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Osaka, like Tokyo, has all that you could want in a city. It’s far from
pretty unless you're a connoisseur of concrete grey but there's enough energy
bursting out of the place for you to soak up plenty. The people bear the mark
of the city's commercial roots and greet each other with a hearty "Mookarimakka?"
("how's business?"). Notorious for living the good life, they are exuberant,
approachable and know a thing or two about eating well, as they would, being from
the "Kitchen of all Japan".
The nightlife crackles just like the capital's, though locals will tell you that
Osaka does it better. It all comes alive at the Dotombori canal when they flick
the switch on a valley of neon light. Not long after, you'll see many a salariman
staggering amongst the hostesses and gangsters. It's greasy, sleazy and great
for people watching. For entertainment of a more traditional kind, try the nearby
National Bunraku Puppetry Theatre. Performances of this close cousin of kabuki
are held all year round. The artistry of the team of three that animate a single
puppet is truly enchanting.
During the day you can shop at Umeda, with the largest underground shopping centre
in Japan. The maze of basement food halls defy any attempts at navigation, you'll
be too drawn by all the tempting looking tasters. Another shoppers’ paradise
is Shinsaibashi with its gilt-edged department stores and covered arcade that
seems to go on forever. Here, noisy pachinko parlours and amusement arcades sandwich
the boutiques and restaurants. On the other side of Midosuji Avenue is Amerika-mura.
This is where trendy young things track down the latest from the West - you'll
be treated to a fashion parade of the most varied styles and certainly the most
extravagant bleached blonde hairdos in Kansai.
Like Tokyo, many of the historical sites were bombed during the War. Osaka-jo
castle has since been rebuilt as a hi-tech museum complete with elevators to the
viewing platform on the top floor. At weekends, bands play in the park around
it. Shitteno-ji temple and the Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine are also famous. But those
tiring of temples and reconstructed buildings should head for the bay. It boasts
a 100m Ferris wheel and the Kaiyukan, the world's largest aquarium, where you
can see the majestic whale shark up close. The whole area has been turned into
a pleasure seekers paradise, you can even hang out with Jaws, E.T. and the Terminator
at the Universal Studios Theme Park. |
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Accommodation |
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| ANA Hotel Osaka |
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06-6347-1112 |
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06-6348-9208 |
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1-3-1 Dojimahama, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0004, Japan |
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| Situated in the heart of Osaka, western Japan's commercial center,
the ANA Hotel Osaka is an oasis of comfort and quite in the midst of the city's
frenetic activity. |
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| ANA has no control of how your personal information is handled
by other sites. Please refer to the privacy statement on each new site you enter. |
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| ANA Gate Tower Hotel Osaka |
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072-460-1111 |
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072-460-1177 |
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1 Rinkuorai-kita, Izumisano-shi, Osaka 598-8511, Japan |
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| Soaring 56 stories into the sky, the ANA Gate Tower Hotel Osaka
is located in Rinku Town Complex, on the shores of Osaka Bay across from the Kansai
International Airport. |
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| ANA has no control of how your personal information is handled
by other sites. Please refer to the privacy statement on each new site you enter. |
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Amusement |
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| Tempozan Market Place |
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06-6576-5501 |
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1-1-10 Kaigan-dori, Minato-ku, Osaka City |
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Vary by facility |
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| You can enjoy a variety of cuisines from different countries and
buy imported fashion items. There are about 80 restaurants, boutiques, and import
good shops each with their own special character. |
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| ATC (Asia and Pacific Trade Center) |
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06-6615-5002 |
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2-1-10 Nanko-kita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka City |
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11:00-20:00 (restaurants 11:00-22:00, vary by restaurants) |
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| A commercial complex built to accelerate imports from countries
all over the world and distribute commodities. ATC Town Outlet MARE has about
60 stores for both men and women. |
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| OAP (Osaka Amenity Park) |
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06-6881-5115 |
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1-8-30 Tenmabashi, Kita-ku, Osaka City |
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11:00-23:30 (Vary by stores) |
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Varies by store |
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| The 39-story OAP Tower, Imperial Hotel Osaka, and high-rise apartments
stand along the Okawa River. The "Aqua-Liner" waterbus departs from
here. |
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Sightseeing |
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| Tsutenkaku Tower |
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06-6641-9555 |
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1-18-6 Ebisu-higashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka City |
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10:00-18:30 |
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Observation platform ¥600 |
