Osaka Tourist Guide

●Osaka Castle (Osakajo)

The construction of Osaka Castle started in 1583 on the former site of the Ishiyama Honganji Temple, which had been destroyed by Oda Nobunaga thirteen years earlier. Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended the castle to become the center of a new, unified Japan under Toyotomi rule. It was the largest castle at the time.

However, a few years after Hideyoshi's death, Tokugawa troops attacked and destroyed the castle and terminated the Toyotomi lineage in 1615. Osaka Castle was rebuilt by Tokugawa Hidetada in the 1620s, but its main castle tower was struck by lightening in 1665 and burnt down.

It was not until 1931 that the present ferro-concrete reconstruction of the castle tower was built. During the war it miraculously survived the city wide air raids. Major repair works gave the castle new glamor in 1997. The castle tower is now entirely modern on the inside and even features an elevator for easier accessibility. It houses an informative museum about the castle's history and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

■Getting There

The recommended approach to Osaka Castle is through Otemon Gate at the park's southwestern corner. The closest station is Tanimachi 4-chrome Station along the Tanimachi Subway Line and Chuo Subway Line.

The closest JR station to Osaka Castle is Osakajokoen Station on the JR Loop Line, a 10 minute, 160 yen ride from JR Osaka Station.

●Osaka Bay Area

The Osaka Bay Area is a collection of young city districts on man-made waterfront islands and peninsulas, built to accommodate Osaka's sprawling growth. The districts host a variety of tourist attractions, such as museums, theme parks, observatories and shopping centers. Osaka's domestic and international port facilities are also found in the area.

The Chuo Subway Line conveniently connects Tempozan Harbor Village with central Osaka in under 20 minutes. The district offers pleasant shopping and entertainment facilities. It is centered around Tempozan Marketplace, a medium sized mall around which the Ferris wheel and aquarium are located.

●Tempozan Harbor Village

Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan)

Hours: 10:00 to 20:00 (from 9:30 in May, Oct, mid Jul to Aug)

Admission ends at 19:00

Admission: 2300 yen

Kaiyukan's feature attraction is a massive tank that holds 5,400 tons of water and a whale shark. It is one of the world's largest tanks. In total, the aquarium displays a wide variety of marine life spread over 15 different tanks with over 11,000 tons of water.

Tempozan Ferris Wheel

Hours: 10:00 to 22:00 (entry until 21:30)

Admission: 800 yen

The Tempozan Ferris Wheel is the city's largest. It offers far-reaching, panoramic views of the bay area and the city's skyscrapers beyond from a height of 112.5 meters. It is located just next to the Tempozan Marketplace and Osaka Aquarium.

Naniwa Food Theme Park

Hours: 11:00 to 20:00

Admission: Free

Naniwa Kuishinbo is a food theme park, located inside the Tempozan Marketplace shopping mall. Its stalls showcase Osaka's variety of native dishes and specialties, such as takoyaki and okonomiyaki, all set in a fun, old-style atmosphere.

●Sakishima Island and Cosmo Square:

Many of Sakishima Island's facilities are designed to accommodate business conferences and trade fairs. However, there also a few interesting attractions for regular tourists, such as the observation deck of the Sakishima Building and the shopping mall in the Asia Pacific Trade Center.

Cosmo Tower (formerly known as the World Trade Center)

Observatory: 13:00 to 22:00 (from 11:00 on weekends)

Observatory Admission: 510 yen

Sakishima Island's tallest building offers a spectacular observation deck on its 55th floor at 256 meters above ground. Restaurants and shops are found on the lower and top floors, while offices and conference rooms occupy the many floors in between.

Asia Pacific Trade Center

Shops: 11:00 to 20:00

Restaurants: 11:00 to 22:00

Admission: Free

The Asia Pacific Trade Center is attached to a large mall with popular shopping and dining facilities. The site was designed to host business gatherings and host events, and has large conference facilities for this purpose.

Sakurajima Island's main attraction is Universal Studios Japan, a popular theme park that opened in 2001.

