Quick search
CTRL+K
Quick search
CTRL+K
Osaka is an interesting city to visit with all the sights from traditional temples and the Osaka Castle to modern architecture and vibrant streets. Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe is Japan’s second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo-Yokohama, and the city of Osaka is located as the center of the interesting region.
As one of Japan’s largest and most modern and thriving cities, Osaka offers an abundance of activities from both history and present-day Japan. Together with the modern high-rise architecture you find beautiful works from the city’s rich history, including the Osaka Castle and surrounding park.
The pedestrian street Dotonbori is the center of modern entertainment with covered arcades, huge shopping malls, countless eateries, neon commercials, games and whatever else you can imagine. How about a purrfect visit to a cat cafe?
It you want to it all from above, the Umeda Sky Building and the Tsutenkaku Tower are good choices for panoramic views. Multiple Ferris wheels are also an option; for example, in the Tempozan neighborhood of the harbor, which also gives access to the city’s Universal Studios theme park.
Dōtonbori is Ōsaka’s shopping district, and both the main street along the Dōtonbori canal and the covered side streets are an experience in themselves. It is just about walking through the street and the area with the many people and all the light and activity that is here. You quickly sense that Dōtonbori is the epitome of modern Japan.
Dōtonbori’s history dates back to 1612, when the administrator Nariyasu Dōton started the excavation of a canal, which was completed in 1615. Meanwhile, Nariyasu Dōton had fallen during the siege of the city, fighting for the losing party, Toyotomi Hideyori. Despite that, Nariyasu Dōton had the canal and neighborhood named after him.
Dōtonbori’s modern character was already defined in 1621, when the Tokugawa shogunate’s town plan for Ōsaka designated Dōtonbori as the city’s entertainment district. Performance tents came to the district, after a few decades there were six Kabuki theaters and five Bunraku theaters, as well as a mechanical puppet theater in Dōtonbori. Since then, the development has continued into the modern era with restaurants, cafes and other entertainment.
There are several curious sights that you can look for on a trip in the area and along the canal. The illuminated advertisement with the athletic Glico man from 1935 is perhaps the best known of the countless illuminated signs. In front of the Cui-daore building, you can see the mechanical clown Kuidaore Taro from 1950, while above the crab restaurant Kani Dōraku, you can see a mechanical giant crab from 1960.
You can also take an exciting ride on a Ferris wheel with a different shape than most. It was once built on the facade of the Ebisu Tower building, where you can take the almost vertical ride up the 77 meter high wheel. In the middle you can see Ebisu, god of fishing and luck.
Shitennō-ji is a temple in Ōsaka that is Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple. It was built in the year 593 under Prince Shōtoku, and the name represents the Four Heavenly Kings. Like many other temples in Japan, however, Shitennō-ji has been continuously rebuilt, and therefore it is not the original temple from the 5th century that you can see today.
Prince Shōtoku was known for his Buddhist faith, but in the 5th century Buddhism was not widespread in Japan. The prince initiated the construction of Shitennō-ji to promote Buddhism, and for the purpose he invited three Korean carpenters to the city. They brought with them the knowledge of temple construction and ensured the construction of Shitennō-ji.
The temple buildings themselves have been rebuilt several times over the centuries since their foundation. Most of the current buildings in the facility date from 1963, when the temple was last completely rebuilt. These reconstructions take place as a result of, among other things, fires and typhoons.
The word Shitennō refers to the Four Heavenly Kings in Buddhism, and Prince Shōtoku’s temple in their honor contained four institutions that could help the Japanese achieve a higher level of civilization through religion, education, welfare, and care.
Today, the temple consists of several buildings worth seeing, such as the five-story pagoda, the lecture hall Kōdō and the main hall Kondō. From the southern entrance, however, you first come to the Nandaimon and Niōmon gates, and there are also beautiful gate buildings to the east and west on the way into the inner temple area.
