Energetic city
Osaka which will hold the 2008 Olympics
 Osaka
is the second largest city in Japan where you will be fascinated its
unique scenery. Kita is the northern business part of this highly developed
town, while Minami, the southern part, is known for its bustling entertainment
centers which blaze at night with neon lights. Tennoji area will give
you the atmosphere of downtown Osaka. And Osaka-jo Castle area is famous
for its historical sites. Nakano-shima, on the other hand, is a small
westernized island.
In addition to these of 5 major districts, the bay areas such as Tempo-zan,
Nanko and Maishima, which will hold the 2008 Olympics, have been developing
remarkably as futuristic cities. Now, Osaka is well prepared for the
2008 Olympics. Kansai International Airport, OCAT (Osaka City Air Terminal),
Osaka Dome and other exciting attractions are there for you to explore
in Osaka.
Transportation
By Air
From Tokyo
Tokyo (Haneda) - Kansai International Airport: 1 hr. 15 min.
From Sapporo
Sapporo (Chitose) - Kansai International Airport: 1 hr. 55 min.
From Sendai
Sendai - Kansai International Airport: 1 hr. 20 min.
From Tokushima
Tokushima - Kansai International Airport: 30 min.
From Fukuoka
Fukuoka - Kansai International Airport: 55 min.
From Kansai International Airport into the city
JR Hanwa-sen Line "Tokkyu Haruka" - Tennoji: 30 min.
JR Hanwa-sen Line "Tokkyu Haruka" - Shin-osaka: 50 min.
JR Kanku-kaisoku - JR Namba: 1 hr.
Nankai Dentetsu "Tokkyu Rapid" - JR Namba: 30 min.
 By
Limousine Bus
From Kansai International Airport
Osaka Station: 1 hr.
Shin-umeda City: 1 hr. 15 min.
Shinsai-bashi: 1 hr. 10 min.
and connected with other 10 major terminals
Kansai International Airport
Kansai International Airport was opened in September of 1994 and
is Japan's only 24-hour international airport. This airport handles
some domestic but mostly international flights. The facilities in this
airport are convenient and well organized for the passengers and visitors.
The JR-sen and Nankai-sen Lines offer transportation to Osaka from the
airport. Hotels and shopping are also available at the airport.
OCAT (Osaka City Air Terminal) was opened in March of 1997 at Minami
Passengers of international flights are able to check in ahead of time
at OCAT and enjoy a baggage-free trip. OCAT(see the photograph) is composed
of a building with 6 stories above ground and 2 floors below. JR Namba
Station is located in the 2nd basement. The first basement is an underground
passage which is directly connected to subway "Namba Station".
In addition to those transportation systems, you can travel to 24 major
cities all over Japan by express bus from the 2nd floor bus terminal.
Also, there are various kinds of services available such as the Visitor's
Information Center, Tourist Lobby, Internet Access, foreign embassies,
shops, restaurants, banks, a post office, and more.
By Train
From Tokyo
Tokyo (Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen "Hikari") - Shin-osaka: 3
hrs.
From Nagoya
Nagoya (Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen "Hikari") - Shin-osaka: 1
hr.
From Kyushu areas
Hakata (Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen "Hikari") - Shin-osaka: 3
hrs. 40 min.
Osaka City Transportation
System
Subway and JR lines provide the most convenient transportation within
the city of Osaka. The "One day Pass", which you can use to
explore the areas of Osaka in one day, is 850 yen for adults and 430
yen for children.
Museum & Park
Osaka Municipal Museum of Art
This museum is located within Tennoji Koen park and exhibits many
collections of Chinese paintings and the works of Ogata Korin (an artist
of middle of Yedo period). In addition to its permanent collections,
this museum also displays special and public art collections.
Admission: 300 yen / Open 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., closed Mondays and the
days after holidays / 06-771-4874
* 5-min. walk from the Tennoji subway station.
Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka
 The
museum displays 1,300 pieces of oriental indigo ceramics and pottery.
These ceramics and pottery were produced in China and Korea in ancient
times. The two national treasures and the thirteen important cultural
assets of Japan included in this museum are worth checking out.
Admission: 500 yen / Open 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., closed Mondays and the
days after holidays / 06-223-0055
* 5-min. walk from the Keihan-yodoya-bashi subway station.
Wahha Kamigata
This entertainment museum specializes in Kamigata entertainment
displays such as rakugo (a popular entertainment), manzai (a cross-talk
comedy) and , shin-kigeki (a comedy show).
Admission: 800 yen / Open weekdays 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., holidays 10 a.m.
- 8 p.m., closed every second and fourth Mondays and the days after
holidays / 06-631-0884
* 5-min. walk from the Namba subway station and the Kintetsu-Nankai-namba
Station.
Suntry Museum Tempo-zan
 This
museum exhibits various kinds of collections such as posters from other
countries or glass art objects. The collections are changed monthly
or seasonally. The giant 3-D IMAX theater here is definitely worth experiencing.
Admission: 950 yen for Gallery / Open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., 1,000 yen for
theater / Open 11:00 a.m. - 8 p.m., closed Mondays and the days after
holidays / 06-577-0001
* 5-min. walk from the Osaka-ko subway station.
