Osaka

Osaka Travel Guide

• About Osaka

Bustling and energetic, Osaka is a thriving metropolis with a distinct commercial culture and with a regional identity that sets it apart from elsewhere in Japan. On the surface, the nation’s third-largest city may seem to lack the sophistication of Tokyo, or the cultural refinement and traditional townscapes of nearby Kyoto. But it more than makes up for these with its enthusiastic embrace of modernity. The city bursts with eclectic street culture, vast underground shopping malls and futuristic architectural landmarks – and that’s before we even get to the food. Osaka has museums in abundance (from the National Museum of Art to the Osaka Science Museum and the Osaka Museum of History), and the city’s aquarium is one of the best in Japan. Then there’s leafy Osaka Castle Park, which makes a peaceful escape from traffic-filled streets. However, to really know this city means mixing with the locals. Eat a regional snack or sip a beer with the good-humoured Osakans and you’ll soon understand more about Japanese culture than by simply visiting a pristine temple. Indeed, this is a city defined by its people. More than anywhere else in Japan, Osakans are friendly and outgoing, and it’s easy to strike up a conversation. They are also very proud of their local dialect, which they consider warmer and more expressive than standard Japanese. But more than anything else, they love good food. The city has a deserved reputation as foodie heaven, with fresh produce from all over the country passing through here thanks to its status as a major port. One local saying that sums up the mentality is kuidaore, which simply means ‘Eat until you drop’. There are great restaurants all over the city, from high-end dining to traditional and cheap street stalls. You certainly won’t go hungry here, and that’s just one of many factors that make Osaka a great place to get to grips with urban Japan.

• Osaka History

Buddhism, battling warlords and booming industry have all played their part in Osaka’s story. The city has been a gateway for international commerce and exchange since the fifth century, when it was known as Naniwa, and traded with China and Korea. As well as bringing a wealth of goods and knowledge, Osaka’s foreign visitors introduced Buddhism to the town, and the religion rapidly spread across Japan. In 645AD, Emperor Kotoku made Osaka his new capital, building Naniwa-no-Miya Palace, the oldest palace in the country. The capital moved to Asuka in 655AD and then later to Kyoto, but by then Osaka was flourishing, with new temples popping up and a thriving cultural scene. For much of the 14th century, wars ravaged Osaka. But the Ishiyama Honganji Temple, built in 1496 and constructed as a fortress, served to keep the warlords at bay. Nearly a century later, Toyotomi Hideyoshi succeeded in unifying Japan, constructing Osaka Castle in 1583 and making it his power base. The entire town burnt to a cinder in 1615, but things calmed down after that and, though no longer the capital, Osaka began to prosper, sending rice and other foodstuffs to the rest of Japan. The city became renowned as a hub for culture and education, and by the 19th century, it had transformed into a modern, industrial powerhouse. During WWII, Osaka was almost decimated by Allied bombing, which explains the abundance of modern buildings and enormous skyscrapers dominating the city’s skyline today. Post-war Osaka saw meticulous city planning and a return to prosperity. Osaka has become the economic centre of western Japan, attracting multinational companies. Its rich cultural past is still evident in the local culture through the continued enjoyment of culinary pleasures, the performing arts and the city’s large entertainment areas.

• Did you know?

Around the end of the 19th century, Osaka was nicknamed the ‘Manchester of the Orient’, owing to its successful spinning industry. Osaka hosted Expo ’70, the first world exposition held in Asia. The first Universal Studios in Asia opened in Osaka in 2001.

• Weather in Osaka

The best times to visit Osaka are during the spring, for the scenic cherry blossoms and the Osaka Basho sumo tournament, and during the summer, when there are a wonderful array of festivals with spectacular parades and fireworks to enjoy. While the summer months can be fiendishly hot; there are afternoon sea breezes from the port that help cool things down. If you want to miss the big crowds and high hotel prices, try to avoid Golden Week (29 April and 3-5 May).

