| Page Views: 3,536 Last Visit to Osaka: July, 2005 | Osaka - my home for three and a half years by mikegr - last update: Apr 11, 2006 |
Dear God! - was I really there that long???? Osaka may not be the prettiest city in the world, but it's a lively and exciting place, with fantastic connections to some of the most historic cities in Japan. And if you want to get away from it all, with just a short train or bus ride, you can do that too! |
| Monk under cherry blossom - Osaka Castle |
That's not to say that Osaka is devoid of interest to travellers. Check out the impressive (from the outside!) reconstructed Osaka Castle and the Aquarium in particular, but don't overlook the appeal of getting lost in the many back streets just off the main roads, especially around the Namba area. When it all gets too much for you, head for Spa World and allow your stresses to be soaked away. A night out in Osaka is another opportunity not to be missed. The Pig And Whistle is often mentioned in guide books, but you will have lots more fun wandering into random bars. Many of them are above street level in buildings containing loads of tiny drinking spots. This is a great way to meet the locals, who are usually very friendly and who usually expect foreigners to go to tourist traps like The Pig and Whistle. Every now and then you stumble on a real gem of a place (incidentally The Pig and Whistle in Kyoto is much better than its Osakan counterpart!). |
Around Osaka There are also some beautiful places to visit just outside of the city. Minoo is a suburb of Osaka just half an hour from Umeda which offers pleasant woodland, an impressive waterfall, monkeys (sometimes a bit reclusive!), hiking opportunities and a relaxing spa. When the city gets too much for you, this is the place to head to! |
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| Pros: | "Exciting atmosphere" | | Cons: | "Lack of open spaces and greenery in the city" | | In A Nutshell: | "An exciting city with easy connections to more attractive destinations in Kansai" |
mikegr's Osaka Travel Tips
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Comments for mikegr about Osaka | | | | |
el_ruso Mon Nov 20, 2006 08:03 UTC Wonderful photos. You must have a really good camera to take those shots of the dolphins :) Hope you will add more photos and narrative in the future. | Martman Fri Aug 18, 2006 21:54 UTC I am open to correction, but believe Osaka is the only place in the world with a Whale Shark in captivity! Must be one huge tank! | Nichola1 Mon Jul 11, 2005 21:30 UTC I'm so sorry I couldn't make it to your sayonara party. It looks like you had a cool time anyway. Good luck and gambatte on your trip and keep safe! NO MORE MITSUAKI!!!!!!! | canadiantravelgirl Sat Jan 8, 2005 05:32 UTC Cool page with lots of great tips and pics!! A ride on the Tempozan Ferris Wheel sounds particularly appealing but I think I will pass on a dip in the water under the bridge haha!!! |
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