Located in the west of Honshu, Osaka offers many sights and is worth a visit. It is the third largest city in Japan, and is known to be a friendly, easygoing city. Though there are relatively few historical sights, the nigthlife is extensive and it is an excellent place for shopping. The variety and quality of restaurants is perhaps the best in the country, and this had given Osaka the name "Kitchen of Japan".

Main Attractions in Osaka
Osaka Castle, which is a famous landmark, a popular sightseeing spot, and the symbol of Osaka, contains thirteen structures which have been designated as Important Cultural Assets by the Japanese government. Dotombori is a symbol of the Minami Area and a mecca for the kuidaore food culture of Osaka. Dozens of restaurants line the Dotomborigawa River, and large famous billboards draw diners’attention. The Osaka Aquarium ”Kaiyukan,” is one of the largest aquariums in the world. Consisting of 15 water tanks centered on a single huge tank holding 5,400 tons of water, it is home to 580 species and 30,000 marine animals from the Pacific Rim; everything from strangely delightful jellyfish, to playfully chortling sea otters, to dolphins, penguins, and even a pair of majestic giant whale sharks, the largest fish on earth. Osaka’s most famous shrine by far is Sumiyoshitaisha (Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine), the headquarters of some 2000 Sumiyoshi shrines throughout Japan.

Travel Tips in Osaka
The main international gateway to Osaka is Kansai International Airport and Osaka International Airport, more commonly called Itami Airport. Itami is connected to the Osaka Monorail, but the monorail is expensive and traces an arc around the northern suburbs, so to get to the centre of the city you will need to transfer to a suburban Hankyu railway line. A more convenient option for most are the Airport Limousine Buses, which run frequently from Itami to various locations within Osaka and elsewhere in the region (including Kansai Airport).