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Things to see in Osaka

Attractions

• Universal Studios Japan

Osaka’s Universal Studios theme park, one of only two outside of the USA, features rides and shows associated with famous Hollywood movies and TV programmes. The park’s attractions include a The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Hello Kitty’s Fashion Avenue and various rides. The park also offers guided tours, themed restaurants and shops selling a wide range of souvenirs. Address: 2-1-33 Sakurajima, Osaka. Telephone: +81 570 200 606 Opening times: Daily 08:30–19:00. Website: www.usj.co.jp Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle stands tall on the Uemachi Daichi Plateau, the oldest inhabited place in Osaka. The castle itself is a reproduction, having been destroyed in WWII. However, the massive walls around it are from the original structure. With its tall walls (up to 20m/66ft) and wide moats, Osaka Castle is arguably one of Japan’s most imposing castles. There are eight shachihoko (fish tiger) figurines as well as ornamental roof tiles and tiger-shaped reliefs, which are all gilded with gold. The parkland by the castle is very pleasant, especially during the cherry blossom season in spring. Address: Chuo-ku, 1-1 Osakajo, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6941 3044 Opening times: Daily 09:00-17:00. Website: www.osakacastle.net Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Sumiyoshi Taisha Grand Shrine

Osaka’s Sumiyoshi Taisha is one of the country’s oldest shrines and the headquarters for the more than 2,300 Sumiyoshi shrines throughout Japan. It was established in the third century and represents an original form of Japanese architecture that is distinct from the Chinese and Korean influences seen in temple design. Address: Sumiyoshi-ku, 2-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6672 0753 Opening times: Daily 06:00-17:00. Website: www.sumiyoshitaisha.net Admission Fees: No Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Shitenno-ji Temple

Shitenno-ji Temple is one of the earliest Buddhist temples in Japan. None of the buildings originally erected in AD593 have survived, although the classical layout of the complex is still visible. The temple precincts contain charming turtle ponds and a lovely example of a five-storey pagoda. Address: Tennoji-ku, 1-11-18 Shitenno-ji, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6771 0066 Opening times: Daily 08:30-16:30. Website: www.shitennoji.or.jp Admission Fees: No Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• National Museum of Art

One of three national contemporary art museums in Japan, the National Museum of Art in Osaka holds exciting exhibitions of both well-known and up-and-coming Japanese artists, as well as established international artists. The entrance to the museum is quite striking – steel poles bent into a fish-like shape. The museum’s galleries are housed in three subterranean floors. Address: Kita-ku, 4-2-55 Nakanoshima, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6447 4680 Opening times: Tue-Thu, Sun 10:00-17:00, Fri-Sat 10:00-20:00. Website: www.nmao.go.jp Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

The Kaiyukan is one of the largest aquariums in the world and is contained in a unique architectural structure shaped like a butterfly. A complex of over 15 water tanks centred on a single huge tank holding 5,400 tonnes of water, it is home to 620 species and 30,000 marine animals from the Pacific Rim. The biggest tank even holds a giant whale shark, the world’s largest fish. Osaka’s aquarium is an award-winning aquarium that will fascinate both adults and children. Address: Minato-ku , 1-1-10 Kaigandori, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6576 5501 Opening times: Daily 10:00-20:00. Website: www.kaiyukan.com Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Kuchu-Teiein Observatory

The observation platform of this observatory connects the two towers of the Umeda Sky Building some 173m (567ft) above ground level. The views of the city are fantastic. In bad weather, the open-air top floor is closed, but the views from one floor below are still great. The scariest bit is the escalator up the last five floors. It crosses over from one tower to the other, giving a strange sensation of moving into the open air. Address: Kita-ku, 1-1-88 Oyodonaka, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6440 3855 Opening times: Daily 09:30-22:30. Website: www.kuchu-teien.com Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Museum of Oriental Ceramics

This Osaka museum has a fascinating collection of Japanese, Chinese and Korean antique ceramics from the major artistic periods. From archaeological artefacts to the most refined examples of ceramic techniques, the museum’s excellent displays are informative and show the economic and cultural connections throughout East Asian history. Address: Kita-ku, 1-1-26 Nakanoshima, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6223 0055 Opening times: Tues-Sun 09:30-17:00. Website: www.moco.or.jp Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Osaka Science Museum

