Discover Osaka (大阪), Japan

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Osaka, Japan
Author: 663highland (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 Generic)

Osaka (大阪) is a major city in Japan. The night time population of Osaka is 2.6 million while the daytime population is 3.7 million, giving it the biggest percentage rise of any Japanese city. This makes Osaka the second biggest city in Japan after Tokyo, by day, and the third biggest by night, after Yokohama.

Guide to Osaka Hotels

Here's a list of hotels in Osaka that you can book online, with full description, star rating, address, location map, evaluation, and prices as offered by different booking sites.

More on Osaka

Osaka is the economic center of Japan. Many of the biggest companies in Japan has their headquarters here. The city is also known as the nation's kitchen, as it is a center of good Japanese food.

Evidence of human habitation in the Osaka area goes back to the 5th to 6th centuries BC, with the discovery of buried human skeletons are remains of sea oyster shells. Osaka has been a seaport as early as the Kofun period (AD 250-538). It became a capital city in AD 645 when Emperor Kotoku built his palace there. At that time, Osaka was known as Naniwa.

Umeda Sky Building, Osaka
Author: Suisui (public domain)

In 655 the capital was relocated to Asuka, in present-day Nara Prefecture. Then for a brief period between 744 to 745, it was moved back to Naniwa. In 745 the capital was shifted to the newly created Heijo-kyo, in present-day Nara.

In 1496, the militant Jodo Shinshu Buddhist sect established themselves at the heavily fortified Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple. In 1570 the Major Daimyo Oda Nobunaga laid siege of the temple. The siege lasted a whole decade before the monks surrendered, resulting in the burning down of the temple. On its site the Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi constructed Osaka Castle.

Shitenno-ji Temple, Osaka
Author: 663highland (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0)

Budget Travel to Osaka

By Plane
Osaka is served by the Kansai International Airport, built on an artificial island on Osaka Bay. The airport is linked to the city by the JR West's Kansai Airport Line and the private Nankai Electric Railway. By Train
The Tokaido Shinkansen line connect Tokyo with the Shin-Osaka station outside Osaka. There are three types of services available: the Nozomi trains takes 2 hours 15 minutes and costs ¥14,050; the Hikari trains take 3 hours and costs ¥13,750 while the Kodama trains take 4 hours and also costs ¥13,750. Holders of Japan Rail Pass can take the Hikari and Kodama trains at no charge.

From Shin-Osaka station, you can take the subway to the city.

Budget Travel within Osaka

The best way to move about in Osaka is to take the subway. The Osaka Unlimited Pass, available for ¥2,000 for one day and ¥2,700 for two days allows you unlimited rides on trains and buses in Osaka City. To go farther, the 5-day unlimited Kintetsu Rail Pass allows you to travel in the Kansai and Kinki regions covering Kyoto, Nara Prefecture, Nagoya and Mie Prefecture. It costs ¥3,500.

Suntory Museum, Osaka
Author: 663highland (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0)

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Places of Interest in Osaka

Osaka Museum of History
Museum detailing the history of Osaka.
Osaka Castle
1931 reconstruction of the castle built in 1586 by Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
National Museum of Art
Museum housed in a cutting-edge structure and holding an impressive collection of art including Picasso, Cezanne and Warhol.
Museum of Oriental Ceramics
Museum housing one of the world's finest collections of Oriental ceramics.
Floating Garden Observatory
Observatory on the spectacular Umeda Sky Building.
National Bunraku Theater
Famous theater for the performances of Bunraku puppet dramas.
Universal Studios JapanTheme park that brings the magic of Hollywood to Osaka.
Spa World
Huge spa resort with spas from different countries of the world.
Japan Folk Art Museum
Museum containing an outstanding array of traditional folk arts and crafts.
Shitenno-ji Temple
One of the temples considered the birthplace of Japanese Buddhism.
Tempozan Harbor Village
A waterfront project that gives the Edo-period landfill a modern makeover.
Suntory Museum
Cutting-edge museum in Tempozan Harbor Village.
Osaka Aquarium
Innovative aquarium exhibiting marine life from around the world.
Liberty Osaka Museum
Museum that looks into human rights and discriminatory practises in Japan.