●Sakurajima Island:

Sakurajima Island's main attraction is Universal Studios Japan, a popular theme park that opened in 2001.

Universal Studios Japan

Hours: Varies by season

Admission: 6980 yen (one day pass)

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) features rides and shows based on some of the film studio's most popular films, including Spiderman, Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, Jaws and Shrek. The park has many themed restaurants and cafes, as well as shops offering unique souvenirs.

■Getting There

Tempozan Harbor Village and Sakishima Island are connected to central Osaka by the Chuo Subway Line, which stops at Osakako Station (a 5 minute walk from Tempozan Harbor Village) before terminating at Cosmosquare Station on Sakishima Island. From Cosmosquare Station, an elevated train, the New Tram, serves Sakshima Island and eventually connects to Suminoekoen Station on the Yotsubashi Subway Line.

●Minami (Namba)

Located around Namba Station, Minami is one of Osaka's two major city centers. It is the city's most famous entertainment district and offers abundant dining and shopping choices. The district is easily accessible as it is served by three train companies as well as three subway lines and a highway bus terminal. The other major city center is Kita  which is located around Osaka and Umeda Stations.

■Getting There

The Minami area is centered around Namba Station and the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) and is served by multiple train and subway routes as well as buses.
Namba Station is not a single station, but rather a collection of multiple station buildings and platforms, including Nankai Namba Station, JR Namba Station and Kintetsu's Osaka Namba Station. Furthermore, the Midosuji, Yotsubashi and Sennichimae Subway Lines stop at their respective Namba Stations.
Most airport and highway buses serve the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT), which is located in the same building as JR Namba Station.

●From Shin-Osaka and Osaka Stations
The Midosuji Subway line connects Shin-Osaka and Osaka/Umeda Stations directly to Namba Station. It takes approximately 8 minutes and 240 yen from Osaka/Umeda Station and 15 minutes and 280 yen from Shin-Osaka Station.

●From Kansai Airport
By train
Nankai Railways operates direct trains between Kansai Airport and Nankai Namba Station. Express trains take around 45 minutes and cost 920 yen (non-reserved seats only), while limited express trains ("Rapi:t") take around 35 minutes and cost 1430 yen (reserved seats only).
It is also possible to travel by JR, but it requires a transfer at Tennoji Station along the way. The whole trip takes approximately one hour and costs 1060 yen, using the JR Airport Rapid.

By bus
Buses run from Kansai Airport to the Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) approximately every 30 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at the airport limousine bus counter and cost 1000 yen. Travel time is about 50 minutes.

●Umeda Sky Building

The Umeda Sky Building is a spectacular high rise building in the Kita district of Osaka, near Osaka and Umeda Stations. It is also known as the "New Umeda City".

The 173 meter tall building consists of two main towers which are connected with each other by the "Floating Garden Observatory" on the 39th floor. The observatory offers a great view of the city for a 700 yen admission fee.

The Takimi-koji restaurant mall, a replica of a Japanese street of the early Showa Period, can be found on the first basement floor. Offices occupy most of the building's other floors.

■Getting There

The Umeda Sky Building is a 10-15 minute walk from Osaka and Umeda Stations.

●Grand Front Osaka

Grand Front Osaka is a large commercial complex north of JR Osaka Station in the Umeda district that was opened in 2013. It consists of a wide variety of shops and restaurants, an Intercontinental hotel, office and event space, as well as a residential tower. Elevated walkways connect the multiple buildings of Grand Front Osaka to each other and to Osaka Station.

Grand Front Osaka is the first part of the Umekita (short for "Umeda North") redevelopment project to transform a large former freight railyard north of Osaka Station into a new, modern city district. The rest of the railyard is expected to be redeveloped and opened to the public by 2025.

■Getting There

Grand Front Osaka is located directly north of JR Osaka Station.

●Shinsekai

Shinsekai is Osaka's "new world," a district that was developed before the war and then neglected in the decades afterwards. At the district's center stands Tsutenkaku Tower, the nostalgia evoking symbol of Shinsekai.