Ōsaka-jō is Ōsaka’s beautiful castle, built under Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the late 16th century. The castle has played a significant role in Japan’s history, and it stands as a typical example of Japanese castle architecture of the time.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi began construction of the residence castle in 1583 with Oda Nobunaga’s castle Azuchi as a model. However, Hideyoshi wanted to build a castle that surpassed Azuchi in splendor and size. His plan included a five-story main tower with additional floors below ground and gold leaf on the sides to impress visitors.
By 1585, the inner keep was completed, but the Hideyoshis continued to expand the castle and surrounding fortifications until 1597, when Ōsaka-jōs was completed. The following year, Toyotomi Hideyoshi died and the castle passed to his son, Toyotomi Hideyori.
In the year 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu defeated his opponents in the Battle of Sekigahara, and he then established the shogunate in Edo. Tokugawa Ieyasu’s armies attacked Ōsaka and Toyotomi Hideyori in 1614, but even outnumbered they defended Osaka Castle. It was a tight deadline, however, because the following year Ōsaka-jō fell to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who let the castle burn down.
The castle in Ōsaka was rebuilt from 1620, when Tokugawa Hidetada, as the heir to the Edo shogunate, started the construction of a new version of the facility. The solid granite walls around the castle date from the 1620s, and the main tower was rebuilt in a higher version than that of the first castle. However, the tower was struck by lightning and destroyed it in 1665.
This was followed by 1868, when the castle in Ōsaka fell and was handed over to opponents of the shogunate and thereby to imperial loyalists. It happened in connection with the Meiji restoration, and during the Meiji period, Ōsaka-jō became part of the Japanese military, with a large production of, among other things, ammunition in the area.
The castle’s main tower was rebuilt in 1931, and although large parts of the castle area were destroyed during World War II, the main tower almost miraculously survived. The area then languished for decades before a major renovation was decided and carried out in the years 1995-1997. There is a museum in the castle where you can learn more about the history of the place and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
You can of course also admire the colossal fortress with its solid walls, citadels, gates, moats and more on a trip here. The castle area is also very popular when the cherry trees are in bloom, because in the garden Nishinomaru you can enjoy the sight of approximately 600 trees.
Tsūtenkaku is a 103 meter high tower that stands as one of Ōsaka’s landmarks. The name Tsūtenkaku means that the tower reaches the sky, and with that name and Japan’s many taller buildings, you probably have to consider that the first Tsūtenkaku tower opened in 1912. It happened as part of the amusement park Luna Park.
The original tower was 64 meters high, and when it opened it was the second tallest building in Asia. The tower from 1912 was destroyed by fire in 1943, and it was decided to build the current tower instead of reconstructing the old one. The new tower was inaugurated in 1956.
Luna Park closed in 1923, but Tsūtenkaku is today located in the Shinsekai entertainment district, where there are many activities. One of them is a trip up the tower’s observation deck, which is 91 meters high. From here there is a nice view of the area.
The Mozu Tombs are a group of megalithic tombs located in southern Ōsaka. The graves are characterized by being shaped like keyholes when viewed from above. There were originally just over 100 graves in the area, but today only a little under half have been preserved.
The largest of the tombs is Daisenryō kofun (大仙陵古墳), believed to be the tomb of Emperor Nintoku. Nintoku ruled in the 4th century, and the tomb is the largest of its kind in Japan. In total, more than 20,000 graves of this type were built from the 200s to the 500s.
The tombs were built as earthen mounds with stones, which were erected over the tombs of the ruling class. They represent a cultural tradition that prevailed in the era that is also called the Kofun period. The large Mozu tombs are located in the district of Sakai and are included in UNESCO’s list of world cultural heritage.
There is no access to the graves, but you can see them above the moats that surround the mounds and the graves themselves. A viewing platform has also been constructed at the southern end of the Daisenryō kofun, which gives a certain view and an impression of the large facility. To the south of the platform, you can learn more about the tombs at the Sakai City Museum/Sakai-shi Hakubutsukan (味市博物館).