Opened in 1989, the Osaka Science Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of science by focusing on what we know about the universe and the energy within it. Here you can learn about electricity, the size of the planets and your own reflexes. The museum’s planetarium is able to project 28,000 stars on one of the world’s largest dome screens (with a diameter of 26.5m/87ft). Address: Kita-ku, 4-2-1 Nakanoshima, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6444 5656 Opening times: Mon-Sun 09:30-17:00. Website: www.sci-museum.jp Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

• Osaka Museum of History

This excellent museum is located just outside Osaka Castle Park. Each of the floors represents a different period in Osaka’s history, except for the top floor, where the inside of the Naniwa-no-Miya Palace has been recreated. Osaka’s 1,400-year history comes to life thanks to the creative layout and interactive displays at this museum. Address: Chuo-ku, 4-1-32 Otemae, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6946 5728 Opening times: Wed-Mon 09:30-17:00. Website: www.mus-his.city.osaka.jp Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes UNESCO: No

Tourist Offices

• Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau

Address: Toda Building Shinsaibashi, Minamisemba, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6282 5900 Opening times: Daily 09:30-17:00. Website: www.osaka-info.jp There are also visitor information centres at: JR Shin-Osaka Station Address: on the 3rd floor, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6131 4550 Umeda    ( Telephone: +81 6 6440 3899 ) Namba    ( Telephone: +81 6 6131 4550 ) Kansai International Airport  ( Telephone: +81 7 2456 6160 ) Staff at all of these centres can help with information about transport, accommodation and the city’s many attractions.

Tourist passes

The Osaka Amazing Pass  ( Website: www.osp.osaka-info.jp ) is a special card for international visitors that offers unlimited use of the subway, trains and buses in and around Osaka. The pass includes free admission to more than 40 sights and special deals at restaurants and shops. The pass is available for either one or two days and can be purchased at Visitor Information Centres, hotels, subway station kiosks and private railway stations.

Things to do in Osaka

• Find the fairway at a top golf course

Golf in Japan is serious business, with numerous top-class courses and even more practice nets. Osaka doesn’t buck the trend and has rooftop nets dotted across the city. Golfers after a greener round can enjoy 18-holes at the Ibaraki Country Club  ( Website: www.ibarakicc.com )  just 50 minutes from Osaka Station on the Tokaido-Sanyo Line.

• Hope for a home run at a Hanshin Tigers game

Baseball is one of the most popular sports in the country, and Japanese fans are as fervent as their American counterparts. Whilst in Osaka, make the Hanshin Tigers        ( Website: www.hanshintigers.jp ) your team. The season runs from late March to October and games at the Hanshin Koshien stadium ( Website: www.hanshin.co.jp ) regularly sell out, so book in advance.

• Pull on your boots and hike an ancient pilgrimage trail

Not that you would guess from central Osaka, but the surrounding landscapes that flank the city boast some superb hikes. Minoo Park is only a 30-minute drive north, and its gentle trails are popular with locals. For a more challenging hike, try tackling Mount Koya’s ancient pilgrimage trail, Koyasan Choishi Michi.

• Strap on some skis and hit the slopes

Snow lovers in Osaka will find themselves ideally placed to hit local slopes. Hyogo has 16 resorts, and as it’s only an hour’s drive west of Osaka, it makes for an easy day trip. Shiga Kogen, northeast of the city, is a slightly longer drive and offers eight resorts of powdery snow.

• Unwind how you wish with a day at the beach

A trip to the beach is a great way to escape the hectic pace of the city. Nishikinohama Beach Park, an hour south of Osaka by train, is well equipped for all tastes. Swimmers will find this a lively spot, whilst sporty types can enjoy beach volleyball and thrill-seekers, jet skis.

