Osaka

10-min walk from JR Osaka or Hankyu Umeda

Built in an attempt to upgrade Osaka's somewhat downbeat Kita district, the project wasn't quite the hoped-for commercial success but this bizarrely shaped 40-story, 173-m building is still a city landmark.

At Tennoji/Tennojiekimae/Osaka-Abenobashi Station

Being Osaka's tallest building, this tower features malls, restaurants, shops and offices. Most interesting for tourists is probably the Abeno Harukas Art Museum (changing exhibitions) and the observation deck Harukas 300 on 60th floor in…

A museum dedicated to the promotion of peace through displays of war. Because it is an Osaka museum, it largely focuses on the effects of the bombings on Osaka in World War II.

While the original tower was built early 20th century, the current "newer" version is designed by the same Prof. Naitō, who also designed Tokyo Tower.

5 min walk from Shitennōji-mae-Yuhiga-oka subway stop, or 15 min by walk north from Tennōji Station

The temple was built by Emperor Suiko in 593 AD. Although the current buildings are mostly post World WarII reconstructions, the temple is a rare sample which conveys the continental style (notably the positioning of the individual…

access is from the Nankai line station of the same name; local trains run from Namba station in central Osaka· Free

One of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, with a history stretching back 1800 years. Its traditional architecture is unusual among Japan's shrines, and its park-like surroundings with the sacred bridge arching over a tranquil pond make it a…

15 minutes walk from Temmabashi subway stop· Free

It's not widely known even by people from elsewhere in the country that Japan Mint is headquartered in Osaka. For Osakans, Sakura-no-tōrinuke (桜の通り抜け, cherry blossom tunnel road) is a synonym for this facility, attracting a large number of…

Plaza and shopping centre, which houses an aquarium, Ferris wheel, an art gallery, Legoland and a cruise terminal. On the weekend, musicians and street performers offer additional entertainment to people outside the aquarium.

near Dobutsuen-mae station

This is Japan's largest red-light district outside Tokyo, where ladies pose at genkan entrances Amsterdam-style to attract clientele, accompanied by an older woman (called a yarite-baba or mama-san) who serves as the pimp and collects…

Nippombashi.

One of the last places in the world where bunraku, a form of intricate puppet theater from the Edo period, can be seen live. The large puppets, which require three operators each, are accompanied by traditional music and narration, and act…

near Tsutenkaku Tower in Shinsekai, accessible from JR Shin-Imamiya station or subway Doubutsuen-Mae station

Gender-separated European and Asian-themed spas and saunas as well as a pool for the family with slides and fun (don't forget your swimming trunks).

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, a 10-minute walk from the Namba subway stop.

The Osaka Tournament of Japan's national sport, sumo wrestling, is usually held mid-March annually at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. Check for schedules and ticket availabilities at the official Nihon Sumo Kyokai homepage.

3 minute walk from Suminoekōen station on the Yotsubashi Subway line and Nankō Port Town Line

There's no "bettor" place to see one of Japan's unique gambling sports, hydroplane boat racing, than the race course that typically helps crown the sport's champion every December.

The local J. League soccer team plays at Nagai Stadium.

5 minutes walk from Nagai Station on the Subway Midosuji Line

Nagai Stadium is the home of the professional soccer team Cerezo Osaka.

Kita Ward, Umeda, 2 Chome−2−22 ハービスPLAZA ENT 地下 2階 B204 nuna 梅田

A jazz club, formerly "Blue Note Osaka".

A rare surviving example of a medieval moated city that was rebuilt in the early Edo period with a grid-patterned layout. While most of the moats were filled in during modern urban development, the district preserves its historical…

2-2-98 Hokuko-Ryokuchi Konohana-ku

Maishima Pottery Village opened in Osaka’s manmade island in 1998 for the education and promotion of naniwazuyaki, made from the vast amounts of unwanted marine clay which resulted from the construction of Kansai International Airport.

· Free

Small sword museum attached to Masumian, with displays and sword polishing demonstrations.

2-3-9 Ebisuhigashi, Naniwa

The original Shinsekai shop of Osaka's most famous kushikatsu institution, with its trademark grumpy uncle statue admonishing diners not to double-dip their skewers into the shared sauce pots.

Namba 1-7-16 現代こいさんビル2F

Some of the best okonomiyaki in Osaka, and they're so proud of it they prepare it for you from start to end, making a good choice for the casual visitor as well.

Tobita Shinchi

Most of the "restaurants" in the area are really brothels in disguise (since prostitution is illegal in Japan), but this extravagant century-old brothel is a Tangible Cultural Property that has been turned into an actual restaurant open to…

1-6-18 Dōtonbori, Chuō-ku

Now a nationwide chain, but this is the original -- although there are three branches around Dotonbori alone! Easily identifiable by the giant mechanical crab waving its pincers about, and as you might guess, the speciality here is crab.

South of Tsutenkaku

Jan-Jan Yokocho is a famous shopping street along a narrow lane. There are still many establishments running in the same shops they built immediately after World War II. The entire area is squashed with small, cheap eating houses.

Osaka's most popular and largest (albeit still not very big) gay club. They hold special events on Fridays and Saturdays, some of which are men-only and occasionally women-only, so check their website to make sure that you will be able to…

1 minute walk from Subuway Dobutsuenmae station, 3 minutes walk from JR Shin-Imamiya station

Western and Japanese style rooms available. Rooms are simple, but clean. Traditional Japanese bath with communal showers and hot pool open to men and women during separate opening times in the morning and evening.

1-3-5 Taishi Nishinari-ku

Some Japanese people seem to use this place as a de facto apartment, which is a testament to the low price and convenience of the hotel. Each room contains a futon, a fan/heater or AC, and TV.

10-15 minutes walk from Tsuruhashi station· Free

Hiro's Guesthouse is in the heart of Koreatown in Osaka. It is a little far from the station, but in a nice, social neighbourhood. The open first floor of the guesthouse is very social and great to hang out and make friends at.

next to Shin-Imamiya stn

Located right next to Shinsekai, this large, arty hotel by the Hoshino Resort group is the first upscale hotel in the area and has been variously hailed and condemned as an example of gentrification.

in front of Dobustuen-mae JR subway entrance

Free internet available in the lobby and nice rooms with a clean futon, TV, & fridge. Friendly staff at reception with minimal English and beer vending machine.

3 minute walk from Fukushima Station on JR Loop.

A lively backpackers hostel in the central Osaka. There are three kinds of private rooms (twin, double and triple room). All staff members speak English and can help guests making travel plans.