Osaka Overview
While Tokyo is a sprawling mass of concrete jungle Osaka is a rather more confined mass of concrete jungle. This means that it’s possible to get around a lot more easily and quickly, and all the major points to see and do are within a 10-20 minute subway or train ride from the center.
Although lacking the cultural splendior of Kyoto or Nara, Osaka is definately worth a visit to experience a city like no other in Japan. Osakans are famous for their busy lifestyle and a self proclaimed thrifty outlook.
Osaka’s main claims to fame are, in no particular order:
| Osaka Jo Castle – rebuilt in the 1930s with a grand park, adjacent to a large business park and hall [google map]. |  |
| Yoshimoto comedy club – birthplace of many of Japan’s comedians. | |
| Umeda – shopping and business [google map]. |  |
| Tsuruhasi – located in the East home to Osaka’s large Korean community. | |
| Shinsaibashi / Dotonbori – shopping and eating [google map]. |  |
| USJ – Universal Studios Japan is Osaka’s answer to Tokyo Disneyland [google map]. | |
| Osaka Port – the Kaiyukan Aquarium, one of the world’s biggest, a massive ferris wheel, and IMAX theatre [google map]. |  |
| Tennoji zoo and park and gardens – rather rundown area with the possibly Gaudi, possibly LSD, inspired Festival Gate entertainment complex (yes it has a roller coaster wrapped around it) [google map]. | |
| Den Den town – Osaka’s version of the Tokyo’s Akihabara electronics district. Lots of electronic and photography shops, some good prices if you care to rummage about a bit. |  |
| Namba Parks – large tree filled shopping center. Very pleasant [google map]. | |
| Koshien baseball stadium – home of the Hanshin Tigers. |  |
| Osaka Dome – multi-use baseball stadium bankrupted and taken over by a private consortium. Lots of big names have played concerts there as well as being home to the Orix Buffaloes baseball team [google map]. | |
| Amerika Mura – grungy hangout of sallow gothic youth, and of course lots of shops [google map]. |  |
| Doyama – the city’s gay district. A street full of restaurants, love hotels and gay bars and venues. | |