Umeda Sukai Biru or Umeda Sky Building is a modern and impressive building, also known as the Umeda Sky Building. The complex in Ōsaka consists of two 40-storey skyscrapers, which are structurally united at a height of 170 meters with a circular building and spectacular escalators.
It was architect Hiroshi Hara who created the overall concept for the towers and Umeda Sukai Biru. One of the main elements of the concept was to create a modern landmark for Ōsaka, and for this Hiroshi Hara drew inspiration from the Grande Arche in Paris.
Kaiyūkan is the Japanese name for Ōsaka’s aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world. Here, the marine experiences from the Pacific Ocean and the many interesting areas that lie around it are lined up.
Kaiyūkan was opened as part of the redevelopment of this area along Ōsaka’s harbor area. The aquarium opened in 1990 with many exciting environments in the interior such as the construction of Japanese forests and wetlands, tunnel aquariums and interactive exhibitions.
Ōsaka Rekishi Hakubutsukan is Ōsaka’s history museum, and here you can get close to the city’s development over time. Through large models and fine setups, effects, photographs and much more, the tour starts with early Japan, where Ōsaka was the country’s first capital.
The museum opened in 2001 in a modern museum building, replacing the Ōsaka City Museum that closed the same year. The tall building is arranged chronologically in themes and exhibitions, and you start from the top and move downwards. From the upper floors of the museum, you can also enjoy a nice view of, among other things, the city’s castle.
Ohatsu Tenjin Jinja is a shrine in Ōsaka that dates back many centuries. The shrine, also called Tsuyuten, is believed to date back over 1,300 years in history. It is known as the site of the most famous play of the Edo period, Sonezaki Shinju.
It was a double suicide retold in a bunraku puppet play written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon in 1703. The story is about passionate love between a merchant boy and a courtesan. Because of the story, many people come to the shrine to pray for luck in love.
Sumiyoshi-taisha is a Shinto shrine in the Sumiyoshi-ku district of Ōsaka, and it is the most important of all Sumiyoshi shrines in Japan. The shrine is a place that houses and stores the kami, which is the divine concept in the Shinto religion. It is specifically the kami of Sumiyoshi sanjin, which is a generic name for three Shinto deities who are considered the gods of the sea and seafaring.
The shrine was established by Tamomi no Sukune in the year 211. The temple’s main buildings are in the sumiyoshi-zukuri style, and the building is the oldest example of this architecture in the country. Sumiyoshi-taisha occupies a large area in central Ōsaka. The sanctuary’s buildings have been continuously built since the 200s, and the whole area is peaceful and beautifully landscaped.
The shrine can be entered from the west through traditional entrance gates and over the Soribashi Bridge before reaching the inner part of the complex. There are four main buildings in the shrine, each housing one of the three Shinto deities as well as the mythical imperial consort Jingū-kōgō, who is said to have built the shrine upon her return from Korea. Each of the main buildings consists of two buildings; the prayer hall Haiden and the main hall Honden.
Abeno Harukas is the name of a building complex that consists of three building parts, one of which is the super-tall skyscraper known as Abeno Harukas. The skyscraper was built from 2010 and opened in 2014 with a height of 300 meters.
The high-rise building was Japan’s tallest building when it opened, and it held that status until 2023. At the top of the building at 58.-60. floor you can visit the observation deck Harukas 300, from which there is a fantastic view of Ōsaka.
The National Museum of Art in Ōsaka is a museum that has an interesting collection and an exciting underground location on the island of Nakanoshima. It was the architect César Pelli who designed the museum, which is almost in itself a piece of modern art.
The collection at the National Museum of Art consists of around 8,000 works by Japanese and international artists, which are predominantly from 1945 to the present day. The collection is one of Japan’s largest of contemporary art, and one can enjoy highlights in the museum’s thematic exhibitions.
Kyoto is a wonderful city with countless temples, palaces, gardens and pagodas, and it is the historical and cultural stronghold of Japan. A visit to the city provides a distinguished view of the country’s earlier imperial history in the Edo era of 1603-1867.
