Osaka Adventure Tours

The two most crowded centers of the city of Osaka are often called by their synonyms: Kita (north) and Minami (south). Kita is roughly the area including or surrounding the business and retail district of Umeda. On the other hand, Minami is home to the Namba, Shinsaibashi and Dōtonbori shopping districts. The entertainment area around Dōtonbori Bridge with its famous giant mechanical crab, Triangle Park and Amerikamura (“America Village”) is in Minami. The traditional business district, including the courts and regional headquarters of major banks, is primarily located in Yodoyabashi and Honmachi, between Kita and Minami. The newer business district is the OBP, Osaka Business Park, located in the neighborhood of Osaka Castle. Business districts have also formed around the city’s secondary rail termini, such as Tennoji Station and Kyobashi Station.

“The 808 bridges of Naniwa” was a famous expression for awe and wonder in old Japan, an almost proverbial adage which was known all across the land. “Naniwa” is the ancient name of Osaka and “808” is a large number that in Japan symbolizes the concept “uncountable.”

Museums and Galleries

• National Museum of Art, Osaka
• Osaka Prefectural Museum of Kamigata Comedy and Performing Arts
• Osaka Childrens’ Museum
• Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka. Founded in 1982. It houses 2,000 pieces of ceramics. It also features a natural-light gallery for its Korean celadon pottery.
• Osaka City Museum of Modern Art
• Osaka Municipal Museum of Art
• Osaka Museum of History
• Osaka Museum of Natural History
• Osaka Science Museum
• Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum
• Osaka International Peace Center (Peace Osaka)

Parks

• Nakanoshima Park: In the vicinity of the City Hall.
• Osaka Castle Park: About 106 ha. Holds: Osaka-jō Hall, a japanese apricot garden, etc.
• Sumiyoshi Park
• Tennōji Park : About 28 ha. Holds: Tennōji Zoo, an art museum (established by contribution from Sumitomo family in 1936) and a japanese garden, Keitaku-en. Keitaku-en was constructed in 1908 by Jihei Ogawa, a famous gardener in Japan. This was originally one of Sumitomo family’s gardens until 1921.
• Nishinari Park
• Utsubo Park
• Nagai Park The IAAF World Championships in Athletics are to be held in 2007 at Nagai Stadium, located in this park.
• Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Park: held a flower expo in 1990.

Temples, Shrines, and Other Historical Sites

• Mitami Shrine
• Osaka Castle
• Sanko Shrine
• Shitennō-ji The oldest buddhist temple in Japan, established in 593 AD by Prince Shōtoku.
• Sumiyoshi Taisha One of the oldest Shinto shrines; many people go and worship at this shrine on the new year day. It is said this shrine was built in 211 AD.
• Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine