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Guide to Osaka, Japan
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OsakaOsaka has a great number of similarities to its big brothers in Japan (Tokyo, etc), but its down-to-earth atmosphere alters visitors perceptions quite a bit. Many have called Osaka ugly with the prevalence of concrete around the city a result of the destruction of buildings during WWII. But the city has been receiving numerous renovations in order to appeal to more aesthetically acute palettes, and it has been a wonderful transformation. Among the neon lights, more architecturally sophisticated residential and commercial buildings are popping up, making Osaka pleasant to view both at dawn and at dusk. The citys historic port and canals are busier than ever, and, thanks to both government and public funding, Osakas cultural venues are bringing more and more visitors to their doors.
When to go:
The general rule to a good time in Osaka is to avoid summer. Its hot, humid, and sticky, and makes a nuisance out of every activity not under a climate-controlled roof. Spring is beautiful, but beware of Hanami season, when the cherries blossom and people from all over Japan travel to see them and crowd the streets in the process; the city looks spectacular, but theres a huge tradeoff to the good looks. A better balance of people, weather, and sights is achieved in autumn, when the leaves create colorful collages and rainfall is at an annual low.
Getting there and around:
Osaka, along with a number of other Asian cities, has an airport as if from a sci-fi film. Everything is state-of-the-art, and even the baggage cars have features from the future (ok, maybe we exaggerate a bit). But even so, everything is great - clean, efficient, and speedy; just the way we like it. Outside Kansai International Airport, youll come to see the multitude of transportation services ready to bring you to Osaka. But the airport has something up its sleeve that we highly recommend taking advantage of the Nankai Railways Rapito. Its no secret that the bullet-train allows you a half-hour ride into Osaka, nearly twice as fast as the next-quickest service.
Theres only one service that will take you everywhere in the city, and that is the subway. Osaka has been outfitted with an all-encompassing underground rail network that will bring you to just about any location. Its quick, somewhat clean, and does its job well for a cheap price. You can get an unlimited-ride card from any number of stations.
Attractions:
Osaka is big on shopping districts, and theres no better place to start than in Amerika-Mura (America Village). Yes, a very heavy Western-culture influence plays out in the stores around the area, but an interesting Japanese twist has been added by vendor at the request of the populace. It is /the/ place to find the here and now in society, and you wont get a few feet without passing by an internet caf. If youre feeling a little sluggish, get a boost from a cappuccino while watching adults and adolescents alike surf the WWW from their notebooks and PDAs.
Dotombori is an area named after the canal which runs alongside it. In the evening the neon signs light the place up like Times Square, and youll be caught up in the frenzy of it all whether you like it or not. If you want some respite from the noise and lights, take a somewhat-quiet stroll by the waterside, or even get a ride on a gondola down the citys network of canals. Dont forget, Dotombori is home to the National Bunraku Theatre (puppet), and though it might sound a bitwelluninteresting, youre in for a surprise.
Osaka Aquarium is one of the main attractions of the city, and though the admittance fee is steep whats inside is well worth the price. The Osaka Aquarium is home to the worlds larges aquarium tank, which holds creatures from the likes of whale sharks to stingrays. Foreigners will enjoy the fact that the exhibits here are in both Japanese and English. Note: The aquarium gets very crowded during the day and into the evening, so get there early if you want some space to yourself.
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