The city was Japan’s capital before Tokyo, and all the grand palaces and temples are preserved in the streets and neighborhoods of Kyoto, which also offers all the amazing impressions of modern Japan. The special blend is unique, and Kyoto is a true must see if you want to get the best picture of Japan over the past 500 years.
Nara is the capital city of Nara Prefecture, which lies east of Osaka and south of Kyoto. Nara is also a city with an interesting history, as it was the capital of Japan from 710 to 794, when Kyoto became the new capital. However, there was already activity in the area before 710, and you can see a series of ancient tombs called Kofun (古墳) dating from 200-600. In this way, Nara has many sights that goes back into Japan’s history.
It was Empress Genmei who decreed in the year 708 that Nara should be the capital. At that time, the city was called Heijō-kyō (平城京), and it was developed as a capital with inspiration from Chang’an in China, which was the capital during the Tang Dynasty. The move to Heijō-kyō was completed in 710, and many temples and other structures that can be seen in Nara today were built then.
Himeji is a large city located in the Kansai region of Japan. The city has been the center of Harima Province since the Nara period, serving as both the provincial capital and the seat of Harima Kokubun-ji Temple. After the Battle of Sekigahara in the year 1600, Ikeda Terumasa received an area in the province, and here he established the Himeji region under the Tokugawa Shogunate. Ikeda Terumasa ruled from Himeji Castle, and he expanded both the castle and the city around it.
Because of its strategic location dominating the San’yōdō highway between the Kinai region and western Japan, Himeji was an important stronghold of the Tokugawa shogunate throughout the Bakumatsu period. After the Meiji Restoration, Himeji became the capital of Himeji Prefecture from 1871. After the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923, the Japanese government reportedly considered moving the country’s capital from Tokyo to Himeji, but this did not happen.
Hiroshima is a Japanese metropolis that entered world history on August 6, 1945, when the world’s first atomic bomb used in war detonated 600 meters/2,000 feet above the city center.
Since 1945, Hiroshima has been rebuilt into a modern city with a vibrant city center, a great cultural variety and several sights. The most famous monuments and buildings are connected with the atomic bomb impact, which you still can see remnants of.
1-7-1 Shinsai-bashi-suji
8-7 Kakuta-cho
1-13-13 Umeda
2-2-22 Umeda
10-12 Chayamachi
5-1-5 Namba
takashimaya.co.jp
Doguya-suji, Hirao, Kuromon Ichiba, Oimatsu-dori, Sembayashi, Tachibana-dori, Tenjimbashi-suji, Tsuruhashi
Awaji World Park
Shiota Ninjima 8-5, Tsuna-cho
onokoro.jp
Universal Studios
2-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana-ku, Osaka
usj.co.jp
Osaka Tennoji Zoo
1-108 Chausuyama-cho, Tennoji-ku
Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium
1-1-10 Kaigan-dori, Minato-ku
kaiyukan.com
The Osaka area’s inhabited history go far back in time, and traces of people dating back some 2,500 years have been found.
Over time, the lush plains were cultivated, and in particular, many permanent settlements with rice cultivation were established here. However, it took a long time for Osaka to grow strong and become one of Japan’s most important cities.
In 645, Emperor Kōtoku left the palace Naniwa / 浪 速, which served as the residence of the court. As a result, Osaka became the capital for the first time; however, that status lasted only ten years.
Asuka became the new capital in 655, but Naniwa was maintained as an important link between the Emperor’s land, the capital Asuka and the trade over the sea to China and Korea.
Naniwa again became the capital in 744 following Emperor Shōmus’s decision. This time, however, the joy lasted only to 745, where Heijō-kyō, now called Nara, became the residence of the emperor.
The following many centuries, Osaka continued to be a major trading city, so the economy continued to evolve.
Osaka’s rapid development towards becoming one of Japan’s largest and most significant power centers began in the 16th century.
By 1496, some Buddhist monks had settled in a sect at the former Naniwa Palace. Their position had become too strong over the years, and in 1570 a siege took ten years before the monks surrendered.