The area was developed into its current layout following the success of the 1903 National Industrial Exposition, which brought over five million people to the neighborhood within just five months. Shortly after the expo closed its doors, work began to improve and update Shinsekai.

Paris was chosen as the model for Shinsekai's northern half, while the southern portion was built to imitate Coney Island in New York. Tsutenkaku Tower was constructed in 1912 after Paris' Eiffel Tower. Although it was scrapped during WWII, the tower was reconstructed soon afterwards in 1956. The current tower is 103 meters high, with the main observatory at a height of 91 meters.

Another noted attraction is kushikatsu, one of Osaka's best known specialties. It is a dish, composed of various skewered, battered and deep fried foods. Varieties on offer range from chicken and beef, to pumpkin and asparagus, to the banana and ice cream dessert varieties. Many of Shinsekai's kushikatsu restaurants are open 24 hours, but only truly come alive when the lights come on at night.

■Getting There

Shinsekai is a short walk from Shin-Imamiya Station on the JR Loop Line, Dobutsuen-mae Station on the Midosuji and Sakaisuji Subway Lines, and Ebisucho Station on the Sakaisuji Subway Line.

 

●Shitennoji Temple

Shitennoji is one of Japan's oldest temples and the first ever to be built by the state. It was founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku, who supported the introduction of Buddhism into Japan. Although the temple's buildings burned down several times throughout the centuries, they were always carefully reconstructed to reflect the original 6th century design.

The outer temple grounds are free to enter, but admission to the inner precinct, the Gokuraku-jodo Garden and the treasure house is paid. In the pebble covered courtyard of the inner precinct stand a five-storied pagoda that can be entered and ascended and the Main Hall (Kondo) in which Prince Shotoku is enshrined as a statue of Kannon.

■Getting There

Shitennoji is a short walk from Shitennoji-mae-Yuhigaoka Station on the Tanimachi Subway Line. Alternatively, it can be reached in a ten minute walk north of JR Tennoji Station on the JR Loop Line.

 

《Hotel Fine Group in Osaka》

◆Hotel Fine Garden TOYONAKA

To Hankyu Umeda Station
By Hankyu Railway Takarazuka Line：12 mins from Toyonaka Station. Cost is 220 yen.

To Hankyu Kawaramachi(kyoto) Station
Take the Hankyu Takarazuka Line at Toyonaka Station, change trains to the Hankyu Kyoto line at Juso station：51 mins from Toyonaka Station, Cost is 470 yen.

To Hankyu Kobe Sannomiya Station
Take the Hankyu Takarazuka Line at Toyonaka Station, change trains to the Hankyu Kobe line at Juso station：40 mins from Toyonaka Station

To JR Shin-Osaka Station(Shinkansen)
By Airport Limousine for Shin-Osaka Station：25 mins from Osaka International Airport

To Kansai International Airport
By Airport Limousine for KIA：70 mins from Osaka International Airport

 

◆Hotel Grand Fine TOYONAKA-MINAMI

To Hankyu Umeda Station
By Hankyu Railway Takarazuka Line：10 mins from Shonai Station

To Hankyu Kawaramachi(kyoto) Station
Take the Hankyu Takarazuka Line at Shonai Station, change trains to the Hankyu Kyoto line at Juso station：50 mins from Shonai Station

To Hankyu Kobe Sannomiya Station
Take the Hankyu Takarazuka Line at Shonai Station, change trains to the Hankyu Kobe line at Juso station：34 mins from Shonai Station

To JR Shin-Osaka Station(Shinkansen)
Take the Hankyu Takarazuka Line at Shonai Station and get off at Hankyu Umeda Station, change trains to the JR Kyoto line at JR Osaka station：23 minss from Shonai Station.

