Places We Love: Osaka
in our places we love series, we have some of our favorite places in Japan, including cities and towns, shops & restaurants, hotels and ryokans, hot springs and much more.
Osaka is a cosmopolitan city, near the ancient capital, Kyoto, best known for its dynamic food and drink culture and famous outgoing people.
Osaka skyscrapers at night
Osaka is Japan's second largest city, and on the surface might not as an off-the-beaten-path destination seem
But the truth is that -. despite two international airports having only 15 minutes by bullet train from Kyoto - skipped by English all too often it speaking travelers.
Why We Love Osaka
Despite the fact that so many travelers Osaka overlooked accidentally, it is an all time favorite among repeat visitors and connoisseurs Japan.
What makes Osaka so appealing?
There is a surprisingly attractive and dynamic city, with some of Japan's outgoing and fun-loving people, and a world-class dining and drinking culture.
The kitchen is what attracts many culinary travelers to Osaka. The people of Osaka are notorious for their obsession with food and drink, which has given rise to the local expression, Kuidaore ( "to eat, to ruin").
takoyaki ( "octopus balls") in Osaka
Osaka has towards a versatile culinary universe, with specialties from the casual favorites as street takoyaki (fried bite sized balls filled with octopus and other goodies) and okonomiyaki , to elegant facilities and Michelin-star restaurants.
Apart from its epicurean delights, it is the warmth and friendliness of Osaka people who are known in Japan for her sense of humor and enthusiasm. It is no surprise that many come from Japan comedians from Osaka, and the local baseball fans (the Hanshin Tigers team) are among the most fanatical and impetuous in the country
So while it is not as large as Tokyo. - Or culturally known than its neighbor Kyoto - Osaka but is one of our favorite cities in Japan
Great food, great people and a cosmopolitan city.? - What more could you
to us a deeper view of Osaka, we invited our friend Sam Crofts - resident carriers an Osaka and travel industry - to tell us more about what makes his adopted home Osaka such a special place [
Osaka Castle
Introduction Sam from cycle Osaka
Together with his wife, May, Sam is so excited Osaka that they have started not one, but two unique tour company designed to travelers a truly impressive experience in the city that they love and know so well (more on these unique experiences below ). to give
If you are a customer, chances are high that we at least one of them would recommend it if you're visiting Osaka - but even if you are not traveling with us, make sure to take them out to check
Without further! Ado, let us hear what Sam had to say about the city of Osaka.
Sam Crofts of cycle Osaka in Osaka Castle Park
What are some specific things that you love most about Osaka?
First, the diversity. The largest Korea Town in the country is here; the tallest building in the country is here; the oldest temple in the country is here. There is just so much in such a concentrated area.
Secondly, as real it is. What I mean is, do you say to Shitenno-ji Temple go, you have real monks and priests to got walk. In so many parts of Japan, the famous temple of tourists and school groups are inundated. I love that most parts of Osaka are non-places where real locals entertained, and you feel it when you were here only for a short time.
takoyaki barn in Osaka Dotonbori
Without your tours, which would be a perfect day in Osaka?
For a perfect day in Osaka I'd try to get a bit of everything, so I'd start at the Sumiyoshi Shrine in Osaka South. It is connected by one of the few remaining trams in Japan, because in the 1920s disappeared all trams and originated the subway, but there is a tram in Osaka leave that connects this sanctuary called to an area Tennoji.
I 'D for lunch to Tennoji and eat some KuShiKaTsu , which is fried pork and vegetables on a stick, and I would stop in at Tower knife, which is a knife exporter, and I would play with some of the hand-forged knives.
from there I would probably go to Osaka Castle, because you can not go to Osaka Castle not, and I would go for a run or bike ride. And from there, the head probably Umeda [district] for sushi.
Osaka Castle
I would end the day down in Namba. It is a very concentrated area of neon bars and restaurants everywhere in Tokyo, in my opinion, rivals, and there are many colorful characters. Finally, depending on your budget, always stay to retire to St. Regis or where.
Imagine in Osaka is your last day. You have time for one last meal. Where are you going?
This is literally an impossible question.
Oh man. Alright, I'm saying go - for the atmosphere - near my neighborhood, an area called Fukushima there is a yakiniku restaurant under the train tracks. I think I need would go. It's really old. There is no posh tables, each sitting on beer crates turned upside down, and the electric atmosphere. It's smoky - really strong smell of cigarette smoke and beer and cooking beef -. And I think I want my lasting memory of Osaka be
Namba District, Dotonbori (Photo Credit: Marufish over Compfight cc)
Perfect. To shift gears, what your favorite times of the year are to be in Osaka?
The fall and spring are just ridiculously beautiful. Osaka has this reputation in Japan, as they completely industrial working class nature of the city, but that's not could be further from the truth.
In the spring, in Sakuranomiya, the river bends around and covered with cherry blossoms. And the same in the fall: you will find parks with beautiful foliage and the weather perfect for cycling or walking around
Apart from the famous tourist places such as Universal Studios, the Kaiyukan Aquarium or even Osaka Castle. You have any tips for families with children?