The leader and commander Hideyoshi Toyotomi allowed the temple to be destroyed, and in the area he let the impressive Osaka Castle / 大 坂 坂 erect as a manifestation of his strength. Hideyoshi Toyotomi had managed to gather large parts of Japan into a kingdom, but he had not become the country’s absolute leader, the shogun, but the daimyo, who was only subject to the country’s shogun.
Businessmen moved to the area outside the castle, and the city quickly became the leading economic center in Japan. However, Hideyoshi Toyotomi and his son Hideyori were not to become shoguns, and Osaka did not become the Japanese residence city.
Tokugawa Ieyasu overcame Hideyoshi Toyotomi in the power play on Japan’s top leadership, and in 1603 the Tokugawa shogunate was established. Kyoto became the capital, and later transitioned to Tokyo.
However, the board gave Osaka free hands to continue its growth and commercial success, which greatly contributed to cementing the city through the Edo era of 1603-1867 cementing its position as this part of Japan’s absolute leading economic center – a position that remains preserved.
A small setback hit in 1663 with the fire in Osaka Castle, which destroyed the central castle tower until 1931.
However, the economy and trade flourished, and so did the culture. Both the Kabuki theaters and the Bunraku puppet theaters were typical of the city’s entertainment.
In 1837, the samurai Ōshio Heihachirō became the front figure in an uprising to secure better conditions for the city’s poor. Much of the city was destroyed before the shogunate broke down. Ōshio Heihachirō subsequently committed suicide.
Osaka, in addition to trade, became known for its textile industry. Foreign Trade was opened on January 1, 1868; the same day as nearby Hyōgo, today’s Kobe.
In 1889 the municipality of Osaka was established. Initially, its area was 15 km², but it has since grown to more than 200 km² / 77 sq mi.
Industrially, Osaka became Japan’s engine room with the development of a lot of heavy industry, and the financial sector also developed rapidly. Osaka was the locomotive in Japan until Tokyo gradually took over.
The heavily industrialized Osaka was hit hard by bombings during World War II, with US B-29 bombers destroying the city.
The massive devastation of the post-war economic boom in Japan provided opportunities for the many new buildings seen throughout the city today, with Osaka maintaining its historic position as a powerhouse; today only surpassed by Tokyo-Yokohama in both population and economy.
Internationally, Osaka marked itself as the host of the Japanese World Exhibition in 1970. In this connection, the new district to the north with the Shin-Osaka railway station in the center was constructed.
The economic development of the city is reflected in the very modern city and at the same time the city’s roots are seen with the beautiful temple buildings and not least Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s old castle.
Osaka, Japan[/caption]
Overview of Osaka
Osaka is an interesting city to visit with all the sights from traditional temples and the Osaka Castle to modern architecture and vibrant streets. Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe is Japan’s second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo-Yokohama, and the city of Osaka is located as the center of the interesting region.
As one of Japan’s largest and most modern and thriving cities, Osaka offers an abundance of activities from both history and present-day Japan. Together with the modern high-rise architecture you find beautiful works from the city’s rich history, including the Osaka Castle and surrounding park.
About the Whitehorse travel guide
Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English
About the travel guide
The Whitehorse travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Canadian city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.
Whitehorse is waiting for you, and at vamados.com you can also find cheap flights and great deals on hotels for your trip. You just select your travel dates and then you get flight and accommodation suggestions in and around the city.
Read more about Whitehorse and Canada
Canada Travel Guide: https://vamados.com/canada
City tourism: https://visitwhite-horse.ca
Main Page: https://www.vamados.com/
Buy the travel guide
Click the “Add to Cart” button to purchase the travel guide. After that you will come to the payment, where you enter the purchase and payment information. Upon payment of the travel guide, you will immediately receive a receipt with a link to download your purchase. You can download the travel guide immediately or use the download link in the email later.
