Osaka (Japan)
Between tradition and modernity a great Japanese city
Osaka: travel and visit
Hundreds of places more surprising than you'd ever imagined
Osaka is an incredible city, a mix between buys and peaceful city. The city is accessible from Osaka Kansai airport by train, by bus or by taxi. Osaka is also a mix of modernity and tradition. Osaka inhabitants are known as very friendly (compared to other parts of Japan and this is really relative if you compare to other countries like Australia). Japanese people are usually very curious about westerners and will be very helpful. You will be amazed also how polite they can be.
What to do in Osaka?
Immerge yourself in a different culture
- Visit the Osaka Castle: this castle is certainly a masterpiece and you can't go to Osaka and not visit this place. The entire castle is full of relics, artifacts and explanations about the Japanese Empire in Osaka.
- Buddhist temples: Osaka holds some great Buddhist temples with a very distinctive architecture.
- Visit the Museum of Natural History: a great place to learn more about human and animal evolution.
- Visit the National Museum of Arts: great collections of paintings, photographs and sculptures.
- Visit the Umeda Sky Building: the best view in town. The perfect time to go there is at sunset, photographers will have the perfect shot.
- Universal Studios: this very famous theme park is an exceptional place to go to enjoy roller coasters and fun attractions. Make sure to try the amazing Spiderman adventure.
What you have to try in Osaka
Tea Ceremony
Japan is really famous for its samurais and many other traditions. One of them, a very important one for every Japanese people, is the tea ceremony. This ritual can only be made by initiates. The ritual is actually much more important than drinking the tea itself. There are many places when you can experience this ceremony but remember to be patient. This ceremony is not about the result but the journey you take to make the tea.
What you have to try in Osaka
Take your time to read the plan!
It can be easy to be completely lost while looking at a plan in the subway.
Two things to remember : the red circle is where you are. Then find the station where you want to go. The price above the station will give you the cost of your ride! Make sure you pay the right fare.
Where to stay in Osaka?
Selection of hotels in Osaka
One thing to remember is that space is a national issue in Japan. Houses, apartments, hotels ...everything is smaller than any other places in the world. The size of your hotel room will be somehow small to usual European Standards for example.