a blue observe together with his arms raised in victory, was put in again in 1935, so the billboard has grow to be a grow to be a landmark in Osaka through the years. Different 3D billboards and signages within the space present large replicas of Osaka favorites like the large pufferfish, takoyaki, octopus, and Kani Douraku crab, which add to the theme park-like ambiance of the road.

Dotonbori is named a gastronomic wonderland, the place you possibly can take pleasure in an evening out at on the riverside grills, eating places, avenue facet meals stalls, and bars. The vibe right here may be very thrilling (and a bit overwhelming), so it may be troublesome to decide on the place to eat. Get your fill of takoyaki, okonimiyaki, yakiniku, kushikatsu, and extra within the numerous eating places right here.

Kuromon Market gives a much less crowded place to eat and store for native sweets in Osaka. Kuromon Market is a lined 600-meter lengthy public market with about 150 retailers that promote fish, meat and produce, together with conventional sweets and low priced garments and homeware. The market is claimed thus far again to the Edo Interval, so you possibly can really feel the old-school vibe as you stroll round and take a look at totally different avenue meals.

Kuromon Market gives every part from recent seafood, blow fish, vegetables and fruit, meat, pickled items, dried meals, Japanese sweets and Western desserts.

Other than serving the wants of locals who purchase seafood and produce in bulk for cooking, the retailers right here promote smaller parts of meals that vacationers can eat on the spot.

Some stalls can grill seafood like crab legs and oysters, yakitori, sea urchin, sushi, eel, and seafood skewers. You may also purchase packs of seasonal fruits like recent strawberries, matcha soft-serve ice cream, and different sweets and eat them as is. It’s greatest to go right here within the morning or early afternoon, because the stalls shut early.

When you’re touring with youngsters, Common Studios Japan in Osaka is most definitely in your itinerary. You’ll want a full day (or extra) to attempt all of the rides on the eleven totally different themed zones of USJ. The most recent themed zone, Tremendous Nintendo World opened simply final March 2021.

The themed zone relies on Nintendo online game franchises, primarily the Mario and Donkey Kong franchises. Tremendous Nintendo World immerses guests on this planet of Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach.

The land options rides and modern know-how impressed by Nintendo’s characters and video video games, interactive areas, and themed procuring and eating.

Rides and points of interest embrace Mario Kart: Koopa’s Problem, Yoshi’s Journey, and Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown. Eating places embrace Kinopio’s Cafe and Yoshi’s Snack Island, the place you possibly can dine on Mario-themed dishes.

You may also discover The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened again in July 2014, and seasonal anime-themed occasions inside Common Studios Japan. This magical space reproduces the world from the Harry Potter tales on an amazing scale and with superb consideration to element.

Right here, you possibly can totally immerse your self on this planet that you just noticed within the motion pictures, and expertise a very extraordinary journey.

Those that need to get a panoramic view of town can head to the Umeda Sky Constructing.

This excessive rise constructing within the Kita district of Osaka, close to Osaka and Umeda stations is a 173-meter tall constructing that consists of two towers linked with one another by the “Floating Backyard Observatory” on the thirty ninth flooring.

The observatory gives nice views of town via its home windows and from its open-air deck.

The constructing’s basement additionally has a restaurant flooring that replicates a city of the early Showa Interval, whereas places of work occupy most different flooring. Simply driving up the escalator is an expertise in itself.

From the identical artistic workforce as teamLab Planets in Tokyo, the teamLab Botanical Backyard Osaka is an open-air exhibit that transforms a standard botanical backyard right into a mesmerizing artwork area via using digital know-how and projections.

The Nagai Botanical Backyard, a park that’s been round since 1974, opened as a everlasting nighttime exhibit and interactive wonderland in Osaka Metropolis. teamLab gave the park a significant revamp in March 2022. A few of the artwork installations just like the clusters of ovoids or eggs immediately change coloration and emit a mild melody when touched or pressed.

In case you have got time earlier than your flight again and need to do some severe procuring, you possibly can head to Rinku Premium Shops, the most important outlet procuring heart in western Japan. Rinku Premium Shops is situated simply throughout from Kansai Worldwide Airport. The two-story constructing within the type of the outdated American port city Charleston homes over 210 retailers, together with footwear, out of doors put on, toys, LEGO, and extra.

The procuring space has family-friendly options like rental child buggies and a nursing room. Guests can hop on the shuttle bus from the Kansai Worldwide Airport (one-way journey ￥200 for grownup,￥100 for youngster) which runs on a regular basis.

Takoyaki – ball formed dumplings is a batter or eggs and flour full of sliced octopus, ginger, spring onions, and tempura crumbs
Okonomiyaki – savory pancake comprised of eggs, flour, grated yam and shredded cabbage
Kushikatsu – deep-fried skewers/ kebabs of meat, seafood, or greens
Yakiniku – Barbecued beef
Pufferfish hotpot (tecchiri) and sashimi (fugusashi)
Okonomiyaki
Field sushi (hakozushi)

IP Metropolis Lodge Osaka

Situated within the heart of Osaka, IP Metropolis Lodge in Osaka is an effective base to go to many vacationer locations. The three.5-star business-friendly resort in Osaka gives free WiFi, 2 eating places and breakfast. The rooms are compact, however comfy. Good selection for households.

The resort is inside a 15-minute stroll of Dotonbori. There are many small, quiet eating places on the facet streets and comfort shops close by. The property is only a quick stroll to public transportation: Nagahoribashi Station is 4 minutes and Shinsaibashi Station is 5 minutes away.

Tackle: 2-12-22 Minamisenba, Shinsaibashi, Osaka, Japan, 542-0081

Mercure Tokyu Keep Osaka Namba

For contemporary enterprise vacationers who need more room and room to socialize, Mercure Tokyu Keep Osaka Namba is a complicated, luxurious city resort. Mercure is situated near the principle streets Midosuji Boulevard and Dotonbori, among the many hottest spots in Osaka.

The entire resort feels darkish and moody, with cutting-edge inside design of the and calming visitor rooms. The resort has a Seize & Go area, the place anybody can drop by freely to socialize with others. The resort places you proper close to probably the most vibrant procuring and eating areas. It’s situated a 5-minute stroll from both Namba or Shinsaibashi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line.

Tackle: 2-4 Nishishinsaibashi 2-chome, 542-0086 Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka

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