Japan Travel 2017
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Osaka Calendar
March 21 (Tue): Arriving Osaka 3:30 PM.
March 22 (Wed): Osaka
March 23 (Thu): Osaka
March 24 (Fri): Osaka
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The Condo/ Apartment is titled "Shopping Heaven", which is awesome because we are located next to the Tenjinbashisuji shopping arcade, and the Tenmangu Shrine. {Shop/Shrine Link} Only downside is that we'll have to rely on Sarah, Emily, and James to carry our luggage up four flights of stairs! Details of our rental can be found at the link here: Osaka Place. When you click on the link, an annoying pop-up window will inform you that the place is taken on the days we'll be there. Just close the pop-up window to view the rooms, map of area, and other information about our stay. What? You want to see temples in a Vegas style city of neon lights, late night bars, and brothels? Well actually, many of the old temples were lost in bombings during World War II. Here's a couple that survived. Shitenno-ji Temple: A 15 minute walk from the Tennoji station. A huge flea market is held here on the 21st and 22nd of every month. Maybe bring a souvenir flea back for Churro. Hozen Temple: Pour water over a moss covered statue of Fudo Myoo, the symbol of justice, before making your wish or prayer. Sumiyoshi-taisha Shrine: Shrine is so old, the architecture is free of Chinese influence. Home of the gods who watch over travelers (that's us!), fishermen, and sailors. In Osaka, sightseeing and shopping overlap. Osaka also has a reputation of serving some of the best foods in Japan. We booked a six hour walking tour of Osaka on Thursday, which includes a one hour river cruise! See link to Osaka Walking Tour below for the exciting details! Other tours are available, such as food tours and self-guided tours! Osaka Castle: One of Osaka's top historical attractions. Instant Ramen Museum: Dedicated to instant ramen and its founder, Momofuku Ando. The popular Shinsaibashi/ Dotonbori areas have great reputations for serving excellent meals. Shin-Sekai: Although it has the reputation of a seedy area, many tour sites and guide books say that the danger is exaggerated. Osaka Walking Tour: Six hour tour of Osaka's highlights, including a visit to Osaka Castle, panoramic views atop the Umeda Building, and a one hour river cruise. My wish list of Kyoto sights which we will not see on the tour are included here: Other Osaka Highlights. These sights are categorized by location, to minimize travel time!Street Food Tour: Tour during the night. Food/ drinks included. Several self guided tours also available through GpsMyCity.com. An awesome guide to Osaka can be found at InsideOsaka.com, which includes ideal itineraries, recommended restaurants, transportation tips, and each District's description. Also, the Osaka Visitor's Guide has a ton of useful information regarding places where we can sightsee and dine. The south side of the city has clusters of shop areas including retail chains, mega department stores, and arcades. Shinsaibashi: Known for premier and trendy shopping. Dotonbori: The shopping and eating area most people envision about Osaka, with stores, crowds, and spectacular neon lights. A definite must-see visit! Nippon-bashi (Den Den Town): One of the best places to shop for electronics in Japan. Known for anime shops and people roaming about in cosplay. Osaka's Seedy Side Similar to pockets in Las Vegas, Osaka has some areas that locals will caution tourists against visiting. Tobita Shinichi: Osaka's red light district. Sketchy Neighborhoods: In defense of some maligned areas in Osaka. |