Osaka Key Attractions
Osaka Castle stands tall on the Uemachi Daichi Plateau, the oldest inhabited place in Osaka. The castle and the walls around it form a massive structure. Indeed, with its tall walls (close to 30m/98ft) and wide moats, Osaka Castle is arguably one of Japan's most imposing castles. There are eight roof dolphins as well as ornamental roof tiles and tiger-shaped reliefs, which are all gilded with gold. The parkland by the castle is very pleasant.
1-1 OsakaJo, Chuo-ku
Tel: (06) 6941 3044.
Website: www.tourism.city.osaka.jp/en/castle
Admission charge (castle), grounds free.
Osaka Museum of History
This excellent museum is located just outside Osaka Castle Park. Each of the floors represents a different period in Osaka's history, except for the top floor, where the inside of the Naniwanomiya Palace has been recreated. Osaka's 1,400-year history comes to life thanks to the creative layout and displays at this museum.
4-1-30 Otemae, Chuo-ku
Tel: (06) 6946 5728.
Website: www.mus-his.city.osaka.jp
Admission charge.
Osaka Aquarium ‘Kaiyukan'
The Kaiyukan is one of the largest aquariums in the world. A complex of 15 water tanks centred 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. The biggest tank even holds a giant whale shark, the world's largest fish. This is an amazing aquarium that will fascinate both adults and children.
1-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato-ku
Tel: (06) 6576 5501.
Website: www.kaiyukan.com/eng/index.htm
Admission charge.
The Floating Garden Observatory
The observation platform of this observatory connects the two towers of the Umeda Sky Building some 173m (567ft) above ground level. The views of the city are fantastic. In bad weather, the open-air top floor is closed, but the views from one floor below are still great. The most scary bit is the escalator up the last five floors. It crosses over from one tower to the other, giving a strange sensation of moving into open air.
1-1-88 Oyodo-naka, Kita-ku
Tel: (06) 6440 3855.
Website: www.skybldg.co.jp
Admission charge.
Osaka Science Museum
Opened in 1989, the Osaka Science Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of science by focusing on what we know about the universe and the energy within it. Here you can learn about electricity, the size of the planets and your own reflexes. The museum's planetarium is able to project 28,000 stars on one of the world's largest dome screens (with a diameter of 26.5m/87ft).
4-2-1 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku
Tel: (06) 6444 5656.
Website: www.sci-museum.kita.osaka.jp
Admission charge.
Osaka Attractions
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