To Kansai International Airport
Take the Hankyu Takarazuka Line at Shonai Station and get off at Hankyu Umeda Station, change trains to the Airport Limousine for KIA at Hotel Shin-Hankyu Bus Stop：85 minss from Osaka International Airport

◆Hotel Fine Garden Juso

To Hankyu Umeda Station
By Hankyu Railway：4 mins from Juso Station

To Hankyu Kawaramachi(kyoto) Station
By Hankyu Railway Kyoto Line：41 mins from Juso Station

To Hankyu Kobe Sannomiya Station
By Hankyu Railway Kobe Line：24 mins from Juso Station

To Kansai International Airport
Take the Hankyu Takarazuka Line at Juso Station and get off at Hankyu Umeda Station, change trains to the Airport Limousine for KIA at Hotel Shin-Hankyu Bus Stop：75 mins from Osaka International Airport

◆Hotel Fine Garden Umeda

To JR Kyoto Station
By JR Kyoto Line：27 mins from JR Osaka Station

To Hankyu Kawaramachi(kyoto) Station
By hankyu Railway Kyoto Line：44 mins from Hankyu Umeda Station

To Sannomiya(Kobe) Station
By JR Kobe Line：27 mins from JR Osaka Station

To Subway Namba Station
By Osaka Municipal Subway Midosuzi Line：8 mins from Subway Umeda Station

To Subway Tennoji Station
By Subway Tanimachi Line：13 mins from Subway Higashi-Umeda Station

To Kansai International Airport
By Airport Limousine for KIA：60 mins from Hotel Shin-Hankyu Bus Stop

◆Hotel Fine Sakai

To JR Tennoji Station
Take the Nankai Main Line at Ishizugawa Station, change trains to the JR Osaka Loop Line at Shin-Imamiya station：18 mins from Nankai Ishizugawa Station.

To Nankai Namba Station
By Nankai Railway Main Line：18 mins from Nankai Ishizugawa Station

To Subway Umeda Station.
Take the Nankai Main Line at Ishizugawa Station and get off at Nankai Numba Station, change trains to the Osaka Municipal Subway at Subway Namba Station：35 mins from Nankai Ishizugawa Station

To JR Wakayama Station
Take the Nankai Main Line at Ishizugawa Station and go to Hagoromo Station. Change trains to the JR Hagoromo Line at Higashi-Hagoromo station. And then get on the JR Hanwa Line Kishuji-Rapid, get off JR Wakayama Station：39 mins from Nankai Ishizugawa Station

To Kansai International Airport
Take the Nankai Main Line at Ishizugawa Station and go to Izumiotsu Station.        change trains to the Kansai Kuko line, get off Kansai-kuko Station：39 mins from Nankai Ishizugawa Station

◆Hotel Fine Garden Senboku

To JR Tennoji Station
By JR Hanwa Line：26 mins from JR Tsukuno Station

To Subway Namba Station
By Osaka Municipal Subway Midosuji Line：22 mins from Subway Nakamozu Station

To JR Osaka Station
Take the JR Hanwa Line at Tsukuno Station and go to Tennoji Station. Change trains to the JR Osaka Loop Line, and get off Osaka Station.

To JR Wakayama Station
Take the JR Hanwa Line Kishuji-Rapid at Otori Station and go to JR Wakayama Station：Traveling for 54 minutes. Cost is 800 yen.

To Kansai International Airport
Take the JR Hanwa Line at Otori Station, change trains to the JR Kansaikuko Line Kanku-Rapid at Hineno Station and go to Kansaikuko Station：Traveling for 43 minutes.

◆Hotel Fine Misaki Minami-Ichibanchi

To Nankai Namba Station
Take the Nankai Main Line Limited Express Rapid Southern at Wakayama Daigaku-mae Station and go to Nankai Namba Station：Traveling for 54 minutes.

To Nankai Wakayamashi Station
By Nankai Main Line：10 mins from Nankai Kyoshi Station

To JR Wakayama Station
Take the Nankai Main Line at Kyoshi Station, change trains to the Kisei Line(Branch) at Wakayama-shi Station：25 mins from Nankai Kyoshi Station

To Kansai International Airport
Take the Nankai Main Line Limited Express Rapit Southern at Wakayama Daigaku-mae Station, change trains to the Nankai Kuko Line at Izumisano Station and go to Kansaikuko Station：Traveling for 32 minutes. Cost is 1330 yen.