Tokyo\nand Kyoto<\/a>, but never Osaka. Let\u2019s remedy that\nnow. Osaka is Osaka Prefecture\u2019s capital city and a major part of the Kansai\nregion. It has more than 19 million people living there, making it the among\nthe top Japanese metropolitan areas. In fact, it\u2019s one of the biggest\nmetropolitan areas on earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn eras past, Osaka played a major role in\nthe health of Japan\u2019s economy. The city acted as a regional port in the Kofun\nperiod, which lasted from 300 to 538. The Naniwa Nagara-Toyosaki Palace that\nbelonged to Emperor Kotoku in 645 was also erected in Osaka. In fact, the city\nbecame Japan\u2019s capital for that time, even if it went by the name Naniwa back\nthen. The Namba and Naniwa districts in Osaka that exist in modern times are\nthere due to this history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Naniwa was stripped of its capital title\nby 655, when Asuka, or the modern Nara Prefecture, received the distinction\ninstead. Naniwa became the capital for yet a second time due to Emperor Shomu\u2019s\ninfluence. This occurred in 744 and lasted for but a year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Osaka continued influencing Japan\u2019s\neconomy into the Edo period, which began in 1603 and lasted until 1868. Not\nonly did it do well economically, but Osaka had Bunraku and Kabuki theaters for\nentertainment sometime in the 1780s as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Granted, others in Japan didn\u2019t always\nhave the best view of those from Osaka. In the early 1800s, Edo residents came\nup with a term to describe them known as Kamigata zeeroku<\/em>. Those in Edo\nhad a problem with the Osaka residents\u2019 attitude, calling their dialect vulgar\nand also disliking their shrewdness and stinginess. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe city kept chugging along, and, in the\n19th<\/sup> century, developed its own municipality. Osaka became a major\npart of industrialization as well around this time, earning itself the nickname\nthe Manchester of the Orient. Many immigrants from Korea flocked to Osaka\nduring this century as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLike a lot of Japan, Osaka fell victim to\nthe attacks of World War II. They were air raided, with Boeing B-29\nSuperfortress heavy bombs dropped on or near the city, up to 329 of these. Roughly\n25 square miles were targeted. Two more instances of bombings would transpire\nin Osaka in the summer of 1945 until the war ended. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, Osaka has two main sections, the\nsouthern part or Minami and the northern part or Kita. Minami houses Horie and\nAmerikamura, fashion districts, as well as Nipponbashi Den Den Town,\nentertainment hub the Dotonbori canal, shopping districts Shinsaibashi and\nNamba, and Chuo Ward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Kita, you can find many a skyscraper as\nwell as well as Osaka Station City and the Umeda district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Visit Osaka?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Okay, so I just took a deep dive into the\nfascinating history of Osaka. Now that you know more about the days of old as\nwell as the modern timeline of this city, you may feel intrigued to plan your\ntrip here. In case you\u2019re not totally sold, I recommend you check out this next\nsection. I\u2019ll cover all the amazing features, landmarks, and destinations\nyou\u2019ll come across if you see Osaka for yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Larger-Than-Life Structures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned, the northern area of Osaka,\nKita, has an array of skyscrapers sure to leave your jaw on the floor. Nearly\n40 buildings in Osaka Prefecture are 500 feet tall or over. The first of these\nis Abeno Harukas, built in 2014 at 984 feet tall. While not as big as the Tokyo\nSkytree, Abeno Harukas is only off by about 1,000 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also referred to as the Abenobashi\nTerminal Building, Abeno Harukas has more than 60 floors. It\u2019s home to the\nSharp Corporation headquarters, a Marriott International hotel, and the\nKintetsu Department Store. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Osaka Prefectural Government Sakishima\nBuilding stands at 840 feet tall, as does the Rinku Gate Tower. Other very tall\nbuildings in Osaka include the Kitahama at 687 feet, the Osaka Bay Tower at 656\nfeet, the X-Tower Osaka Bay at 657 feet, and the Nakanoshima Festival Tower at\n653 feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019d prefer tall natural structures,\ndon\u2019t miss Mount Minami Katsuragi. This mountain borders Wakayama, Hashimoto,\nOsaka, and Kawachinagano. As part of the Izumi Mountains, Mount Minami\nKatsuragi has the tallest peak of that mountain at 3,025 feet. The name of the\nmountain translates to South Kudzu Castle Mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sports<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re more of a sporty type, Osaka is\na perfect place in which to book a trip. The city has hosted such events as the\nFIFA Club World Cup in 2016, the World Championships in Athletics in 2007, the\nWorld Judo Championships in 2003, and the World Table Tennis Championships in\n2001.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have up to 14 sports venues,\nincluding:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Yanmar Stadium Nagai<\/strong>:\nThis is where Cerezo Osaka of the J. League club play. The Yanmar Stadium Nagai\ncan hold 47,000 people.<\/li>