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| Built in 1912, this symbol of Osaka was designed to resemble the
Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe in Paris. From the observation platform, you
can get a panoramic view of Osaka and meet Billiken, the god of luck. |
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| The Floating Garden Observatory, Umeda
Sky Building |
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06-6440-3855 |
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40th floor Umeda Sky Bldg. 1-1-88 Oyodonaka, Kita-ku, Osaka
City |
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10:00-22:30 (Last Admission 22:00) |
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¥700 for junior high students and older, ¥300 for primary students |
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| The observation platform is 170 meters above the ground and is
located between the east and west towers. There is a 360 degree view that allows
you to see downtown areas of Osaka and Awaji Island in the distance. |
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| Osaka Castle |
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06-6941-3044 |
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1-1 Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka City |
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9:00-17:00 |
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Castle tower ¥600 for adults, free for junior high students and younger |
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| The castle was built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi in 1583. It was destroyed
by fire during the Sieges of Osaka and then rebuilt. The castle has also burned
down after being struck by lightning, but it has been rebuilt each time. Remaining
structures from the Edo Period are all designated as important national cultural
property. Remains of the castle are designated as special national remains. |
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| Dotonbori |
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Dotonbori, Chuo-ku, Osaka City |
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Always open |
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| The waterway is named after Doton Yasui, who started its construction
in 1612. In this entertainment district, neon lights reflect on the water´s
surface at night. The large number of restaurants in this area attests to the
fact that Osaka is the place of "Kuidaore" (you can die from eating
too much). |
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Restaurants |
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| Tsuruhashi Fugetsu |
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06-6771-7938 |
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2-18 Shimo-ajiharacho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka City |
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11:00-23:00 |
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"Mix modan" ¥1,150 |
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| There is always a line of customers waiting outside to eat "okonomiyaki"
(Japanese-style pancakes) with lots of cabbage. "Mix modan" with Chinese
noodles is recommended. |
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| Tako no Tsubo |
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06-6308-1963 |
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2-9-2 Juso-higashi, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka City |
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12:00-22:00 |
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"Mukashi-takoyaki" ¥750 |
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| You make "takoyaki" (grilled octopus dumplings) by yourself.
Put a lot of ingredients in batter thinned with stock made from dried bonito and
seaweed. The most popular dish is "Mukashi-takoyaki" with small dried
shrimp. |
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| Hinokawa |
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06-6944-1938 |
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1st floor Showa Senba Bldg. 2-3-15 Funakoshicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka
City |
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11:30-13:30, 17:00-23:00 (L.O. 22:00) |
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Seafood course ¥4,000-5,000 |
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| A Japanese-style bar in an office district. Offers a wide variety
of Japanese "sake" and "shochu." Mainly serves fish. This
restaurant´s specialty is assorted "sashimi" with sea urchin in
a box. A hot-pot with crabs or sea bream is popular in the winter. |
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| Botejyu Sohonke |
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06-6211-4478 |
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3-5 Soemoncho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City |
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M-Sat 17:00-2:00 (L.O. 1:30)
Sundays & Holidays 12:00-24:00 (L.O. 23:30)
Closed on Tuesdays |
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Pork, rice cake, and cheese ¥1,000, mix of three types ¥1,200,
"modanyaki" ¥1,000 |
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| Osaka´s "okonomiyaki" culture started from this
restaurant. It started the traditional style of making "okonomiyaki"
where you add ingredients to batter, mix them together, and then cook them on
a griddle. The special spicy sauce that is aged two months is what makes this
restaurant´s "okonomiyaki" so good. |
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| Takasago |
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06-6211-8800 |
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5-24 Soemoncho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City |
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17:00-3:00 |
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"Sushi" (per plate) ¥1,000 and up, crab paste gratin ¥1,500,
carpaccio with abalone and salmon ¥2,000 |
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| This restaurant´s specialty is conger dishes and fatty meat
of tuna. Offers over 50 kinds of dishes from "sashimi" to "sukiyaki"
and serves "sushi" with high-quality ingredients. |
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