Osaka tours and excursions

Osaka tours

• Boat tours

Osaka’s waterways are the foundation of the city’s economic history, and a cruise along the Okawa River is both picturesque and informative. There are also boat tours of Osaka Bay which stop at Tempozan Village, the site of some exciting port redevelopment projects. Osaka Waterbus runs the Aqualiner, a futuristic-looking tourist boat cruising the Okawa River. The company also offers a gourmet and music group. Telephone: +81 75 341 1413 Website: www.suijo-bus.osaka

• Walking tours

Seeing Osaka on foot is a great way to become acquainted with both the modern and historical landmarks of the city. The views from Osaka Castle and Umeda’s Floating Observatory offer different perspectives of the bustling metropolis. Sunrise Tours organise guided walking tours, taking in all the key sights. Telephone: +81 75 341 0357 Website: www.jtb.co.jp

Osaka excursions

• Kyoto

Japan’s old imperial capital and still the cultural heart of the nation, Kyoto is 15 minutes away from Osaka on the Shinkansen (bullet train). The city has more than 2,000 temples and shrines and a wealth of other cultural and historical treasures, including the old Gion entertainment area where real geisha can still be spotted dashing between teahouse engagements. Other highlights include the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, with its thousands of torii gates up in the hillside behind it, and the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, with its verandas, seemingly hanging in the air above the steep hillside below. The Kinkakuji Temple, with its impressive gold-leaf-covered pavilion, has a lovely garden, as does the Heian Shrine. Telephone: +81 75 343 0548 Website: www.kyoto.travel

• Nara

A city older than Kyoto and the first permanent capital of Japan before Kyoto, Nara is located just 30 minutes by car away from Osaka and has a wealth of cultural riches, including a large number of old temples, shrines and artworks. It boasts what was the world’s largest wooden building until 1998 at Todaiji Temple, which houses a famous bronze Buddha of gigantic proportions, as well as the world’s oldest wooden structure at Horyuji Temple. Both have status as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites and are among the most important temples in Japan. The city has many other interesting temples in addition to some beautiful parkland and plenty of arts and crafts and souvenir shops. Telephone: +81 742 364 894 Website: www.city.nara.lg.jp

Shopping in Osaka

Shopping opportunities in Osaka are so plentiful it will take an extremely determined shopper to exhaust them. Osaka is renowned for it long covered-shopping streets and vast underground shopping malls, as well as specialist shopping areas for electronics and kitchenware.

• Key areas

Japan’s longest shopping street, Tenjinbashi-Suji Shopping Arcade, is located in Kita. It is a 2.6km-long (1.6 miles), vault-roofed line of shops interspersed with cinemas, game centres, bars and restaurants. Another key area is Mido-Suji Avenue, a wide, tree-lined street that is Osaka’s main north-south thoroughfare. It is also the place for exclusive fashion and design, with elegant brand shops featuring the latest European fashions. The nearby America-Mura has hundreds of fashion shops, bars and restaurants aimed at young Osakans with a taste for rock, punk and hip hop. Nipponbashi Den-Den Town in Minami is a paradise for fans of electronics and gadgetry. If you are keen on Japanese cooking, Doguyasuji, just west of Nankai Namba Station, is an entire street of kitchen and tableware shops. It is the place to pick up every kind of pot, pan, dish and chopstick required for Japanese cooking.

• Markets

On the 21st and 22nd of each month, a large flea market is held in the precincts of Shitenno-ji temple. This is a great place to pick up second-hand silk kimono and other traditional wares.

• Shopping centres

Kita has a large underground shopping mall complex, connecting most of the train stations in the area and containing a vast number of brand stores, fashionable boutiques, cafés and restaurants. Some of the largest malls are Yodobashi Camera, located around JR Osaka Station, and the Hankyu Grand Building and the Hankyu Sanbangai, near Hankyu Umeda Station. The ultra-trendy fashion district of Chayamachi is located nearby. In Minami, the Namba Parks shopping mall is one of Osaka’s most fashionable commercial areas, with more than 200 retail outlets, in a pleasant park setting. The Minami area also has several large underground malls, including Crysta Nagahori and Namba Walk. There are also several big shopping complexes above ground, including Shinsaibashi OPA.

• Opening hours

Standard shopping hours in Osaka are Monday to Sunday 10:00-20:00. Some of the major department stores open until 21:00.

• Souvenirs

Sweet and savoury snacks and other foods.

