There is this feeling inwards Osaka that is form of difficult to explain, but I’m going to try. We know we’re the underdog, but nosotros don’t care. We’re okay amongst it because nosotros know how cool nosotros are…or something similar that. We aren’t jealous of Tokyo’s fame because nosotros are satisfied as well as content amongst living inwards Osaka. We know Osaka is fun as well as if people come, they volition hold upward shocked at how fantastic Osaka is. In short, we’re awesome as well as nosotros know it!
I’d similar to start yesteryear taking yous on a textual as well as visual tour of Dotombori, the boundary betwixt the Shinsaibashi as well as Namba areas referred to every bit minami (south) yesteryear the locals. Osaka’s icon, the Glico Man, charms his agency to the complete line. You volition undoubtedly come upward across visitors capturing his victory pose on photographic telly camera spell trying to copy him. At night, Dotombori comes hold upward amongst flashing, vibrant lights as well as people having fun. If you’ve seen Blade Runner, it’s difficult non to notice that the film’s metropolis was modeled afterward Dotombori’s glowing billboards as well as urban atmosphere. On the streets, yous tin picket groups of drunken Osakans motion from i political party to the side yesteryear side shouting amongst joy. If you’re lucky, yous mightiness fifty-fifty reckon someone dive off the twain into the canal; an Osaka tradition. As yous overstep yesteryear i venue afterward another, yous tin involve heed laughter as well as music pouring out onto the streets.
Wandering north, you’ll uncovering Umeda (aka kita), the line of piece of occupation organisation district of Osaka. Surrounded yesteryear sleek skyscrapers as well as people inwards suits, this percentage is reminiscent of the streets of downtown Chicago. Umeda is total of nice, expensive places, as well as everyone has somewhere to teach or something to do. Osaka Station is real impressive, as well as it’s slowly to pass hours getting lost inside. One of my favorite areas inwards Umeda is Kitashinchi, a classy drinking district amongst several diamonds inwards the rough.
Step into Kyobashi, the connecting hub from my town to downtown. It's ofttimes overlooked, but interesting places include malls within the Keihan as well as JR stations, along amongst the HUB (British pub chain), a Don Quixote, as well as tons of petty hole inwards the wall places. Once yous walk away from the station, yous reckon around pretty sketchy stuff. Tiny, muddied alleys total of “massage” advertisements as well as hidden entrances to basements as well as brothels stalk out from the primary roads. Scantily clad women line the walls amongst vacant stares, waiting for drunken businessmen to brand their commute home.
Osaka’s charm is similar no other metropolis inwards Nihon where Osakans are relaxed, friendly, as well as volition give cheers yous amongst an “ookini” instead of an “arigatou.” It’s a metropolis amongst a little town feel. While it’s uncomplicated to teach acquainted amongst the several districts of Osaka, you’ll ever hold upward surprised yesteryear novel discoveries. Whether yous are inwards the metropolis or the suburbs, your olfactory organ is ofttimes greeted amongst the luscious smells of hot food. Big bellied men volition nod to yous on the streets, as well as petty grannies volition paw yous candy only for beingness a Westerner. Cashiers volition express joy amongst yous or fifty-fifty compliment yous when yous brand a empty-headed foreigner mistakes instead of nervously giving yous a blank stare.
When yous mean value of Osaka, yous automatically think: takoyaki—little batter balls amongst octopus bits within topped amongst savory sauce, fish flakes, mayonnaise, as well as seaweed bits. Did yous know at that topographic point are master copy dishes from Osaka besides takoyaki?
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| Osaka trend okonomiyaki |
My favorite Japanese nutrient is around other staple of Osaka: kushikatsu! It’s deep-fried battered items such every bit meat, cheese, veggies, as well as desserts on skewers that yous dip inwards sauce as well as consume off the stick. SO DELICIOUS! You’ll also encounter Okonomiyaki: a savory “pancake” amongst your selection of meat, veggies, as well as other delicacies. It’s topped amongst the same things as takoyaki, but yous tin teach many dissimilar versions. If you’re looking for hearty as well as flavorful (words commonly unassociated amongst Japanese food), come upward to Osaka!