Fujita Art Museum
This museum exhibits antiques, tea ceremony utensils and over 5,000
other items which belonged to Baron Fujita's family. There are also
nine Japanese national treasures and 45 important assets within the
collection including the scroll of the Murasaki Shikibu diary. You can
also admire its beautiful Japanese garden.
Admission: 700 yen / Open 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (only from the middle
of March through the beginning of June and from the middle of September
through the beginning of December), closed Mondays and the days after
holidays / 06-351-0582
* 5-min. walk from JR Kata-machi Station.
Manno Art Museum
Visitors can look at Japanese and oriental paintings, lacquered wares,
ceramics, dyed fabrics, and tea ceremony utensils here. The museum also
has a tea-ceremony room although it is located on the top floor of a
business building.
Admission: 500 yen / Open 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (only from the middle
of March through the beginning of July and from the middle of September
through late of December), closed Mondays and the days after holidays
/ 06-212-1517
* 3-min. walk from the Shinsai-bashi subway station.
Local Food
 O-tako
O-tako is a very popular takoyaki shop of long standing. Takoyaki is
a kind of Japanese ball-like pancake, to which octopus, shredded cabbage
and other vegetables are added. As this shop advertises, the size of
their octopuses are amazingly big. You will absolutely enjoy their secret
sauce and dried skipjack topping.
1-5-10 Dotombori, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi / 06-211-5223
Kinryu Ramen ( a Chinese style noodle)
You will never see a time when the Kinryu Ramen restaurant is empty.
This is a standing restaurant which offers only an original "Kinryu
Ramen". You will enjoy the taste with your favorite toppings: hand
made kimuchi (spicy Korean pickled cabbage), leeks, and garlic. The
light tasting soup is made with pig bones and soy sauce.
1-7-13 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi / 06-213-6825
Kani Doraku
 A
movable giant model of crab is a symbol of Kani Doraku (kani is Japanese
for crab). The most popular course is "Kani Suki" which includes
various kinds of imaginative crab cooking.
1-6-18 Dotombori, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi / 06-211-8975
Jiyuken
This is a western-style restaurant which was established in Meiji Period
(1868-1912). One of their specialties is curry with raw egg. When you
are served, the rice is already mixed in with a mild sauce. Surely you
will love the taste.
3-1-34 Namba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi / 06-631-5564
Kawafuku
This is an udon (thick, white noodle) shop with a special soup.
Yamakake-udon (grated yam covered noodle) is highly recommended. People
stop by around midnight after drinking at the bars.
1-14-17 Higashi-shinsai-bashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi / 06-241-9125
Chibo
This is a big and very popular okonomi-yaki restaurant which occupies
the 1st through 4th floors of the building. Okonomi-yaki is a kind of
Japanese pizza which is cooked with meat or fish, shredded cabbage and
other kinds of vegetables. They offer a pesticide-free stock of organic
cabbages, leeks, and other vegetables as well as their original sauce,
mayonnaise, and seasoning.
1-5-5 Dotombori, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi / 06-212-2211
Hard Rock Cafe, Osaka
This is the world-wide famous cafe restaurant. The California Club Sandwich
is very popular among the younger generation. The cafe is open until
4 a.m. on Saturdays and the days before holidays.
2-8-110 Namba-naka, Naniwa-ku, Osaka-shi / 06-646-1470
Festivals & Events
 Toka-ebisu
(January 9 -11 at Imamiya-ebisu-jinja Shrine, Horikawa-ebisu-jinja Shrine
and other Ebisu-jinnja Shrines within the city)
Toka-ebisu is a three-day festival for ebisu, the deity of commerce.
A million visitors participate in the festival each year and purchase
"Kiccho-zasa" for their pursuit of a prospering business.
Kiccho-zasa is a bamboo branch decorated with models of tai (a sea bream),
koban (a old Japanese gold coin) and kome-dawara (a straw rice bag).
These three items represent one's flourishing success in business.
Tenjin Matsuri Festival (July 24 - 25 at Osaka Tenmangu Shrine and
Okawa River)
This festival is, along with Kanda Matsuri (Tokyo) and Gion Matsuri
(Kyoto), one of Japan's three greatest maturi. The festival begins as
the Fure-daiko Drum Core and mikoshi (portable shrines) proceed from
Tenmangu Shrine to the port, Tenjin-bashi Bridge. The mikoshi are transferred
to a ship and welcomed by other big ships while the sailing. Lanterns
from the ships and bonfires from the ground sparkle on the surface of
water. For the festival's climax, more than 2,000 shooting fireworks
as well as hanging fireworks light up the night sky and create a bright
summer night scene.
The Midosuji Parade (The second Sunday of October at Midosuji Street)
This parade is held every year on Midosuji Street (the main street of
Osaka). Many foreigners also participate in this big event in their
own country's costumes. They perform spectacularly and parade down Midosuji.
Since 1997 the parade is being held in the evening.
 Shitenno-ji
Temple Wasso festival (November 3rd at Shitenno-ji Temple)
This festival shows the story of Japan's historical international relationships
with other Asian countries in ancient times. Four thousand people participate
in this festival dressed in ancient ethnic costumes. They parade in
the precinct and around the temple while playing traditional ethnic
folk music.
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