Osaka

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a samurai who was also the monarch of Japan at the time, completed building on Osaka Castle in the year 1586 as a symbol of his accomplishment of uniting the country under his rule. Due to the labor of over one hundred thousand people each year, the enormous castle was finished in only three years’ time.

After decades of civil unrest, the castle eventually came to serve as the epicenter of the newly unified Japan that was ruled by the Toyotomi. Gold leaf and other embellishments were applied to the exterior of the main tower, which had a height of five floors, in order to wow visitors and deter potential assailants. The castle was embellished with eight enormous fusetora (golden tiger) embellishments and golden shachi for the purpose of enhancing its resistance to fire (a legendary creature with the head of a tiger and the body of a carp).

The current main tower of Osaka Castle was constructed in 1931; however, it is really a concrete reproduction of the building that was originally built in the 17th century. This castle, which was constructed in the 16th century, was at the time the largest and most spectacular structure of its kind throughout all of Japan. As a result of its stunning cherry blossoms and breath-taking views of the city, it has become a well-known destination for tourists during the spring season. There are thirteen structures on the grounds of the castle, which take up around 60,000 square meters (15 acres), that have been designated as important cultural resources of Japan. The grounds of the castle are known as the Nijo Castle.

Yunibsaru Sutajio Japan is the name given to the theme park that is housed within Universal Studios Japan. This park can be found in Osaka. When it debuted on March 31, 2001, it was the first Universal Studios theme park to operate in a country that was not the United States of America. The park is owned and managed by USJ LLC, which is a subsidiary of NBCUniversal that holds 100% of the company’s shares. The structure of the park is relatively comparable to that of Universal Studios Florida, and it has a mixture of rides and shows from Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood, in addition to a few attractions that are unique to this particular site.

In its first year of operation, the park welcomed a record-breaking 11 million guests, making it the first theme park in the history of the world to draw 10 million guests in a single year. As of 2019, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea are the two most popular theme parks in Japan, while Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is the third most popular theme park in Japan.

Osaka Universal Planning Inc. was established in December 1992 in the Minato-ku neighborhood of Osaka with the primary objective of doing research and making plans for the development and construction of a sizable theme park in Japan. In February of 1996, the Japanese firm Universal Studios and the American corporation MCA Inc. inked a master agreement for the building of the Universal Studios Japan theme park. USJ Co., Ltd. is the new name for what was once known as Osaka Universal Planning Inc.

The Kaiyukan, located in Osaka, Japan, is one of the largest aquariums in the world. It is located in Osaka, in the Minato area near the port. It debuted in 1990 and currently holds over 620 species of fish, plants, and other aquatic life in its over 11,000 tons of water.

The primary theme of the aquarium is the “Ring of Life” or the “Ring of Fire,” which is represented in the arrangement of the facility’s over 15 distinct pools. From the Japanese woodlands to the Antarctic to the Pacific Ocean at the aquarium’s center, which is represented by a series of pools named after different places on the Pacific Ring of Fire, visitors may travel through themed worlds. For instance, the largest fish on the globe, the whale shark, may be found in the latter.

In addition to these permanent displays, the Kaiyukan features other interactive attractions where visitors may get up up and personal with various animal species, even caressing and feeding them. The aquarium’s gift shop is conveniently located in Tempozan Harbor Village, a big shopping and entertainment complex.

Introduction to Whale Sharks
As you travel the elevator from the eighth to the fourth floor, you may observe these gentle giants swimming with other aquatic life in their massive tank. The cylindrical tank at the Kaiyukan is one of the largest artificial settings for whale sharks, allowing you to watch them from every angle.

Explore the Whale Shark in Our Interactive Aquariums!
In the Maldives part of the Osaka Kaiyukan, you may get up up and personal with stunning shark and ray species. Examine the difference between the skin of the shark and that of the ray. Do you possess the courage to attempt to pet one of these wonderful creatures?

An aquarium that is accessible at night
Discover a new cosmos of aquatic life and romance at the enigmatic night aquarium. The aquarium takes on a strange appearance once the lights are turned down at 5 p.m. and remain off until closing time, when the animals begin to display evening behavior and finally go to sleep. Enjoy the peacefulness of their slumberous universe.

Tempozan
Other attractions, including Legoland Discovery Center Osaka, the Tempozan Marketplace, and the Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho restaurant, are located in the nearby Tempozan Harbor Village, just outside Kaiyukan. Then, ride the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel, one of the world’s largest Ferris wheels, for 15 minutes.

