TOP 10 EDITOR’S RECOMMENDATIONS OF THINGS TO DO
✤ OSAKA CASTLE
One of Japan's most renowned landmarks, the castle played a key role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century. The entire Osaka Castle grounds is huge and has lots of green spaces, sports facilities, a multi-purpose arena (Osaka-jo Hall) and a shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
✤ UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN
Universal Studios Japan was the first theme park under the Universal Studios brand to be built in Asia. The theme park features 10 areas: Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Waterworld, Amity Village, Universal Wonderland, Minion Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.
✤ tOwer Of the sUn MUseUM
The Tower of the Sun Museum was designed by the artist Taro Okamoto and was constructed as part of the Theme Pavilion in the Symbol Zone of the 1970 Japan World Exposition in Osaka. The Tower of the Sun Museum bears three faces: the "Golden Mask" located at its top, which shines golden and suggests the future, the "Face of the Sun" on its front, which represents the present, and the "Black Sun" on its back, which symbolises the past.
✤ UMEDA SKY BUILDING
The floating garden of Umeda Sky Building is an oasis of consciousness that has turned this dream of mankind into physical form. People and the natural environment unite, and people come together eventually becoming one with the universe. In the floating garden, 173 meters off the ground, there is a 360-degree field of vision, where you can let your spirit gambol into the future.
✤ TENNOJI ZOO
The Tennoji Zoo was opened on January 1, 1915 houses approximately 1,000 animals of about 200 species on grounds that span over 11 hectares. The zoo implements the method of "habitat environment exhibits" in which it aims to recreate the landscape of the habitat of animals as much as possible to show that the animals live in an environment similar to their habitat. The “habitat environment exhibits” method is used in various zones including the African Savanna Zone where animals like hippopotamuses, giraffes and lions live, and the Asian Tropical Rainforest Zone where visitors can see the Asian elephant.
✤ TOMBORI RIVER CRUISE
The Tombori River Cruise is a 20-minute sightseeing boat ride that goes from the east side to the west side on the Dotonbori River. Travellers can soak in the views of the city and the larger-than-life store signs of Dotonbori as well as Minatomachi River Place from the comfort of a boat.
✤ OSAKA AQUARIUM KAIYUKAN
Kaiyukan, one of the world’s largest aquariums showcases the aquatic animals of the Pacific Rim at their most vibrant and dynamic, by recreating the natural environment of their habitats. At Kaiyukan there are over 15 large tanks, each recreating a specific region of the Pacific Rim, taking visitors on a virtual tour of the Pacific Ocean. The tanks include, “Japan Forest,” which recreates a sunlit, beautiful Japanese forest; the icy, snow-clad “Antarctica;” and the centrepiece of the aquarium, “Pacific Ocean,” a 9 metres deep, 34 metres long tank containing 5,400 tonnes of water, serving as the home of whale sharks, the largest fish species in the world.
✤ NAMBA YASAKA SHRINE
A stone's throw away from the popular shopping complex Namba Parks, Namba Yasaka Shrine is one of Osaka's most unique places of worship. The enormous lion-head-shaped building called Shishi Den and cherry blossom trees dotted around the shrine grounds enrich the entire experience. The lion’s mouth is believed to swallow evil spirits and bring good luck to those visiting the shrine.
✤ SHITENNOJI
One of Japan's oldest temples and the first ever to be built by the state, was founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku. The prince supported the introduction of Buddhism into Japan. Although the temple's buildings burned down several times throughout the centuries, they were always carefully reconstructed to reflect the original 6th-century design. The outer temple grounds are free to enter, but admission to the inner precinct, the Gokurakujyodo garden of Paradise and the Treasure Hall is paid.
✤ JAPAN MINT
The Japan Mint is responsible for producing and circulating the coins of Japan. The agency has its head office in Osaka with branches in Saitama and Hiroshima. The office offers tours of its headquarters and houses a Mint Museum and Exhibition Room. The Mint Museum has 4,000 historical exhibits. One can read valuable documents, learn the history of coins, and understand the close relationship between society and coins.