If you're planning a trip to Japan, then Osaka is the place to go. Osaka is Japan's third largest city and the second largest metropolitan area after the country's capital - Tokyo. Osaka is often referred to as the anti-capital of Japan, while Tokyo is polished and expensive, Osaka is the convivial and laid back city for visitors who want to experience Japan in all its glory at a cost friendly rate. Osaka is probably one of the best places to visit in Japan if you are down for a good time.
Where to go in Osaka
From the castles to the modern pieces of architecture to the underground structures, there are several top attractions and spots that deserve to be seen by every visitor in Osaka.
Osaka Castle : Topping your must see list should be the five-layer donjon castle of Osaka. The castle is more of a museum built like a castle than an actual castle. It is set on a lawn park stretching across 60,000 square meters. It is one of the city's most popular site and while the grounds are always open and free, entry into the castle will cost you money. The cherry blossom season is the merriest time to visit the famous site.
The National Art Museum of Osaka: The art museum is located underground in the
Nakanoshima Island of central Osaka. A new structure was opened in 2007 and it focuses on Japanese and foreign contemporary art, with social exhibitions from the museum collection. This is the ideal place to learn all about Japanese art.
The Umeda Sky Building: The Umeda Sky building is 173 metres of spectacular architecture. The high rise building consists of 2 towers connected on the 39th floor by the "Floating Garden Observatory". Also called the "New
Umeda City", this would be your chance to get the perfect aerial view of Japan.
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
: Located in Osaka's bay area, this aquarium is one of Japan's most spectacular sights. The marine life are displayed in 15 tanks, some stretching across floors with each tank representing a region of the Pacific Rim. The central tank houses a whale shark, the aquarium's main attraction. A visit will leave you relishing the experience forever.
Universal Studios Japan
: Opened in 2001, USJ was the first theme park by Universal studios in Asia and the second most visited park in Japan. The park has 8 sections, from Hollywood to Wonderland to Harry Potter. The park also features amusement rides with several simulators and mascots based on popular movies. It is open day and night with daily shows and parades for you to enjoy. If you are looking for a place to hang out with the family, then this is it.
Where to eat in Osaka
When you think of Osaka, think of food. A popular motto in Osaka is "kuidaore," meaning "eat yourself into bankruptcy" that should give thou an idea of how serious the food culture is. Osaka is crammed with amazing restaurants that serve some of the most mouth watering indigenous Japanese dishes, a lot of them are affordable and it would be great to try them out. Treat yourself to some of the savoury local dishes like Battera - a block type sushi, Okonomiyaki - fried cabbage cakes and Takoyaki - dumplings with fried octopus fillings. If you're out for the best of Osakan dining, visit the top rated restaurants such as Kuma Kafe, Maidreamin Osaka Nipponbashi OTA Road, Okonomiyaki Chitose, Alto Tritone and GYOZAOH! Dotonbori Store.
Where to stay in Osaka
Osaka is all about hotels, whether traveling on business or vacation, Osaka can accommodate all visitors.
Hotels.com offers a list of 1,372 hotels with 133450 of genuine reviews. From budget hotels to mid-range hotels to luxury hotels, there is a wide assortment of hotels to choose from. Book your hotels via Hotels.com and enjoy discounts as using our
promo code . Some of the best rated hotels in the famous city spread across the city's main urban hubs like Kita and Minami include;
Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka,
RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka,
Namba Oriental Hotel,
Red Roof Plus Osaka Namba and
Candeo Hotels Osaka Namba. The weather in Osaka is actually ideal for tourism all year round and extreme weather conditions that may slow down tourist activities are relatively rare. Like with most places, the summers are hot and it's colder, but not freezing in winter. However, the cherry blossom season - spring and fall offer warm to cool temperatures and most tourists flock into the city during this period. You could spend as long as you want in Osaka without feeling bored, if you're ever in Japan, take the trip to Osaka and have the time of your life.
