Top 25 Osaka Attractions, Japan

Osaka is the third most populous city in Japan. The location in the bay and the presence of a convenient port made Osaka an important trading center of the country. The less influence the samurai had in the area, the more successful the merchants were. This favorably affected the development of the city. Until now, the Dotonbori shopping district and Shinsaibashi-suji street are important for the economy and attract tourists. In addition, Osaka is the capital of the national bunraku theater and comedy. Connoisseurs of local culture, especially those who know Japanese, will enjoy colorful performances.

Since there is no free land in the city, the available territory is used here as efficiently as possible. So the Tennoji Zoo opened within the park of the same name, and the National Museum of Art was built almost entirely underground.

What to see and where to go in Osaka?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Dotonbori

The area is located along the canal of the same name. It is both a commercial and business quarter of the city. The streets are full of people, and the smell of food and music can be heard from the many restaurants around the clock. Tourists are attracted by large entertainment centers, bunraku puppet theater and all kinds of performances. At night, neon signs and lanterns light up, so Dotonbori is always as bright as day.

Osaka castle

One of the most popular and important historical and architectural monuments in Japan. The castle was founded at the end of the 16th century. In the past, there was a temple on this site. The building area is about 1 km². The project had to be impregnable. Buildings reach up to 5 floors in height and up to 3 underground. For quite a long time the castle was in a deplorable state, it was restored in its original form, including the interior, only in the 20th century.

Shinsaibashi-suji

It is located next to the metro station of the same name. The shopping street, which stretches for more than half a kilometer, is always crowded. About 60 thousand people visit it every day. This area is about 380 years old. The shops are characterized by an atypical combination: there are boutiques of famous brands nearby and, for example, tailors' shops that make kimonos. Here you can buy ready-made food in one of the many points.

Kuromon Market

It is located a five-minute walk from Nippon Basi Subway Station. On the spacious square under the roof, all kinds of shops with clothes and food are open from 8 am to 6 pm. All shops selling fresh catch or fruit are traditionally closed on holidays and on Sundays. There are also many establishments selling hot takeaway food. For this reason, the market was nicknamed "folk cuisine".

Umeda Sky Building

A skyscraper with 173 floors in a futuristic style was built in 1993. The author of the project is Hiroshi Hara. Initially, it was planned to create four towers, but, taking into account financial possibilities, they settled on two. At the very top they are connected by the Observatory, which is also unusual in design. Restaurant "Takimi-koji" is open on one of the lower floors. Its interiors refer to the first half of the last century.

Abeno Harukas

The construction of the skyscraper took about 4 years and ended in 2014. The height of the 60-storey building is 300 meters. It is currently considered the highest in Japan. Only large companies can afford offices in Abeno Harukas. The Sharp Corporation moved its headquarters here. Inside, boutiques, department stores, an observation deck and a high-class Marriott International hotel are also located.

Shitenno-ji Temple

Although the temple was founded in the 6th century, the original buildings have not survived to this day. They were destroyed and rebuilt at least seven times, according to the annals. In the last century, during the next rebuilding of Shitenno-ji, reinforced concrete was used for the first time for greater structural strength. The temple is dedicated to the Buddhist gods - the so-called Heavenly Emperors. The Treasury and the Gokurakujodo Garden are important objects of the complex.

Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

It is the main shrine of the god Sumiyoshi in Japan. According to legend, this temple was founded by Empress Jingu after her return from Korea. The complex consists of four main buildings. There are also other significant buildings in the traditional style, such as the bridge and the arch at the rear entrance to the territory. At the temple, ancient Japanese seals are kept, as well as historically and culturally valuable prescriptions of the emperor.

National Bunraku Theater

Osaka is the capital of bunraku. The National Theater is located in the Chuoku area. Puppet puppets are involved in the performance. Their height is usually about a meter. They are managed by a master with assistants. The production is accompanied by playing the shamisen, a lute with three strings, and a narration that is often hummed. The troupe tours a lot, as this art form is complex, rare and in demand.

Namba Grand Kagetsu

Among other things, Osaka is called the comedy capital of Japan. Namba Grand Kagetsu is a direct proof of this. In this theater, artists from the Yoshimoto Creative Agency put on humorous performances and give comedy solo concerts. The shows are held in Japanese, so they are primarily aimed at citizens and domestic tourists. The program is fickle, as there are many comedians, and they replace each other.

Museum of Oriental Ceramics

The most convenient way to get to the museum is from the Keihandensha railway station. The collection is distributed over several rooms. It includes examples of Korean ceramic art dating back to the 10th century and Chinese pottery. The number of exhibits exceeds 4 thousand. One of them is national wealth - a special object status for Japan. The museum has a gift shop and tea ceremonies.