Dotonbori, the lively entertainment area of Osaka, is a popular tourist destination due to its plethora of restaurants and pubs, as well as its flashy neon signs and other types of advertising.

“Dotonbori” is also often used to refer to the street that runs along the canal’s southern bank, in addition to the canal with the same name. It is a must-see for tourists in the Kansai region, since it is one of Osaka’s most active districts.

Dotonbori: A Retrospective
In 1612, an entrepreneurial merchant called Yasui Doton invested his whole life earnings in a big scheme for the region’s expansion. Doton intended to redirect and enlarge the Umezu River into a new waterway that would connect the area’s existing network of canals to the Kizugawa River. Doton’s work on the project was tragically terminated in 1615, when he was killed during the Siege of Osaka. Doton’s cousins completed the canal later that year; in his honor, it was named Doton Canal (or Dotonbori).

The sector on the southern bank of the canal developed as an entertainment district beginning in 1626, due to the flood of theatrical companies and playhouses drawn by the newly constructed canal. Concurrently, shops on the northern canal bank that provided refreshments and entertainment to theatergoers after the performances grew.

It was established in 593 with the goal of saving people’s souls and bringing peace to the world. An official government body has never before supervised or financially supported a Buddhist temple before. Moreover, it represents one of the earliest periods of architectural development in Japan. However, many buildings have been demolished as a result of the area’s chronic instability. The modern structures are exact copies of the ancient temple. The Gokuraku Jodo no Niwa, also known as the “Pure Land Garden,” and the temple’s archives, which date back to the temple’s inception, hold many national treasures and Important Cultural Properties. The 21st (Daishi-e) and 22nd (Shinto) each have their own temple celebrations (Taishi-e). On these days, people go not just to churches but also to antique shops and flea markets.

The 21st of every month is Daishi-e, a temple festival in honor of Kobo Daishi. The 22nd of every month is set aside for Daishi-e, the temple festival held at Shotoku Taishi. March 18th to March 24th is the vernal equinox. Parties and celebrations are held on the vernal equinox (the first day of spring), as well as the three days before and following it. For the duration of this time period, the halls inside the Shitennoji Temple grounds will serve as the site of memorial rites honoring the deceased. Booths will be spread out widely across the convention center.

The Sumiyoshi-taisha is a Shinto shrine in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Even though there are more Sumiyoshi shrines in Japan, this one is considered to be the most significant. The oldest temple devoted to the three Sumiyoshi gods is located in Hakata, and it is known as the Sumiyoshi Shrine.

The neighborhood residents call it either Sumiyoshi-san or Sumiyossan, and on the first day of the new year, many people go to the shrine to take part in the hatsumde rite.

The Sumiyoshi taisha is a shrine that honors the goddesses Okinagatarashi-hime no Mikoto (also known as Empress Jingu), as well as the Sumiyoshi sanjin (Sokotsutsu no Ono-mikoto, Nakatsutsu no Ono-mikoto, and Uwatsutsu no Ono-mikoto; together, the “Sumiyoshi kami”).

The temple had won the approval of the Imperial government by the early Heian period. In the year 965, Emperor Murakami issued an edict that required the sending of imperial messengers in order to maintain communication with Japan’s watchful kami. During the initial presentation of these heihaku to the sixteen different temples, Sumiyoshi was one of the temples to receive one.

The official Shinto temple for the region of Settsu may be found at Sumiyoshi (ichinomiya).

You have not yet uncovered the majority of the Umeda Sky Building’s buried treasures and unique nooks and crannies, but there are plenty.
The Umeda Sky Building is more than just a structure or observatory; during a guided tour, you will be shown throughout the whole building, including sections that members of the general public are not permitted to enter.
An experience not to be forgotten on a vacation with the family, a school field trip, or a work-related excursion.
Based on the reason you have given for visiting, the attendant will craft a unique schedule just for you to follow throughout your stay.

(We will offer you with an attendant as well as an audio tour in the foreign language of your choice (English, Chinese, or Korean))

The machine room known as “MACHINE ZOO” is the source of electrical and thermal energy for the entirety of Shin-Umeda City, including the Umeda Sky Building. This includes both the building’s heating and cooling systems.
As the name indicates, each machine is given the name of a different dinosaur or prehistoric species.
The dark and dreary machine room has been warmed up by the addition of vibrant drawings of flora and life-size creatures that have been placed on the walls and pillars. At the Umeda Sky Building, you’ll get a taste of something quite different.