Osaka

Capital of the Osaka Prefecture and the third largest city in Japan, Osaka is one of the country's major ports and, with a population of 2.7 million, makes up part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto trio in the Kansai region.

The city's history stretches back over 1400 years. Because of its location at the confluence of a maze of busy waterways, Osaka quickly became a commercial hub of great importance, and a gateway for travellers and traders from the rest of Asia into Japan. At a turbulent time in Japanese history, when centres of power would be relocated with the reign of each new ruler, Osaka served as the first capital city of Japan.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was responsible for uniting Japan after a period of great social upheaval and political strife, chose Osaka as the location for his opulent castle. And the city may well have survived as the primary political centre of Japan had the succeeding Emperor, Tokugawa Ieyasu, not terminated the Toyotomi lineage and moved his government to the distant plains of Edo (Tokyo).

Because of its role at the centre of so much of Japan�s fascinating history, there is a strong rivalry today between Osaka and Tokyo. Capital city it may not be, but Osaka has a rich and varied history unlike any other in Japan. Add to that Osaka's commercial significance and you have a city that offers a taste of both ancient and modern Japan, two cultures that remain unique in the whole world.

Attractions

The best known site from Osaka, and one of the most famous monuments of Japanese history, Osaka Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi who unified Japan. Adorned with delightful cherry blossoms in the summer months, the ornate Japanese architecture of the castle, which was damaged during the Second World War, has since been fully restored and can now be fully enjoyed in all its resplendent beauty.

Juxtaposed with the luscious greenery of the castle�s surrounding are the adjacent stylish and ultra-modern buildings. The Umeda Sky Building for example, as well as being a city landmark is one of the finest pieces of modern engineering in the world. The skyscraper consists of two 40 story towers connected at the top by a series of bridges. There is a rooftop observatory (sky garden) and a street level market that is modelled in the style of early 20th century Osaka.

The Shitenno-ji Temple is a Buddhist shrine, constructed in 593 by prince Shotoku. It is officially the oldest administered temple in Japan. It has undergone extensive renovations throughout the years, mainly to counteract natural deterioration. Sumiyoshi Taisha similarly, is a Shinto temple with a distinct style of architecture that is separated by the hectic pace of modern life in Osaka by a sacred bridge that passes over a tranquil pond. Admission is free.

There are a number of highly regarded museums and galleries in Osaka. A good place to start is the [http://www.nmao.go.jp/english/home.html National Museum of Art] which collects exhibits that document how Japan's rich artistic heritage has developed. It has a unique exterior made of steel and glass that looks like the skeleton of some ancient winged beast, and truly has to be seen to be believed. A slight change of pace, Osaka International Peace Center (Peace Osaka) is a museum documenting the horrors of the Second World War and the impact it had upon the city of Osaka. The Museum of Oriental Ceramics on the other hand displays 2000 ceramic pieces some of which are designated National Treasures. The National Bunraku Theater is one of the few places in which the intricate puppet theatre of Edo period Japan can still be witnessed firsthand. The puppets are often large enough to require three operators, and act out traditional Japanese plays.

Beyond the usual attractions Osaka is also home to several large amusement parks with many different rides. The largest of these are Expoland and Festival Gate. The city is also home to one of the three Universal Studios theme parks in the world, as well as one of the world's largest aquariums at Kaiyukan which displays all manner of sea creatures in 11,000 tons of water. The city also contains the largest IMAX cinema screen in the world.

Shopping

There are many large shopping districts throughout Osaka such as Shinsaibashi which is comprised of huge department stores offering almost anything imaginable, or Nippombashi (Den Den Town) which specialises in electronics and all manner of gadgets usually at reasonable prices. Within Shinsaibashi, the American Village (Amerika-mura) specialises in Western fashions and trendy boutiques, and is considered to be the source of most trend setting fashions in Japan.

Nightlife and Eating Out

Osaka has a variety of different clubs and bars, and listings for most events can be found in [http://www.kansaiscene.com/current/html/home.shtml/ Kansai Scene Magazine]. Among the highest recommended clubs are Clube Joule and Underlounge, both in the Nishi-shinsaibash area. Clubs in the city offer many different musical styles, from local Japanese rock bands, to massive dance raves. Whatever your preferences, there is bound to be something on offer. Osaka is particularly famous within Japan for its restaurants, many of which can be found on Dotonbori, a street filled with nothing but restaurants such as Kuidaore (which is one of the largest restaurants in the world with a different type of food on each floor) and Kani Doraku, a crab restaurant seated under a giant mechanical crab.

Tourist Information

Osaka Visitors' Information Centre � Umeda JR Osaka Station, 3-1-1 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka 530530-0001

• Telephone: +81 (06) 345 2189
• Website: [http://www.city.osaka.jp/english/ http://www.city.osaka.jp/english]

An excellent list of useful contact numbers, addresses, and information on local customs and events can be found [http://www.japan-travel-guide.de/japanosaka.html/ here].

Airport

The main route into Osaka is through [http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/english/index.htm Kansai International Airport] which is the main airport for the Kansai region, serving Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. The airport's single terminal building is said to be the longest building in the world measuring in at 1.7km. The usual assortment of cafeterias, restaurants and duty free shopping is on offer. For those wishing to travel around the rest of Japan, domestic flights arrive and depart from Osaka International Airport, which is commonly referred to as Itami Airport (ITM).