Osaka, a canal city where the water transport has prospered since far back in history.
Rivers, big and small, flow through the central part of the city. Cruise ships of varieties of styles travel on the big rivers.There are varieties of choices such as cruise ships where you can dine and unique amphibian sightseeing buses, and different cruising tours.
Osaka in spring from a cruise ship is one of the sightseeing must-sees.
Aqua bus "AQUA-LINER"
Travel the river on a water bus and enjoy the 60 minute tour while you watch the historic buildings and the cherry trees along the way.
Okawa cruise is such a pleasant experience in the canal city of Osaka.
Amphibian bus "Osaka Duck Tour"
It's a new feature of the canal city! "Splash in" to Okawa. Relax and enjoy cruising in the oasis in the middle of the city. Once the bus is on the land, it drives you through Midosuji along which historic buildings and newest boutiques stand.
Aqua bus "AQUA mini"
Cruise between Osaka-jo to Dotonbori (Only on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays). View the cherry blossoms of Osaka-jo Park as you cruise down the river. Get off at Dotonbori in Minami where you can enjoy shopping.
Osaka-jo Nishinomaru Garden
A garden full of green leaves where you can overlook Tenshukaku (castle tower) opposite the moat.
Universal Studios Japan®
A new indoor on-ride attraction, Space Fantasy the Ride "Far away to the sun, beyond beautiful stars", makes its debut in spring 2010. You can fully enjoy the voyage through space.
Umeda Sky Building "Floating Garden
Observatory".. and Osaka-shi Chuokokaido
The open-air aerial observation platform, one of a kind in Japan, connecting the forty-story twin towers.
From here, you can overlook the streets of Osaka while you enjoy your meal. The lighting up of Chuokokaido, an old fashioned building from Taisho era in Nakanoshima Park in Kita, must not be missed.
Shinsaibashi area
Shinsaibashi Shopping Center is one of the features of Osaka where you can visit 180 old shops and Shinsaibashi Brand Street, along which more than 40 shops directly run by world-famous brand suppliers stand. This is also a town where old and new blend together well as seen in Amerikamura that leads the culture of young people in Minami.
Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN
There are 14 water tanks in 10 regions in the surrounding Pacific Ocean and 580 types of 30,000 living beings are showing. The biggest aquarium in the world. The main attraction is the gigantic whale shark named Umi; swimming in the main aquarium located in the “Pacific Ocean” where the center of facility is located. You can see the tremendous feeding scene twice a day.
Namba Parks
A new shopping spot themed Minami's new "life with plants".
While the 1st to the 5th floors accommodate more than 200 shops and the 6th to the 8th restaurants, the 8th and the 9th floors proudly present 3,500㎡ Parks Garden.
Gourmet city, Osaka
“Food” in Osaka has gained its quality and level a great deal by learning the method of cooking and tastes from all over Japan and even overseas. Then they take them and adapt them to their unique food culture. Because of its diversity and spirit of inquiry, Osaka is in the center of Japanese's food culture today.
Enjoy delicious Osaka's hot pot dishes such as Udonsuki which generously uses seasonal foods, Sukiyaki served with homemade sweet Warishita sauce which brings out the good taste of meat, Tetchiri , Fugu hot pot with chewy lamp fish meat and Kaninabe (crab hot pot).
While visually beautiful traditional Japanese cuisines are regarded authentic, more casual Takoyaki (octopus dumpling), Okonomiyaki (pancake), Yakitori (grilled chicken) and Kushikatsu (skewered breaded and deep fried meet) are popular specialties of Osaka. It will be a good opportunity to enjoy them.
We can't afford to miss Italian dishes and French dishes either.Osaka is a place where you can enjoy plenty of food from many countries around the world at reasonable prices.
Namba Comejirushi
The restaurant zone in Namba CITY is adjacent to Namba Parks.
There are 12 very popular restaurants where people queue up for the taste of Osaka, such as Ramen
(soup noodle), Tenpura (deep fried battered food) and Takoyaki.
Local Access
Osaka, the 2nd largest city in Japan is located at
the heart of the "KANSAI" area which encompasses
Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, with Kansai International
Airport also nearby. Historical architecture and
cultural treasures are centered on Kyoto and the old
port town of Kobe is also easily accessible in
around 20 to 30 minutes.
Singapore
Osaka（Kansai International Airport）
About six hours
Osaka Unlimited Pass
With a 2,000yen day ticket, you can use subways and buses within the city of Osaka as often as you want. Also, as commented in this article, a day sightseeing ticket with coupons to more than 20 facilities including Osakajo and SakuyaKonohana Kan attached is very economical. You will be given some reduction on the admission fees and/ or free gifts at some facilities and shops. Please find out more in the website.
Those are must-haves if you are sightseeing in Osaka!!
http://www.pia-kansai.ne.jp/osp/en/
Osaka city transport network
Today, the Osaka Municipal Subway has 8 subway lines in service, covering 129.9 kilometers in total. What's more, the whole city is covered with municipal bus routes and most of the city's tourist attractions are easily accessed using this public transportation system.
Twin actresses born in Osaka on February 23, 1986 and brought up in Osaka. They played the heroine in her childhood in NHK's serial drama in '96, Futarikko, which caused them to become very popular. They have been regularly seen in TV dramas, theatrical plays and CMs. They were again chosen for the heroin of another serial drama of NHK, Dandan broadcast in '08, making it a record in NHK's morning drama history. They are expected to develop further as actresses.
