"Osaka - my home for three and a half... " a Osaka Travel Page by mikegr

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!

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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!).

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Towards Minoo Falls

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!