Osaka Top Attractions for First-Time Visitors

Dotonbori is one of the principal tourist destinations in Osaka, Japan, running along the Dotonbori canal from Dotonboribashi Bridge to Nipponbashi Bridge in the Namba district of the city's Chuo ward. Historically a theater district, it is now also a popular nightlife and entertainment area characterized by its eccentric atmosphere and large illuminated signboards. (Wikipedia) Some of the area's...

Osaka Castle is one of the most famous landmarks in Japan. It was originally built in 1586 as a display of power and grandeur by the samurai warlord and ruler of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (the "Napoleon of Japan"). The Castle played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century leading up to the 1603 foundation of the Edo era. Osaka castle has an observation deck with pano...

Universal Studios Japan located in Osaka, is one of six Universal Studios theme parks, owned and operated by USJ LLC, which is wholly owned by NBCUniversal The park is similar to the Universal Orlando Resort since it also contains selected attractions from Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. The park opened on 31 March 2001. Over 11 million guests visited the park in its ope...

Originally installed in 1935, Dotonbori Glico Sign is a giant billboard depicting an athlete on a blue track which is a symbol of the Japanese confectionery company, Glico. The sign has been altered on several occasions to celebrate events such as the World Cup and to show support for the Osaka baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers. It is one of the most prominent landmarks of the famous Dotonbori dis...

The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is an aquarium located in the ward of Minato in Osaka, Japan, near Osaka Bay. When it first opened, it was the largest public aquariums in the world, and is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums The aquarium is about a five-minute walk from Osakako Station on the Osaka Municipal Subway Chūō Line, and is next to the Tempozan Ferris Wheel. (Wikipedia...

Once the home for the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (the samurai warlord and ruler of Japan in the 16th century), Osaka Castle Park is a large public park surrounding the iconic Osaka Castle. The park offers vast green space, lovely gardens with cherry blossoms, multiple sports facilities, open-air theaters and more, all with a magnificent backdrop of Osaka Castle.

Shinsekai (新世界, lit. New World) is an old neighborhood located next to south Osaka City's downtown "Minami" area. The neighborhood was created in 1912 with New York (specifically, Coney Island) as a model for its southern half and Paris for its northern half. At this location, a Luna Park amusement park operated from 1912 until it closed in 1923. The centre piece of the neighborhood was Tsutenkaku...

Osaka Museum of Housing and Living is a unique museum. It has re-created buildings and streets that show what life was like in Osaka in the past. A model of the entire city during the Edo Period (1603-1867), the only one of its kind in Japan, is housed in the building. Visitors can learn all about Osaka's development, experiencing via interactive exhibits the different ways of life in the city dur...