Osaka History Museum

Opened since 2003. Located near Osaka Castle. The exposition tells about all stages of the development of the city. In the past, the Naniwa Palace was built here, and city blocks began to form after the appearance of shopping arcades. The museum does not occupy the entire building. As is often the case in Japan, it is necessary to inspect the collection from the top floor, going down. Its lower floors are given over to shops and restaurants.

Osaka Housing and Living Museum

Entire streets, as well as individual residential buildings, have been recreated on the territory of the vast complex. They are characteristic of past centuries and show changes in Japanese traditions and style. The buildings of the Edo period are especially noteworthy - you will not find such models anywhere else in Japan. Due to its convenient location, tourists can view the interior of the houses. Some can be entered.

science museum

The year of opening is 1937. Since the 1980s, the museum has had its current name. Each of the 4 floors is dedicated to a separate scientific topic. The exposition includes about 200 exhibits. Most of them can be touched. The tour consists of experiments, visual aids and theory. The museum has a planetarium - the fifth largest in the world. It has undergone extensive restoration in our century and has been welcoming visitors since 2004.

National Museum of Art

The beginning of the museum was laid by the international exhibition Expo-70. From her pavilion, where samples of fine art were exhibited, the current collection has grown. In 2004, the museum moved to a new building on Nakanoshima Island. The American Cesar Pelli was responsible for its design. Three of the four floors are underground. The total area is 13.5 thousand m². The funds include more than 5 thousand units of storage.

Instant Noodle Museum

In 1958, on the initiative of Momofuku Ando, ​​this unusual museum was opened. Acquaintance with the history of the invention of instant noodles for tourists begins with a small introduction and passage through the tunnel. Its walls are decorated with packs of noodles of different types, tastes and companies. At master classes, you can take part in the “assembly” of noodles: add everything you need to the glass and seal it yourself.

Kids Plaza Osaka

An unusual museum for children. Here, young visitors are engaged in various scientific projects, give them the opportunity to realize their creative impulses and get to know their peers. Special educational programs have been developed, where parents and children act as a single team. There is a recreation area. The object is completely closed, so the possibility of getting lost or meeting a stranger is reduced to zero.

Grand Front Osaka

The commercial complex opened in 2013. It was built as part of the reconstruction of the entire area. The city authorities have tried to make an attractive place for tourists and investments out of the unsightly territory. The rest of the area will be completed by 2025. Grand Front Osaka includes the Intercontinental Hotel, office space, shops, restaurants, concert halls, residential area.

Tsutenkaku Tower

The current television tower was erected in 1957. Previously, its predecessor with the same name, destroyed during World War II, stood in the same place. The new building turned out to be much larger: its height exceeds 100 meters. Tourists for a small fee can climb almost to the very top of the building, where an observation deck is equipped. From here you can see the whole city in detail.

Spa World

The complex occupies seven floors. People come here specifically to restore health and relax. There are also separate procedures that allow you to relax after a long walk. The third floor is reserved for baths and saunas, including Finnish and Roman ones. Men and women can visit the baths in different months. There is a water park on the fifth floor during the warm season. Spa World has its own restaurants and cafes.

Ferris wheel Tempozan

Located near the Kayukan Aquarium. The opening of this attraction took place in 1997. The height of the wheel is 112.5 meters and the diameter is about 100 meters. During the trip, which lasts 17 minutes, tourists can explore the area, including the city bay and the Rokko Mountains. The wheel is decorated with special lights. They indicate the weather in the coming days: orange - sunny, green - cloudy, blue - rain.

Tennoji Zoo

The name is derived from the urban area. The zoo opened on the territory of the park of the same name in 1915. The number of its inhabitants has already exceeded one and a half thousand, and the number of introductions is more than 230. One of the most unique specimens is the kiwi bird. There are no more of these in Japan. Even for large animals, such as hippos or lions, conditions have been created that mimic their natural habitat.

Nakanoshima Park

Broken in 1891 between two rivers - Tosabori and Dojima. The area is about 106 thousand m². Later, a rose garden appeared right in the center of Nakanoshima. 310 species of roses grow here, and the number of buds reaches 3700. The Earl restaurant, famous for its grilled dishes and beer, operates near the water in the park. Nearby are the city's main library and the old Osaka Public Hall.

Kayukan Aquarium

The eight-story building was built in 1990. The study of the inhabitants of the underwater world takes place from top to bottom - from the 7th floor to the 4th. That's where the aquariums are. The main inhabitants are a huge stingray and a tiger shark. The part of the exposition where crabs and jellyfish live has an unusual design and lighting. The total area of ​​Kayukan is more than 26 thousand m², and the largest water tank has a volume of 5400 m³.

Universal Studio Park

It opened in 2010 and continues to grow with new attractions and entertainment areas. Everything here is connected with films released by Universal Studios, including: Shrek, Terminator, Back to the Future, Jurassic Park. There is a playground for the youngest visitors, called "Universal Wonderland". And in thematic areas, full-scale shows are staged by stuntmen.