Osaka (大阪), is the capital of Osaka Prefecture in central Japan. With more than 2 million inhabitants, it is the third largest city of Japan, right behind Tokyo and Yokohama. It has established twin-city relationship with cities around the globe such as Chicago, Melbourne, Milan, and Hamburg. To get here, you may arrive by the plane at Kansai International Airport (KIX) or by train (JR: Japan Railways) from Tokyo and other major cities in Japan.
A Osaka specialty restaurant, with its deco and menu in wooden board hanging on the wall.
The main attractions of Osaka are Osaka Castle and Dontonbori, where you would bump into tourists every step of the way whenever you or they stop to take pictures. Osaka Castle (大阪城) is a historical site, including a massive city park garden for residents in the neighborhood to walk or jog. The museum within the castle, Tenshukaku (天守閣), displays the artifacts such as painting and weapons during the Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豐臣秀吉) era.
Dontonbori (道頓堀) is probably the most iconic landmark of Osaka with its impressive signage boards of restaurants and shops, like the gigantic crab, octopus, and blowfish (or fugu in Japanese).
Walking around and shopping
Tenjinbashisuji, the longest shopping street (2.6 km)
Locals call the shopping streets “shopping arcade”.
At Tenjinbashisuji, it is less crowded than the touristic Shinsaibashi shopping street. Here, most shops are for locals but getting used to accommodate tourists. You may find food stalls, fresh seafood stands, drugstores, convenience stores, clothing and shoes, restaurants, and book and magazine shops. Be sure to prepare yourself for the long walk. It is somehow pleasant with the covers on top of our heads, which makes up the indoor-mall feeling. However, when you look ahead for the end of the street, it feels like there is no end.
Time Bomb Records (Nishishinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka)
Time Bomb Records in Osaka, Japan.
If you are a Quentin Tarantino fan or have watched Kill Bill Vol. 1 more than once, you should probably recall the rock female trio ‘The 5.6.7.8’s’. This is the place you can find their vinyl! This record store has opened its door since the 1990’s and has a wide variety of new, used, imported, and rare records and some mixture of genres. The pricing and the care to the packaging will definitely make you feel priceless.
Next week, we will post he second part of the trip to Osaka – Food and Drink. Stay tuned!
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