Yes, actually there is a place for children Plaza Osaka called. I've never been, because I am 30 years old, but I have just had a baby so I could go soon. It is this Aladdin's cave of crazy activities for children to climb with ball pools and things and jump and have a wild time of fun and tired, while the parents sit and watch. I think this is the place to go.
Christina of Boutique Japan with Sam Crofts of cycle Osaka
So tell us your first company. Cycle Osaka, for someone who knows nothing about it
cycle Osaka is our way to bring the two things together that we love most. the city of Osaka and cycling
basically it is with much to see a flat city and to do, but we felt that - to say, unlike Kyoto or Tokyo -. there is not really that the infrastructure for English tourists
and I'm really worried that people to Osaka and miss all this will come amazing things, just below the surface, as they do not access and Osaka's hidden treasures to tourists not really promote, especially English-speaking tourists.
So we put it all together and cycle Osaka, and now every day we go with four or five people and made bicycle, and some small neighborhoods of, no one is listening to the check-out and we then check out the great sides, and we just have a really good day and eat a good meal.
Perfect.
It's really quite simple.
Osaka Castle
So how about your new company, Essen Osaka? How did it happen, what is it? - And what makes it different
Well, my wife and I, and her friend and her husband had drinks and dinner one night with, and talking about the fact that there is not really much for tourists and leisure guests to Osaka.
When I say that there is not much for tourists, I do not mean that infrastructure is, have places like Tokyo and Kyoto.
and we had all been together to Thailand recently and there had a great cooking class. So we thought, why not try a similar thing here, to try and give people a window into Osakan culture because in Osaka food and culture are so intertwined.
Sampling of street food price on Eat Osaka
One of the realities of travel in Japan that many people come from elsewhere Osaka on the way. For example, people from Tokyo to Hiroshima are, and they may stop for a night in Osaka.
So, our goal was to come up with a way to let people a really awesome press, read traveler Osaka in just one afternoon or evening. And we came up with food Osaka.
to do it right, we wanted to find a real old place, and get hold of some genuine handmade Japanese kitchen tools, to give people as authentic an experience as possible, and I think that's another thing, it differs from standard cooking classes in Japan, which are usually in people's homes.
makes our luck with a company, to be named Friends Tower knives that provide some of the best knife in the world to Osaka chefs. They helped an old Japanese house find, and we renovated us over the summer. It has sliding Shoji doors, handmade desks and doors and chairs, and it's just in a really cool place in an alley.
Bjorn at Tower knife supplied us with a number of large Osakan knife that can learn our customers, and also buy if they want. We then try one month different combinations of food and after many tastings with friends, settled on two different courses: a street-food course where you can learn Osakan festival food, how to make okonomiyaki yakitori and Udon; and another course "home cooking", people called a window, how people in Japan live, and to give the kind of food trying to eat as a family on a normal day. We are now going to make a special sushi decoration course.
The knife used in Osaka food, from the Tower Knives Osaka
I saw on your site, you can have a whole section dedicated to knives , Normally, you see things like "About Us", "Contact Us", so I was surprised to see a tab called "Our knives."
Yes, is not it? The knives are the real thing. If you come, you will love it. I'll give you a carrot, and just sit back and watch your face as you first cut it with a 100-yen knife and then with a real tool Osakan sliced, it's a thing of beauty. You can not hear it. It's just awesome.
It sounds amazing. Thank you, Sam!
You can find more unique about Sam and May Osaka tours learn from cycle Osaka visit and food Osaka.
Osaka
to Osaka First
If you are willing to visit, get to Osaka is easy!
by plane is Osaka served by two airports: Kansai International (KIX) and Osaka International (ITM). It is very easy to reach Osaka from a large number of destinations in Japan and around the world.
Within Japan, is the easiest way to get Osaka, is usually of shinkansen (high speed train).
Osaka just 27 miles (43 km) is the ancient capital, Kyoto. Various railway lines connect the two cities - including shinkansen (high speed train), a special fast Japan Railways (JR) Fast and the Hankyu and Keihan Railways -. It is a very easy drive to make
The shinkansen (bullet train)
Where to stay in Osaka
Osaka is full of great places to stay, including two of our favorites featured at bottom (from our article on Japan's best hotels).
The St. Regis Osaka
The St. Regis Osaka
The St. Regis Osaka offers perfect combination of comfort, style, friendly service and an amazing location.
The rooms are stylish and modern, with views of the city and the St. Regis also has a bar you'll actually want to hang in to, not a stunning outdoor Zen garden terrace with views of the city to mention
, the location could not be better. Fine Midosuji district roam is ideal, and easily (is where the famous Dotonbori eat street) within walking distance of young and trendy Shinsaibashi and Namba lively nightlife district.
Hotel T'POINT
If you are looking for a smaller boutique hotel with an artsy flair, we Hotel T'POINT .
Hotel T'POINT
constantly recommended, this evolving technology and design-hotel has 45 individually decorated designer rooms, large suites to small efficiency rooms.
T'POINT is not is a luxury hotel, but it is a good option for lovers of good design and is also in a convenient location, not far from the trendy Shinsaibashi and Namba living.
you see in Osaka!
We hope that this article has done its work, and has you eager to visit.
thanks again to Sam from Cycle Osaka and Osaka eating us for joining!
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