TOP 5 Must Visit Tourist Attractions in Osaka

OSAKA, Japan - One of the country's largest cities that lies on the south coast of western Honshu at the point where the River Yodo flows into the wide sweep of Osaka Bay that opens out into the Pacific. Osaka was also called "Venice of the East" beacuse of its location on the Yodo delta with its network of watercourses & canals spanned by more than a thousand bridges.

It is also known for its modern architecture, nightlife and hearty street food. The Osaka Castle, 16th-century shogunate, has undergone several restorations, is the main historical landmark that surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom trees. While Sumiyoshi-taisha is among Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines.

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Osaka is now considered as the most modern cities in Japan, showing off a futuristic skyline along with countless impressive examples of modern architecture. There are som much things to do around the area that are very interesting to visit such place like cultural institutions, superb museums and art galleries, ultra-modern entertainment, theater, and music venues!

Now, it's time for listing down the TOP 5 tourist attactions, in no particular order, that you must see when you visit Osaka!

TOP 5: Osaka Castle

This castle is one of the most most famous landmarks in Japan. The main tower of Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly one square kilometer. It is built on two raised platforms of landfill supported by sheer walls of cut rock, using a technique called Burdock piling, each overlooking a moat. The central castle building is five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside, and built atop a tall stone foundation to protect its occupants from attackers.

Photo credit: JapanRailPass.com

The castle grounds, which cover approximately 61,000 square meters (15 acres), contain thirteen structures that have been designated as important cultural assets by the Japanese government. Among them are: Ote-mon Gate, Sakura-mon Gate, Ichiban-yagura Turret, Inui-yagura Turret, Rokuban-yagura Turret, Sengan Turret, Tamon Turret, Kinmeisui Well, Kinzo Storehouse, Enshogura Gunpowder Magazine, Three sections of castle wall all located around Otemon Gate and Megaliths at the castle include the Octopus stone.

Address: 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 540-0002
Official site: www.osakacastle.net/english/

TOP 4: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Kaiyukan is one of Japan’s most spectacular aquariums, world-renowned for its innovative presentation. Kaiyukan shows the aquatic animals of the Pacific Rim at their most vibrant and dynamic, by recreating the natural environment of their habitats.

Photo credit: 海遊館

At Kaiyukan there are over 15 large tanks, each recreating a specific region of the Pacific Rim, taking visitors on a virtual tour of the Pacific Ocean. The tanks include, “Japan Forest,” which recreates a sunlit, beautiful Japanese forest; the icy, snow-clad “Antarctica;” and the centerpiece of the aquarium, “Pacific Ocean,” a 9 m deep, 34 m long tank containing 5,400 tons of water, serving as the home of whale sharks, the largest fish species in the world.

Photo credit: Kaiyukan.com

Many visitors to Kaiyukan leave inspired by its stimulating and interactive new exhibition area, a space designed to offer sensory experiences of the natural environment, including touching sharks. The new exhibition area proposes one of the shapes to come of aquariums.

Kaiyukan is confident that the encounter with 30,000 creatures encompassing 620 species—including otters, sea lions, penguins, dolphins, whale sharks, rays, and jellyfish, to name just a few—will prove a deeply rewarding experience.

Address: 1-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 552-0022
Official site: www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng/index.htm

TOP 3: Minami (Namba)

Osaka’s Minami (or South) area, which is actually considered the “centre” of the city, is quickly becoming a hot destination for younger travellers as its shopping and nightlife districts have exploded in popularity over the past few years. From the bright and colourful nightlife of the Dotonbori to the cool, refined fashion of Horie, the Minami area has much more to offer visitors than just its spectacular food.

Photo credit: japan-guide.com

Located around Namba Station, Minami is one of Osaka's two major city centers. It is the city's most famous entertainment district and offers abundant dining and shopping choices. The district is easily accessible as it is served by three train companies as well as three subway lines and a highway bus terminal. The other major city center is Kita which is located around Osaka and Umeda Stations.

TOP 2: The Umeda Sky Building

The observation platform of this observatory is a bridge connecting the two towers of the Umeda Sky Building, whose roof features a doughnut shape that provides an unobstructed 360-degree view. While enjoying the breathtaking sights you can also directly feel the wind―which at 170 meters off the ground can get quite strong.

Photo credit: osaka-info.jp

From this observatory you can not only see all of Osaka but as far away as Awaji Island. The basement of the building houses the Takimi-Koji gourmet street with old fashioned images of Osaka from the 1920s.

Photo credit: Horiuchi Hiroki

Address: 531-0076 1-1-88 Oyodonaka, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 540-0002
Official site: https://www.skybldg.co.jp/en/

TOP 1: Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) was the first theme park under the Universal Studios brand to be built in Asia. Opened in March 2001 in the Osaka Bay Area, the theme park occupies an area of 39 hectares and is the most visited amusement park in Japan after Tokyo Disney Resort.

Photo credit: Rook Toraneko

Universal Studios Japan currently has eight sections: Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Waterworld, Amity Village, Universal Wonderland and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Visitors are able to enjoy many amusement rides, ranging from child-friendly carousels to thrilling roller coasters and simulators based on popular movies such as Spiderman, Back to the Future, Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park.

Photo credit: Jakcky Yeh

Photo credit: Kahi Chew

Photo credit: 水木治虫

Address: 2 Chome-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, 554-0031, Japan
Official site: https://www.usj.co.jp/e/

There you have it, the top list tourist attractions in Osaka.
So, what is your favorite or want to visit soon?