Osaka: Japan’s Large yet Forgotten City
There are many kinds of activities to do and places in Osaka, ranging from the entertainment district near Dotonbori to the shopping districts in Shinsaibashi and Ebisubashi. There are many famous popular landmarks in Osaka, including Triangle Park and Amerikamura, which is a little village that is American-themed. Amerikamura is also a good way to learn and understand the modern youth culture in Japan.
Osaka is also home to Osaka Castle, which is perhaps Japan’s most famous castle. The castle has a lot of history, as it provided a large role in unifying Japan five hundred years ago. Osaka is also home to Universal Studios Japan, which is based on the theme park that originated in Hollywood. Fans of baseball should check out a game at Osaka Dome, which is home to the Orix Buffaloes. The Dome also is used as a music venue for large artists such as Madonna and the Rolling Stones.
There are quite a few museums located in Osaka, including the Osaka City Museum and the National Museum of Art. There are also quite a few museums dedicated to ceramics and porcelain, which is considered one of Japan’s national treasures.
Since Osaka is one of Japan’s leading cities in business, it is no surprise that it also home to a rather large business district. Yodoyabashi and Honmachi are home to of the country’s banks and are located close to the train stations.
Many distinct Japanese activities have come out of Osaka, including kabuki theatre and bunraku. Osaka is also famous for its unique food, as well. Famous Japanese dishes such as udon and takoyaki first came out of Osaka, which is said by many tourists as the best place in Japan to get cheap yet tasty food.
The people of Osaka are sometimes perceived in a negative light, usually by those from Tokyo. They are sometimes accused of being the country bumpkins of Japan. However, most people from Osaka are said to be quite outgoing and happy.
It is believed that Osaka was first settled in 663 by Yamato, or ancient Japanese, but they first had to fight the native people in a war that lasted nearly five years. Osaka became the home to many Emperors’ palaces, due to its beautiful landscape and closeness to ports. Throughout the Edo period, Osaka continued to grow as a major city and mainly relied on its ports.
Although Osaka is one of the largest cities in Japan, it has an almost homely atmosphere that makes it distinct from other large cities. There are many interesting sites to see and places to go in Osaka, which is why it’s one of the places vacationers should check out when visiting Japan.
