Port of Osaka

Sightseeing highlights of surrounding area

• Osaka Castle Tower

  

  Famed as a monument to the glory of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, this castle is the symbol of Osaka. The present keep was reborn with the 'Great Heisei Restoration' in 1997.

   

• Dotonbori

  

  With its trademark colossal electric billboards, this 2.5km stretch alongside the canal is filled with shops offering Osaka culinary specialties such as Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki.

   

• Mino Quasi-National Park

  

  Situated in north of Mino City, 25km from the center of Osaka, this park is home to the 33m-high Mino-no-taki waterfall, a spot famed for its beautiful autumn colors.

   

• Osaka Museum of History

  

  This is a spot where you can get a real experience of Osaka's history. See ancient Osaka appear before your eyes at this dynamic museum, with exhibits such as the reconstruction of the Naniwa-no-miya Imperial Palace.

   

Culture

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  © Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau

  Foods >

  Okonomiyaki

  Okonomiyaki is a flat pancake grilled on a hot plate with noodles and a generous helping of chopped cabbage, topped with a special sauce.

   

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  © Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau

  Local specialties >

  Plastic fake food samples

  Doguya-suji (the street for food service industry) in Nanba District, Osaka has a full range of whatever food service industry products needed for cooking, serving or displaying, including kitchen tools and kitchenware like refrigerators, oven, sinks, dishes, cups, etc. They also have plastic fake food samples for display in restaurant fronts, etc. They even carry food model key chains for tourists to take home as souvenirs.

   

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  © Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau

  Event >

  Tenjin Festival (late July)

  This is one of the three major festivals in Japan. Features various events such as Shishimai (lion dances) and Funatogyo (boat procession) during the two days of Yoimiya (the eve) Festival and Honmiya (the current day).

   

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  © Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau

  Event >

  Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri (mid September or early October)

  This festival is held in Kishiwada City, located to the south of Osaka. In this festival, 500 people run through the street of Kishiwada, pulling danjiri (floats).

   

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  Heritage >

  Historical Monuments of Ancient Nara

  Nara, Japan’s ancient capital, celebrated the 1,300th anniversary of Heijo Sento (relocation of the national capital to Heijokyo) in 2010. In total, 8 temples, shrines and the ruins have been registered as World Heritage Sites. As the capital of Japan for 80 years from 710, Heijo-kyo, as Nara was then known, received significant influence from Changan (now Xian), which was the Chinese capital during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). The many Buddhist buildings that were constructed there are a testament to this. These Buddhist buildings along with Heijokyo ruins and the virgin forest of Kasuga yama are included in the World Heritage designation.

   

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  Heritage >

  World Cultural Heritage Site : Historical Monuments of Ancient Kyoto

  Kyoto had been the capital city of Japan for over 1,000 years, from the year 794, when the capital was relocated from Nara to Kyoto, until 1868, when the Meiji Restoration took place and the capital was again moved to Tokyo. In 1994, which marked the 1,200th year since Kyoto became the new capital, called "Heiankyo", 17 historical buildings, including old temples, shrines and castles were registered as World Cultural Heritage Sites. Some buildings, which are located outside of Kyoto, are included in the 17 registered properties. They are the Byodo-in Temple and Ujigami-Jinja Shrine located in Uji City, which is in the southern area of Kyoto, and the Enryaku-ji Temple, located on top of Mt. Hiei in Shiga Prefecture, which is in the eastern part of Kyoto Prefecture.