• Tax information

Some stores will refund the 5% consumption tax if you spend over ¥10,000. You’ll need your passport to claim the refund.

Restaurants in Osaka

Osaka is known as a foodies’ paradise, and the city is crammed with an eclectic range of restaurants. Given the city’s proximity to the sea, the sushi and sashimi here is always fresh and delicious. The local cuisine is especially good, and it’s easy to find tasty okonomiyaki (a savoury pancake crammed with vegetables, seafood or meat) and piping hot takoyaki (octopus dumplings) even from street stalls. The Osaka restaurants below have been grouped into three pricing categories: Expensive (over ¥10,000) Moderate (¥5,000 to ¥10,000) Cheap (up to ¥5,000) These Osaka restaurant prices are based on the cost of a meal for one, excluding drinks. Tipping is not expected.

Expensive

• Hajime

Cuisine: Japanese/French This small specialist restaurant serves a fusion of modern Japanese and French cuisine. Most of the dishes on the menu are vegetable-based, and great care is taken in the preparation and presentation. Hajime has a reputation for offering an innovative and fun dining experience. Address: Nishi-ku, 1-9-11 Edobori, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6447 6688 Website: www.hajime-artistes.com 

• Honkogetsu

Cuisine: Japanese Honkogetsu has two Michelin stars and serves modern Japanese kaiseki cuisine (a series of small, intricate dishes) using only the best seasonal ingredients. The restaurant is only open in the evenings, and the seasonal menu changes monthly. Each dish is a delicate concoction of the freshest seafood and vegetables. Address: Chuo-ku, 1-7-11 Dotonbori, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6211 0201 Website: www.kb6h500.gorp.jp

• Koryu

Cuisine: Japanese Seating is limited – there are only 12 seats surrounding the chef’s preparation area – so make sure you reserve in advance. There’s only one menu, but what you’ll get is inventive and seasonal and often looks too good to eat. Prices are reasonable for the quality, too, given that the restaurant has three Michelin stars, although the chef doesn’t speak English. Address: 1F Esbas Kitashinchi 231-5-1 Dojima, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6347 5660 Website: www.koryu.net

Moderate

• Absinthe Solaar

Cuisine: French/Mediterranean This rooftop restaurant is very popular with young Osakans and has an inviting outdoor lounge area, perfect for enjoying the evening breeze during Osaka’s fiendishly hot summer months. The decor is Moroccan in style, and the menu is Mediterranean with a delicious selection of Greek and Middle Eastern dishes, all with a Japanese twist. Address: 8F Takashimaya Department Store, Namba, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6633 1445 Website: www.absinthe-jp.com

• Kani Doraku

Cuisine: Japanese This restaurant is probably most famous for the huge mechanical crab moving around on its outside wall, and it has become a symbol of the Dotonbori area. The menu has a vast array of crab dishes prepared in all possible ways – from crab shabu-shabu (cooked at the table in boiling water) and crab kaiseki (very small, intricate dish) to crab salad and crab sushi. The portions are generous, and the service is friendly. An English menu is available. Address: Chuo-ku, 1-6-18 Dotonbori, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6211 8975 Website: www.douraku.co.jp

• Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M

Cuisine: Japanese Located on a narrow alleyway lined with quaint shops and restaurants behind Hozenji Temple, this is a deservedly popular Japanese BBQ spot. Seating is in private booths, and tables have in-built BBQs. Cook your own wagyu steak with delicious garlic rice as an accompaniment. Address: Chuo-ku, 3-11 Nanbasennichimae, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6606 9887 Website: www.matsusaka-projects.com

Cheap

• Tsurutontan Soemoncho

Cuisine: Japanese This extremely popular udon restaurant chain serves delicious bowls of the thick white noodles in massive salad bowls. What’s also interesting is the variety of noodles Tsurutontan have on their menu – from the traditional tastes of bean curd and sour pickled plums to more modern and western-influenced variations such as carbonara udon and curry udon. Expect to queue at the door during busy times. Address: Chuo-ku, 3-17 Soemon-cho, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6211 0021 Website: www.tsurutontan.co.jp