- Yanmar Field Nagal<\/strong>:\nAs Yanmar Stadium Nagai\u2019s support stadium, you\u2019ll find 15,000 seats and a grass\nhill for overflow seating here.<\/li>
- Yahataya Park<\/strong>:\nAlso known as Yahataya Sports Park Center, Yahataya Park has existed since 1923.\n<\/li>
- Utsubo Tennis Center<\/strong>:\nThis venue is a part of Utsubo Park that held the HP Open WTA International\ntournaments for five years.<\/li>
- Osaka-jo Hall<\/strong>:\nNext, we\u2019ve got Osaka-jo Hall, a major arena that\u2019s 36,351 square meters. It\ncan hold 16,000 people. The hall is often home to concerts, New Japan Pro\nWrestling events, and judo championships <\/li>
- Osaka Stadium: <\/strong>As\npart of Osaka Stadium Corporation, Osaka Stadium is one of the bigger arenas in\nthe city, able to hold 32,000 people. It\u2019s been around since 1950 and was once\nthe site of a red-brick tobacco plant before World War II. <\/li>
- Osaka Prefectural\nGymnasium: <\/strong>This indoor arena also has a lengthy\nhistory, as it was built sometime in 1952. Remodeled in 1987, the Osaka\nPrefectural Gymnasium has room for 8,000. <\/li>
- Osaka Municipal Central\nGymnasium: <\/strong>Referred to as the Maruzen Intec\nArena Osaka, the Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium is sometimes used for the\nWomen\u2019s Volleyball World Championships. <\/li>
- Ookini Arena Maishima: <\/strong>Another\nindoor sports arena, Ookini Arena Maishima has room for 7,000 people. B. league\nbasketball team Osaka Evessa uses it for training and practice. <\/li>
- Kyocera Dome Osaka: <\/strong>A\nbaseball arena, the Kyocera Dome Osaka started as the home for the Kintetsu\nBuffaloes in 1997, then the Orix Buffaloes by 2005. <\/li>
- Kincho Stadium<\/strong>:\nIf you want to see rugby, venture over to Kincho Stadium. The arena is also\nused for football and X-League American-style football. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Osaka has its fair share of football\nclubs, including the Cerezo Osaka U23, the Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies, the\nCerezo Osaka, and the Gamba Osaka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Next, I want to talk about the many parks\nyou\u2019ll come across as you plan your itinerary in Osaka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park: <\/strong>Part\nbotanical garden, part park, you can find a windmill, tulip farm, sports\nfacilities, and a placid pond here.<\/li>
- Keitakuen Garden:<\/strong>\nHome of the Osaka Tennoji Zoo, the Keitakuen Garden also has a teahouse.<\/li>
- Shirokita Park:<\/strong>\nIn the spring, when cherry blossom season gets started, this park can get\ncrowded. At other times of the year, you can spot chrysanthemums, irises, and\nother seasonal flowers.<\/li>
- Ogimachi Park:<\/strong>\nWith a little less greenery than some of the other parks in Osaka, you can go\nrock climbing or let your children play at Ogimachi Park. The exercise\nfacilities for adults will help you work up a sweat.<\/li>
- Ikutama Park:<\/strong>\nA quaint but appealing park, you can sit and take a break here. <\/li>
- Momogaike Park:<\/strong>\nAnother smaller park, Momogaike Park features cherry trees, birds, and a lotus\npond.<\/li>
- Tennoji Park:<\/strong>\nWith caf\u00e9s, fountains, flowerbeds, and other greenery, Tennoji Park is worth\npassing through. <\/li>
- Minami Temma Park:<\/strong>\nFor a nice riverside experience, head to the Minami Temma Park. You can also\nsee cherry blossoms here when they\u2019re in season.<\/li>
- Nagai Park:<\/strong>\nTake a dip in the pool or play on the baseball field at this park. <\/li>
- Nakanoshima Rose Garden:<\/strong>\nA part of Osaka since 1891, as a public park, Nakanoshima Rose Garden has the\ndistinction of being the first of its kind. You can find a museum dedicated to\nceramics here as well as a rose garden and a library. <\/li>
- Osaka Castle Park:<\/strong>\nTake in the historical architecture of the city here. With open-air theaters,\nathletic fields, and cherry blossom trees, you can easily lose track of an\nafternoon at Osaka Castle Park. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Eating and Drinking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re looking for a French eatery, try\nHajime in Central Osaka. This establishment has earned itself three Michelin\nstars. Eat some unagi or eel at Honke Shibato, a restaurant that has stood in\nthe city for more than 300 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For vegetarians, get to Saijiki in Minami\nor Green Earth in central Osaka. Sumibi Yakitori Miyabi in Kita is known for\nits yakitori, but for tonkatsu (fried pork), make it a point to go Epais, also\nin Kita. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get your Udon fix at Dotombori Imai in\nMinami and make sure you also stop by Sekai Ichi Hima Na Ramen-ya for some\ntasty ramen. It\u2019s one of the best-known establishments in all Japan for these\nnoodles. You can also find phenomenal sushi in Sushidokoro Jinsei in Minami. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nightlife<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If the nightlife calls to you, answer that\ncall at any of the following Osaka establishments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/thetokyotourist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Visit-osaka-or-Tokyo.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n