Osaka 大阪

• Discover the city of Osaka with our Travel Angel

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Osaka: a historic port

Third port on the inland sea from the 4th century and then throughout the feudal period and until the 20th century, Osaka built its commercial reputation on the manufacture of textiles, in particular its cottons, then on its industrial creativity. Osaka is the origin of the Japanese pharmaceutical industry and the city where major foreign firms establish themselves in Japan. Osaka prides itself on having a high concentration of researchers, far ahead of London and Paris.

• Related articles : Osaka History Museum

Traveling to Osaka is an opportunity to experience the beauty of the city, as well as its rich history and heritage. On the Yodogawa Delta, Osaka is nicknamed the "city with its feet in the water", because it is open to the sea waves and crisscrossed by canals. It was largely devastated in 1945 by the American bombs, before quickly rising from its ashes. The Universal Exhibition of 1970 revealed to the world its vitality and its centers of expertise dear to investors, as well as its urban assets.

• Read also : Universal Exhibition Park

Osaka, a spirit of freedom

The charm of the city lies in its lively streets, its cozy bars and markets, the source of all temptations. In constant turmoil, the cosmopolitan and gourmet city, called the "Cuisine of the Nation", concentrates myriads of restaurants and bars. It was in Osaka that takoyaki (cooked octopus soufflé) was born.

During your visit to Osaka, stop by the Namba district, the city's youth center, the Aquarium, facing Osaka Bay, Universal Studio Amusement Park - the third of the Hollywood major - comparable to that of Orlando (United States), the entertainment district of Dôtonbori/ Be sure to stroll after dark along the canal on Dotonburi Street, and have a drink or a bite to eat along the water.

To the satisfaction of city dwellers and tourists, Osaka Castle or Osaka-jô, although destroyed by wars and fires and rebuilt each time, still. watches over the city. Here, the inhabitants have a spirit of freedom, like the monk and poet Bashô (1644-1694), master of haiku, and the playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653-1724), author of famous bunraku plays (puppet theater) and kabuki .

Osaka is also considered in Japan to be more westernized and less "civilized" than other cities . Be careful when you drive around and reverse the direction of travel in the metro: in Osaka, you stand on the right on the escalators.

• Read also: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

• Book a Pasmo or Suica card to get around Osaka!

Do not miss to take a tray of takoyaki (octopus fritter) in the district of Amerika-mura . Those with a sweet tooth will also try the kitsune-udon , a bowl of udon noodles with fried tofu, or the shabu-shabu, to share like a Chinese fondue.

What to see in Osaka: the essentials

If Osaka is less touristy than Kyoto, and less rich historically and culturally, its visit is pleasant from other points of view. Shopping and the discovery of gastronomy and Japanese leisure are part of it.

• Osaka Castle . Address: 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0002
• The Umeda Sky Building and its view of the city. Address: 1-1-87 Oyodonaka, Kita Ward, Osaka, 531-6023
• The districts of Shinsaibashi , Namba, Amerikamura, and Dotonburi Street
• Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium . Address: 1-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato Ward, Osaka, 552-0022
• The Universal Studios Japan amusement park. Address: 2-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka, 554-0031
• Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. Address: 2-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka, 558-0045

In addition, Osaka is a very interesting place to stay for exploring all of Kansai and its surroundings, being extremely well served by public transport. You can easily reach Kyoto, Nara, Mount Koya, or Kobe and Himeji.

• Visit Osaka with one of our tours in Japan: accompanied, self-guided or tailor-made.