• Nawa Sushi

Cuisine: Japanese Nawazushi serves super-fresh sushi in a traditional Osakan atmosphere. Customers sit around the main counter and can watch the chefs expertly slice sashimi and form delicious morsels of nigiri sushi. There are daily and seasonal specials. The atmosphere is boisterous so don’t be shy to yell out your order. Address: Kita-ku, 2-14-1 Sonezaki, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6312 9892

• Nanbantei

Cuisine: Yakitori Not far from the shopping complex is this popular yakitori (skewered chicken) restaurant. It has a huge range of skewer food, including grilled chicken, leek and green pepper. The atmosphere is friendly, and there’s an English menu. Because of its popularity, dining time is limited to two hours per group. Address: Naniwa Ward, Nipponbashinishi, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 7710 5096

Osaka Nightlife

Osaka’s nightlife is vibrant, hectic and extremely diverse, and there are an enormous number of bars, clubs, restaurants and entertainment venues throughout the city. Check the free magazine Kansai Scene ( Website: www.kansaiscene.com ) for the latest info on clubs, bars and one-off dance events.

Bars in Osaka

• Cinquecento

Cinquecento is a funky little shot bar in Shinsaibashi with a friendly atmosphere and a local and international clientele. The martini menu is superb, and there’s draft beer available as well. The food menu features pizza, as well as small servings of snacks and nibbles. Prices are reasonable, too. Address: Chuo-ku, 2-1-10 Higashishinsaibashi, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6213 6788 Website: www.osakacinquecento.com

• The Blarney Stone

The Blarney Stone is a lively Irish pub in the heart of Umeda with live bands, darts and pool. There are Guinness and Kilkenny on tap, plus a large selection of international and Japanese brewed ales. The bar food menu has good value standards such as fish and chips and burgers. There’s also free Wi-Fi internet access. Address: Kita-ku, 6F, 2-10-15 Sonezaki, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6364 2001 Website: www.the-blarney-stone.com

• Yuzu No Komachi

If you fancy a quiet night experiencing authentic Japanese pub culture, stop in at this izakaya, or tavern. Seating is on the floor on cushions, and patrons chat quietly while snacking on edamame beans and sashimi and sipping sake. Address: Chuo-ku, 3-4-16 Nanba, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6599 8817 Website: www.yuzunokomachi.cosmicdiner.jp

Clubs in Osaka

• GALA RESORT

Gala Resort is one of Osaka’s most famous nightclub and caters for all tastes. A vibrant nightclub where music events of various genres are held daily. On four different dancefloors, partygoers can listen to almost any genre imaginable. There are even food stalls, a darts board and other drinking games available for those who want to take a break from dancing. Staff speak English and drinks are affordable.

Address: Chuo-ku, 7-9 Souemoncho, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 4256 0716 Website: www.osaka.gala-resort.jp

• Joule

This is a wildly popular club in the frenetic Shinsaibashi area of Osaka. The music policy is trance, hard house and hip-hop, but the atmosphere is casual and friendly. There’s a third-floor lounge for chilling out when the dance floor gets too full. Address: Chuo-ku, 2-11-7 Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6214 1223 Website: www.club-joule.com

• Pure

State-of-the-art venue for varied nightclubbing in a trendy venue with a full bar. This nightclub is characterised by a high-energy factor, as well as plenty of fun and drink enjoyed by foreigners and locals alike. There are regular guest DJs playing house, R&B, hip hop, disco and Top 40. Address: Chuo Ward, Shinsaibashisuji, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6214 6600 Website: www.club-pure.com

Live music in Osaka

• Billboard Live Osaka

This is an intimate supper club with top jazz, soul, R&B and folk performers every night. The sound system is excellent, and Billboard’s in-house restaurant and bar serve tasty food and drinks. Address: Kita-ku , 2-22 Umeda , Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6342 7722 Website: www.billboard-live.com

