U23 Osaka-Kansai Guide: Introduction
U23 Osaka-Kansai Guide Index
- Osaka-Kansai Guide Introduction
- Osaka-Kansai Sightseeing Guide
- Osaka-Kansai Gourmet Guide
- Osaka-Kansai Shopping Guide
- Osaka-Kansai-Event Guide
- Osaka- Kansai-Hotel Guide
History of Osaka
593 Prince Shotoku founded the Shitennoji
1583 Hideyoshi Toyotomi build Osaka Castle
1868 Osaka installation
1889 Meiji Constitution promulgation, Osaka, municipal enforcement in Sakai City
1945 Bombing of Osaka, end of World War II
1970 Osaka World Expo
1985 Hanshin Tigers first victory
1994 Kansai International Airport opened
2019 Rugby World Cup
2025 Osaka – Kansai Expo?
Model Course
What’s most interesting in Osaka is local people. There are two big area. One is Umeda they call “Kita (North)”. The other one is Namba they call “Minami (South)” . It is fun to see the difference of people and atmosphere in each area.
Shinsekai (The New World) with Tsutenkaku is only unique area in Osaka. Eat more Osaka Food. Universal Studio Japan, Kaiyukan can spend over one day.
7 Days Travel in Osaka
Day 1: Osaka Kita
Spot: Umeda, Tenma, Nakanoshima, Osaka Castle, Osaka Mint, Osaka Expo…etc
Food: Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, Negiyaki, Kushikatsu, Tempra, Butaman, Gyoza, Sushi, Udon…etc
Reccomend 1-3 days
Day 2: Osaka Minami
Spot: Shinsekai/Tsutenkaku, Namba, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi, Shitenno-ji, Abeno Harukas..etc
Food: Okonomiyaki, Takoyaki, Negiyaki, Kushikatsu, Tempra, Butaman, Gyoza, Sushi, Udon…etc
Recommend 1-3 days
Day 3: Kyoto East
Fushimi Inari shirine (Thousand gates) Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera, Heian-kyo, Nanzen-ji…etc
Food: Obanzai, Nishinsoba, Otabe, Dango, Kuzukiri, Daifuku, Konpeito, Shibaduke, Senmaiduke, Shichimi…
Recommend 1-3 days
Day 4: Kyoto West
Spot: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Temple), Arashiyama(Bamboo Groove), Ryoan-ji…etc
Food: Obanzai, Nishinsoba, Otabe, Dango, Kuzukiri, Daifuku, Konpeito, Shibaduke, Senmaiduke, Shichimi…
Recommend 1-3 days
Day 5: Kobe, Arima Onsen
Spot: Kobe, Sanomiya, Nankinmachi, Rokko mountain, Venus Bridge, Perl Bridge, Arima Onsen
Food: Kobe Beef, Akashiyaki,
Recommend: 1-4 Days
Day 6: Nara, Yoshiono
Spot: Nara, Todai-ji (Great Budda), Yoshino…etc
Food: Kakinoha-sushi, Asuka-nabe
Recommend: 1-2 Days
Day 7: Himeji
Spot: Himeji Castle, Koko-en, Himeji Central Park, Shosya Mountain, Taiyo Park…etc
Food: Eki-soba, Zundo-Rahmen, Somen, Akashi-yaki, Doroyaki, Himeji Oden, Almond Toast, Hinepon
Recommend: 1-2 Days
Extra: Explore Kansai Local Area
Awaji Island, Takeda Castle, Kinosaki Onsen…etc
Next Destination:
West: Hiroshima, Nagasaki
South: Okinawa
East: Nagoya, Mt.Fuji, Tokyo
North: Hokkaido
Osaka Area Guide
Kita (Umeda, Nakanoshima, Tenma) area
Osaka Station is 4th Busiest Station in the World. There are JR Osaka Station, Hankyu / Hanshin / Osaka Metro Umeda Station, Nishi Umeda Station, Higashi Umeda Station and Kita Shinchi Station.
Umeda Sky Building is Osaka’s landmark which is introduced as the future of thee Arc De Triomphe in foreign countries magazine. Japan biggest Umeda underground shopping center. Japan longest Tenjinbashi shopping street and more interesting area.
Minami (Namba, Shinsaibashi, Nihonbashi) area
Namba, Shinsaibashi, Nihonbashi is most flashy and lively in Japan where Osaka seems neighborhood . Kuidaore means eating until lay down. Dotonbori is Japan’s biggest neon destrict Dotonbori. Nihonbashi has Kuromon market and Denden Town where is electricity and otaku area. You can find every thing in kitchen at Sennimimae tool shop street. American Villages and Horie is hip area.
Tennoji, Abeno, Shinsekai area
Must go tourist district Shinsekai with Tsutenkaku Tower. It means New World. You can feel like you had time trip to Showa Age. Shitenno-ji Temple is said to prince shotoku was founded in Japan’s oldest buddhist council. Japan tallest buildings Abeno Haukasu Building. Spa World is huge and unique hot spring.
Osaka Castle, Tsurumi-ryokuchi area
There is Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s Osaka Castle and history museum. Thare are also Osaka Business Park.
Bay Area
There are lots of theme park such as USJ (Universal Studios Japan) , the world’s largest aquarium Kaiyukan, Tempozan Harbor Village.
Osaka City outside
Mino, Kongo-san, Settskyo, Shimoakasaka…
Access to Osaka
by Airplane
Kansai International Airport
Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport)
Kobe Airport
by Train
Shinkansen Shin-Osaka Station
New Rapid JR Osaka Station
Kintetsu Express Osaka Namba Station
by Bus
Highway Bus to Umeda and Namba from all over Japan
by Car
Meishin Expressway Suita IC, Toyonaka IC
China Road China Suita IC, Toyonaka IC
by Ferry
Nanko Ferry Terminal
Osaka Transportation
Train
JR West, Hankyu, Hanshin Electric Railway, Keihan (Keihan Electric Railway), Kintetsu (Kinki Nippon Railway), Nankai Electric Railway, BanSakai train
Subway
Midosuji Line, Tanimachi Line, Yotsubashi line, center line, Sennichimae Line, Sakaisuji, Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line, Tram (Nanko Port Town Line)
Bus
Osaka Municipal Bus
Basic information of Osaka
Osaka population of about 8.7 million, about a population of about Osaka 2.5 million
Osaka-Kansai Travel Accommodation
U23 House Osaka Blue
U23 House Osaka Apple
- U23 Osaka-Kansai Guide Index
U23 Guide produced by World Odyssey: 23 Laps Round The World