Use the travel guide
When you buy the travel guide to Whitehorse you get the book online so you can have it on your phone, tablet or computer – and of course you can choose to print it. Use the maps and tour suggestions and you will have a good and content-rich journey.
Umeda Sukai Biru or Umeda Sky Building is a modern and impressive building, also known as the Umeda Sky Building. The complex in Ōsaka consists of two 40-storey skyscrapers, which are structurally united at a height of 170 meters with a circular building and spectacular escalators.
It was architect Hiroshi Hara who created the overall concept for the towers and Umeda Sukai Biru. One of the main elements of the concept was to create a modern landmark for Ōsaka, and for this Hiroshi Hara drew inspiration from the Grande Arche in Paris.
Kaiyūkan is the Japanese name for Ōsaka’s aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world. Here, the marine experiences from the Pacific Ocean and the many interesting areas that lie around it are lined up.
Kaiyūkan was opened as part of the redevelopment of this area along Ōsaka’s harbor area. The aquarium opened in 1990 with many exciting environments in the interior such as the construction of Japanese forests and wetlands, tunnel aquariums and interactive exhibitions.
Ōsaka Rekishi Hakubutsukan is Ōsaka’s history museum, and here you can get close to the city’s development over time. Through large models and fine setups, effects, photographs and much more, the tour starts with early Japan, where Ōsaka was the country’s first capital.
The museum opened in 2001 in a modern museum building, replacing the Ōsaka City Museum that closed the same year. The tall building is arranged chronologically in themes and exhibitions, and you start from the top and move downwards. From the upper floors of the museum, you can also enjoy a nice view of, among other things, the city’s castle.
Ohatsu Tenjin Jinja is a shrine in Ōsaka that dates back many centuries. The shrine, also called Tsuyuten, is believed to date back over 1,300 years in history. It is known as the site of the most famous play of the Edo period, Sonezaki Shinju.
It was a double suicide retold in a bunraku puppet play written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon in 1703. The story is about passionate love between a merchant boy and a courtesan. Because of the story, many people come to the shrine to pray for luck in love.
Sumiyoshi-taisha is a Shinto shrine in the Sumiyoshi-ku district of Ōsaka, and it is the most important of all Sumiyoshi shrines in Japan. The shrine is a place that houses and stores the kami, which is the divine concept in the Shinto religion. It is specifically the kami of Sumiyoshi sanjin, which is a generic name for three Shinto deities who are considered the gods of the sea and seafaring.
The shrine was established by Tamomi no Sukune in the year 211. The temple’s main buildings are in the sumiyoshi-zukuri style, and the building is the oldest example of this architecture in the country. Sumiyoshi-taisha occupies a large area in central Ōsaka. The sanctuary’s buildings have been continuously built since the 200s, and the whole area is peaceful and beautifully landscaped.
The shrine can be entered from the west through traditional entrance gates and over the Soribashi Bridge before reaching the inner part of the complex. There are four main buildings in the shrine, each housing one of the three Shinto deities as well as the mythical imperial consort Jingū-kōgō, who is said to have built the shrine upon her return from Korea. Each of the main buildings consists of two buildings; the prayer hall Haiden and the main hall Honden.
Abeno Harukas is the name of a building complex that consists of three building parts, one of which is the super-tall skyscraper known as Abeno Harukas. The skyscraper was built from 2010 and opened in 2014 with a height of 300 meters.
The high-rise building was Japan’s tallest building when it opened, and it held that status until 2023. At the top of the building at 58.-60. floor you can visit the observation deck Harukas 300, from which there is a fantastic view of Ōsaka.
The National Museum of Art in Ōsaka is a museum that has an interesting collection and an exciting underground location on the island of Nakanoshima. It was the architect César Pelli who designed the museum, which is almost in itself a piece of modern art.
The collection at the National Museum of Art consists of around 8,000 works by Japanese and international artists, which are predominantly from 1945 to the present day. The collection is one of Japan’s largest of contemporary art, and one can enjoy highlights in the museum’s thematic exhibitions.
Similar to Osaka Travel Guide