• Namba Bears

Opened by the former guitarist of the Japanese rock band The Boredoms, Seiichi Yamamoto, this tiny basement venue features live performances from bands running the gamut from punk, rock and indie to pop. Address: Naniwa-ku, 3-14-5 Nambanaka, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6649 5564 Website: www.namba-bears.main.jp

• Umeda Club Quattro

This is a popular club in Osaka for reggae, hip hop, metal and hard rock acts and attracts a young crowd. Gigs start surprisingly early in the evening, so arrive on time to make sure you see the show. Address: 10F Plaza Umeda, 8-17 Taiyujicho, Osaka. Telephone: +81 6 6311 8111 Website: www.club-quattro.com

Osaka Food And Drink

Food In Osaka

• Tako-yaki

Takoyaki is a popular Japanese snack food that originated in Osaka, Japan. It is a ball-shaped snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and filled with small pieces of octopus, pickled ginger, and green onion.

• Okonomiyaki

It is a Japanese teppanyaki, savory pancake dish consisting of wheat flour batter and other ingredients (mixed, or as toppings) cooked on a teppan (flat griddle).

• Ramen

Simply put, ramen is a Japanese noodle soup, with a combination of a rich flavoured broth, one of a variety of types of noodle and a selection of meats or vegetables, often topped with a boiled egg.

• Kushi-katsu

Kushikatsu is easy to eat since it is served on a stick! You can eat it straight off the stick or use your chopsticks to transfer the kushikatsu to a small plate. Most people give their kushikatsu a generous dunk in the provided sauce first. Be careful though – double-dipping from a shared sauce container is big no-no.

Drink In Osaka

• Japanese Beer

Beer is the most popular drink in Japan and has brewed here since the beginning of the 19th century.

• Sake (Nihonshu)

Sake or rice wine is called nihonshu (lit. Japanese alcohol) in Japanese.

• Shochu

Shochu is a Japanese traditional hard liquor, distilled spirits made from grains and vegetables. The most common base ingredients are sweet potato, barley, rice, buckwheat and sugar cane.

• Chu-Hai

Chu-hi are a category of Japanese cocktail made from mixing a fruit juice, traditionally lemon, with shochu and club soda. While chu-hi is a staple of the bar world, it truly grew into an independent phenomenon with the introduction of canned chu-hi.

• Whisky

Japanese whiskey uses malted barley imported from Scotland to produce its malt blend. In addition to malt whisky, the Japanese also specialize in the production of rice whisky called shochu. This contrasts with other whiskeys which use corn, wheat, grain and rye during production.

• Plum Wine (Ume Shu)

Umeshu is a fruity liqueur made from unripened Japanese plums, ume, steeped with sugar in distilled liquor over time. In most cases, 35% abv shochu is the liquor used in umeshu.

Osaka Hotels

Every nation has an anti-city. In England, Manchester stands opposed to London; in Scotland, Glasgow is everything that Edinburgh is not; in Sicily, Catania is the antithesis of Palermo. Osaka is no exception. Compared to glitzy and expensive Tokyo, Osaka is gritty, vibrant, entrepreneurial and fun-loving. The best place in the country for a bar crawl, it is the economic heart of the Kansai region and its second-largest metropolitan area, brimming with bars, restaurants, shops and a famously friendly population. Ranging from simple ryokans to ultra-luxury hotels, the best places to stay in Osaka reflect the city’s buzz and its welcoming spirit, perfect for a fantastic city break. For a sense of Osaka’s past, take a guided tour of imposing Osaka Castle or the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, both of which are iconic heritage landmarks. The Osaka Museum of History is fascinating, as are the National Museum of Art, the Koji Kinutani Tenku Art Museum and the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living. Families should look to Universal Studios Japan, the Osaka Science Museum and the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. The Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street and Kuromon Market are also excellent. A hub for Japanese tech start-ups and the AI industry, Osaka has a bright, youthful feel. You’ll get a real sense of this creative spirit in the downtown districts of Minami, Dotonbori and Kita, which boast brilliant bars, upmarket restaurants, chic cafes and cool shopping areas. Get chatting to welcoming locals in thriving eateries, and dance the night away at some of the city’s top bars and clubs before returning to one of the best places to stay in Osaka.