Osakans’ outspoken as well as easy-going personalities partially stalk from their utilisation of the Kansai dialect or Kansai-ben. More specifically, Osakans speak Osaka-ben, famous for sounding…well…rough as well as casual. I’ve been studying Kansai-ben, as well as I’m proud to tell I tin speak a fair sum as well as comprehend most of it. Osakans direct maintain pride inwards their dialect. To others, Kansai-ben may audio tough as well as rude, but for the most part, I mean value that people exterior of Kansai reckon it every bit cool, cute, or welcoming. Since Kansai-ben is as well as hence colorful, it seems to hold upward quite pop compared to other Japanese dialects.
When I get-go constitute out I would hold upward placed inwards Osaka, I didn’t realize how incredibly lucky I was. I am straight off convinced that I direct maintain THE BEST placement. Osaka is the catch of Japan. I tin easily as well as conveniently access whatsoever purpose of the province from Osaka yesteryear plane, car, bus, regular trains, or shinkansen (bullet trains). I am side yesteryear side door to Kyoto, Nara, as well as Kobe, all of which are famous places inwards Japan. Tokyo as well as Hiroshima are solely a bullet prepare ride away! Heck! It solely takes virtually 2 hours to attain Okinawa, Hokkaido, as well as fifty-fifty Korea yesteryear plane.
I desire yous to sympathise what Osaka is actually like—the Chicago of Japan: beautiful as well as rugged amongst a ton of personality. Maybe I’m biased because I’m from Chicago, Osaka’s sis metropolis as well as also the tertiary largest metropolis inwards its country.
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| Dotombori at night |
Next upward is Amemura (American Village) located inwards the Shinsaibashi district as well as total of fun bars, clubs, as well as restaurants. Why is it called American Village? Perhaps many foreigners hang out here? Or possibly because at that topographic point are many unusual restaurants? Then again, at that topographic point are to a greater extent than than only American foreigners inwards Japan. I suppose they telephone weep upward it Amemura because of an American flag painted on a building, a simulated Statue of Liberty, a Starbucks, McDonalds, as well as a Burger King inwards the same vicinity.
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| View from the top of the Umeda Sky Building |
In Osaka city’s southeastern corner, inwards the Shinsekai expanse of Tennoji, you’ll uncovering famous attractions such every bit Tsutenkaku (the symbol tower of Osaka), Spa World, a zoo, a mascot called Billiken, as well as the get-go kushikatsu restaurants. Shinsekai also has a reputation for beingness form of unsafe because of yakuza (the Japanese mob). Yakuza don’t tend to interact amongst foreigners, but if yous reckon whatsoever men wearing gaudy suits, sunglasses, as well as direct maintain parts of their fingers missing or noticeable tattoos, it’s meliorate to steer clear.
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| Shinsekai inwards Tennoji |
In the classier department of Kyobashi, yous volition uncovering Osaka Castle surrounded yesteryear a large park. During hanami (cheery flower viewing) season, the commons fills upward amongst thousands of people celebrating the coming of natural springtime amongst BBQs as well as spirits. Little exercise tourists know the commons also has other impressive events throughout the twelvemonth such every bit the castle illumination inwards wintertime as well as the plum flower orchard inwards early on spring. If yous firm within the castle museum, a cracking sentiment of Osaka’s line of piece of occupation organisation commons meets yous from the top.
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| Osaka Castle |
The Osaka Port expanse draws tourists to Universal Studios Japan, the Kaiyukan Aquarium, a giant Ferris bike as well as the Tempozan Marketplace, a shopping mall cluttered amongst inexpensive shops, arcades, as well as nutrient stands. Osaka is as well as hence grand sometimes yous forget it's a port metropolis as well as the body of body of water is nearby.
Away from the ports, Rinku Town’s oceanic setting as well as outlet mall makes it experience real California-esque. The Sun ever sets inwards a agency that illuminates the heaven amongst vibrant colors. The curved shape of the shore enables yous to reckon the Sun sink behind a mountainous backdrop amongst the body of body of water inwards the foreground. Breathtaking!
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| Rinku Town Outlet Mall |
On the outskirts of Osaka, you’ll encounter rural as well as natural spots. Mino’s royal waterfall as well as yuzu fruit products are an attraction of their own. During the Fall, if yous follow the winding paths upward the mount towards the waterfall, you’ll uncovering yourself encompassed yesteryear brilliant red, yellow, orange, as well as light-green leaves.
大阪が大好き！I. LOVE. OSAKA!
As an insider, I’ve tried to highlight the existent Osaka. I’ve left out as well as hence many other cool areas, but I promise I could choose the awesomeness of living here. We may hold upward underrated, but that doesn’t alter how cool nosotros are. Hope to grab yous on the underdog side!
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