Japanese Venice, Gates of the Pacific Ocean, Yakuza City - Osaka, one of the oldest cities in East Asia, has so many names. Japan is a country of contrasts, and this city is one of its colors.
This is the third largest metropolis in the country, located in the south of the island of Honshu in the Osaka Bay. He made the city a major port and industrial heart of Japan. Osaka attracts many tourists for its attractions, entertainment and shopping.
Osaka Castles
One of the main historical and cultural attractions of the city is Osaka Samurai Castle in Japan. It amazes tourists not only with its size (its area is one square kilometer, its height is 5 floors, and the castle goes underground for another 3 floors), but also with its splendor - its walls are covered with gold leaf. The castle was built in 1597 by the commander Hideyoshi. 20 thousand people were employed in its construction. The castle stands on a sheer mound of huge boulders to protect against attacks.
In the 17th century, the castle was destroyed after civil wars, and subsequent attempts to restore it were prevented by a lightning strike that caused a fire. Until the 20th century, the castle stood in ruins, and only in 1931 the city hall restored the architectural monument,hosting a museum. Then the main tower, destroyed in the 17th century, was restored according to the surviving image on the screen. True, the Second World War again affected the construction - American air raids partially destroyed it.
After the war, the castle was restored and opened to tourists. The interiors of the main tower were completely restored - they are all modern, but the main gates, moats, and a few other buildings are original, preserved from the Middle Ages. In the museum itself, you can see an interesting exposition that tells not only about the castle, but also about the activities of Hideyoshi, about samurai and about the history of the region as a whole. A screen is also stored here, which became a sketch for the restoration of the castle in the 20th century.
In addition to Osaka's largest and most famous castle, Himeiji Castle or White Heron Castle can also be visited in the city. It was built in the 16th century, and today it is a whole complex of 80 buildings made in the traditional Japanese style. This castle is no less interesting for tourists, besides it is included in the UNESCO heritage list.
Temples of Osaka City
Japan, like any other country in Asia, is full of various temples. There are many of them in the economic center of the country. There are both Buddhist and Shinto religious buildings. At the same time, the largest centers of various schools within Buddhism are among the first to be presented.
Shitenno-ji, or the Temple of the Four Heavenly Lords, is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the country, representing Washe's own school. The temple was built in 593 and since then has experienced a lotshocks - for many centuries it has been destroyed by fires and lightning, typhoons, wars and uprisings, bombardments by American troops. And every time the temple was rebuilt. After the Second World War, it was restored, but it was no longer built from wood, as before, but from reinforced concrete. Tourists who come to Osaka in April can attend the festival, held annually at the temple, and see how the bugaku court dances looked like, which existed in the 8th-12th centuries in Japan.
Another Buddhist temple, Isshin-ji, is also interesting, mainly because statues made from the ashes of dead people are placed on its territory. Since the middle of the 19th century, urns with the ashes of deceased students of this Buddhist school have been placed on the territory of the temple. When there were so many urns that there was nowhere to store them, statues began to be made from the ashes held together with resin. A total of 13 statues were made, but 6 of them were damaged in World War II.
The Shinto branch is represented in Osaka by such large temples as Tenman-gu, built in 949, and Sumiyoshi-taisha, the main shrine of the god of the same name. The latter, by the way, contains the oldest Japanese seals.
Modern architecture: objects that amaze the imagination
As the economic heart of the country, Osaka could not do without buildings that amaze with their scope and manufacturability. You should start from Kansai Airport. It is unique in that it is built on a completely artificial island. And although the cost of maintaining it will never pay off, this is a one of a kind airport. Osaka (Japan) cannot but admire the tenacity of the citizens.
Despite the presence of ancient temples and castles, the face of the city is still its modern towers and skyscrapers. The Tsutenkaku TV Tower is considered a real symbol of the city and is compared with the Eiffel Tower. At a height of 91 meters there is an observation deck. It is very popular, but not the only one in the city. The skyscraper "Umeda Sky Building" has a platform on the 39th floor. This skyscraper of two towers and a kind of hanging gardens between them or a space observatory (whichever you prefer), hovering at a height of 170 meters, may also interest tourists in the surrounding park, as well as a restaurant imitating a Japanese street of the 19th century.
"Maru-biru" is another symbol of the city. The hotel is located in the skyscraper, and all its rooms have an undeniable advantage - the view from the windows of any room overlooks the main sights of Osaka.
Soaring fountains are also interesting. Osaka, Japan, Dream Pond is the location of a unique fountain based on geometric figures with flowing water, as if suspended in the air. It looked like a miracle in 1970 when it was installed for the World's Fair, today it is one of the city's calling cards.
Osaka train station is no doubt another such object, mainly due to its unique clock. The flows of water are controlled by a computer and add up not only the numbers that show the time in Japan, but also beautiful patterns - a mesmerizing and impressive sight.
Amusement parks
The Japanese know a lotin entertainment and attractions. The most important amusement park that Osaka and the whole island of Honshu offers is, of course, "Universal". This is an amusement theme park that rivals the famous Disneyland. There are rides and entertainment based on films made by Universal Studios - Jurassic Park, Shrek, Jaws, Harry Potter and many others. The park is so interesting and large (140 hectares) that it is not easy to get around it in a day, so tourists are advised to buy tickets for 2 or 3 days. Here you can even have a bite to eat - in a pizzeria in the style of "The Godfather" or in a French cafe.
