Before, I did not know much about Osaka. However, when I walked around Osaka, gradually it become very interesting. At the geggining I just waked around Kita, Umeda (Osaka Station City) and Minami (Nanba, Shinsaibashi). Especially I like to walk around Osaka Station City as Osaka station is like a town, really wide, beautiful and there are lots of shops and restaurants.
Osaka is the second largest modern metropolitan in Japan and among the largest in the world with nearly 19 million inhabitants. Situated at the mouth of the Yodo liver on Osaka bay, Osaka is Japan's second largest city by the daytime population after the Tokyo, and serves as a major economic hub.
Central Osaka is roughly divided into downtown and uptown areas known as Kita (north) and Minami (south).
Kita is home to the Umeda district and its immediate surrounding neighborhoods, a major business and retail hub that plays host to Osaka Station City and a large subterranean network of shopping arcades.
MInami is well known districts, include Namba and Shinsaibashi, the Dotonbori canal entertainment area, as well as arts and fashion culture-oriented areas such as Americamura. The nearby business districts is Honmachi and Yodoyabashi. Honmachi is wholesale district. So you can buy various things at very cheap prive.
The city's west side is a prominent bay area which serves as its main port as well as a tourist destination with attractions such as Kyocera Dome, Universal Studios Japan and the Tempozan Harbour Village.
Osaka contains numerous urban canals and bridges, many of which serve as the namesake for their surrounding neighbourhoods. The phrase "808 bridges of Naniwa" was an expression in old Japan used to indicate impressiveness and the "uncountable". Osaka numbered roughly 200 bridges by the Edo period and 1629 bridges by 1925. As many of the city's canals were gradually filled in, the number dropped to 872, of which 760 are currently managed by Osaka City.
I just started to see architectures of Osaka.
There are many temples and Japanese gardens in Kyoto. You can see historical architectures.
In Osaka, there are also beautiful architectures to see. There are historical buildings too, but all those buildings were built about 100 years ago.
You can see, maybe first modern buildings in Japan. Before in Japan there were only wooden buildings.
So modern buildings made by bricks are after Meiji period. By this meaning, those building are very important which need to conservation.
In Nakanoshima, there is a Naniwabashi station(keihan line), which was designed Tadao Ando, world famous architect. This subway station is different from any other subway stations. This is simple shape and beautiful.
Near this station, there is a Cyuo-Kokaido, which was built more than 100 years ago. This design is Europian style.
When I saw this building, it reminds me the building of the Chelsea college where I studied in London.
This building was designed by Japanese architect. I can imagine how he or engineering people studied hard and built it.
Inside the building, there is a beautiful hall which was also designed 100 year ago and really beautiful. In the past, Helen Keller and Gagarin talked at this hall. Around this area there are around 10 historical buildings.
It is amazing there are such historical buildings still remain in Osaka.
It is comfortable to walk around to see there reiver, buildings and bridges and beautiful trees and flowers in Spring. At night buildings and station, river side restaurants are all lighted up.
If you want to feel more OSAKA atmosphere, go to Shinsekai.
There is a symbol tower of Osaka, Tutenkaku and from station to Tustenaku, you can enjoy walking
viewing some interesting advertisement of Osaka style. Some of my foreign friends say, "It is crazy". Maybe it mean very different, in a funny way.
Please explore Osaka if you come to West area! Food is especially very nice and cheap. People are very friendly and talkative, humorous!