If the rides in the "Universal" are not enough for the tourist, he will find an amusement park near the village of Tempozan, world-famous for its 112-meter high Ferris wheel, which makes it the largest in the world. Also on the territory of the park there is an aquarium with 35 thousand inhabitants, an observatory, a bird sanctuary, a state-of-the-art cinema and many other entertainments.
Osaka Museums
Those tourists who crave not only entertainment but also education in Osaka should visit local museums and exhibitions. As the largest port, Osaka has accumulated exhibits on the history of the relationship between man and the sea for many centuries. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the Osaka Maritime Museum is so interesting. It is located at the entrance to Osaka Bay and looks very impressive - a huge steel dome. Inside there are 4 floors, which house a variety ofship paraphernalia, as well as a full-size copy of a merchant ship.
You can also see the most interesting exhibition at the Museum of Ceramics, which is located about a kilometer from Osaka Castle. The city, with its hustle and bustle, remains behind the brick walls of the museum, and far from the hustle and bustle, you can plunge into the calm meditative world of ancient Japanese art and admire its best examples. Fans of modern oriental art should go to the art museum, where, in addition to the main exposition representing the art of different periods, interesting exhibitions are held.
Also world-famous is the Suntory Museum for its inverted cone building and collection of 20th-century graphics.
Oceanarium "Kayukan"
We have already mentioned the aquarium in Tempozan, but it is worth talking about it separately, because not only Osaka is proud of it, but Japan as a whole. Oceanarium "Kayukan" - one of the most significant in all of Japan, and it was built in Osaka. This unique building is like a butterfly spreading its wings and is decorated with mosaics. There are 14 tanks inside, which represent the inhabitants of the Pacific Ocean. They are divided into zones according to their habitat. Here you can meet not only fish, but also animals, underwater flora, corals and algae and many other inhabitants of the ocean. The pavilions are arranged in such a way that visitors can see the underwater and surface life of animals, for example, how fur seals bask in the sun and then dive into the depths.
Natural Attractions
Despite industrial development and a forest of glass and concrete skyscrapers, Osaka, like any other Japanese city, cherishes its nature and its unique places. So, a tourist should visit Tennoji Park, which includes a zoo, a greenhouse and a botanical garden. This is an analogue of the well-known Central Park in Manhattan, the same green oasis in the center of an industrial city. Here you can see the traditional Japanese garden Keita-Koen, which is spread around the pond just behind the art gallery. This garden once belonged to the richest merchant and was donated to the city along with the mansion. The garden is part of a large complex along with a unique greenhouse - a completely glass building that has collected flowers and plants from different parts of the world.
The local zoo is home to 1,500 animals and birds, but of particular interest is the hummingbird, as the only one in Japan, and the hippopotamus, for which conditions close to natural have been created.
Osaka and the island of Honshu can also be admired from the water by cruising the Santa Maria Bay on a three-deck ship. On board there is not only an open deck for exploring the city and the ocean, but also a restaurant and the Columbus Museum.
Fun & Nightlife
Connoisseurs of traditional Japanese culture in Osaka are waiting for the No theater and Kabuki, Bunraku, as well as sumo fights.
Bunraku is a traditional Japanese puppet theater, and its homeland is Osaka. Japan greatly reveres this art form. The Bunraku National Theatre, located in the Namba quarter, gives performances for everyone, but be aware that tickets are sold outvery fast.
Kabuki is a unique form of theatrical art that combines music, dance and drama. You can watch performances at the Setiku-za theater. Particularly sophisticated audiences can also go to the Osaka Noh Hall, where plays are staged in a more difficult style to perceive.
Nightlife lovers should go to the Ebisu-bashi area, where all the fashionable youth of Osaka hang out, or to the Americamura area. This is a Japanese piece of America with its Statue of Liberty and King Kong. During the day, there are a lot of street musicians and flea markets, and at night local youth drinks and dances in American bars.
Shopping
The shopping center of Osaka is the Shinsaibashi area. Here you can buy absolutely everything. Shinsaibashi houses boutiques and stores of all world brands, and the covered street has a huge market 600 meters long. The area includes the American Village, where you can buy incredible souvenirs in shops and flea markets.
You can also go shopping to Den Den Town - this is the Nippombashi area, where the local electronic paradise is located, where you can buy any gadget. Today in Japan, such quarters can be found in any major city.
Cafes and restaurants
Like any metropolis, Osaka can offer tourists everything from Indian to French, but to try local speci alties, head to Dotombori or Umeda. These quarters are literally crammed with restaurants for every taste. Be sure to try the local version of sushi - oshizushi. Themmade from rice soaked in vinegar, seaweed and small pieces of fish. Udon noodles are also different in Osaka - they are boiled in vinegar along with seafood or meat. It is worth finding a restaurant in Osaka that serves special okonomiyaki meat pancakes. Japan time is 6 hours ahead of Moscow time.
