Osaka Prefecture! Best Attractions and Things to do

Speaking of Osaka, Dotonbori, the downtown area of Osaka, is famous for its flashy neon signs. Osaka has a strong folk culture. This applies not only to Osaka City, but also to Osaka Prefecture as a whole. Would you like to fully enjoy Osaka? On this page, we would like to delve into the tourist information of Osaka Prefecture, which is not yet well known to foreign tourists.

Detailed information on famous sightseeing spots in Osaka city, highlights, and how to enjoy them are summarized on a separate page. Please see the link below.

 

The following is information on Osaka Prefecture other than Osaka City.

Outline of Osaka Prefecture

Osaka Prefecture is the center of western Japan. The population is about 8.8 million, which is the third largest population in Japan after Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture.

Osaka Prefecture is adjacent to Kyoto Prefecture and Nara Prefecture on the west side and faces the sea. For this reason, it has long developed as a city that complements Kyoto and Nara. It has played an important role, especially in terms of trade.

A major feature of Osaka is that it has long been home to many influential merchants and has developed as the center of the Japanese economy. In the latter half of the Edo period, Tokyo developed greatly and grew into a city surpassing Osaka. Today, Tokyo has become an overwhelming metropolis, but the people of Osaka have a strong rivalry with Tokyo. And the people of Osaka value the lifestyle and culture unique to Osaka.

Because of this historical and cultural background, if you go to Osaka, you can enjoy a slightly different culture from Tokyo. In the downtown area of Osaka, the unique culture remains strongly in the southern downtown areas such as Dotonbori. For more details, please refer to another article that introduces popular sightseeing spots in Osaka City in detail.

Osaka’s unique culture remains in towns other than Osaka City. By all means, please stop by the towns surrounding Osaka City.

There are several passes available for efficient travel in Osaka. >>Click here for details.

 

Kishiwada

Kishiwada City is located in the southern part of Osaka Prefecture. It is about 20 minutes by the Nankai Railway from Kansai Airport Station. I think that Osaka’s old life culture remains in Kishiwada. Why do not you drop in at Kishiwada if you arrive at Kansai Airport or return from Kansai Airport?

Kishiwada Danjiri Festival

Kishiwada is famous for “Kishiwada Danjiri Festival” held in mid September every year. People who live in Kishiwada for a long time care very much about this festival. In this festival, from long ago men draw huge “danjiri” and run through the town. They compete for their courage and unity in this festival.

If you are interested, please visit this festival in Kishiwada in September. At other times, you can see the real thing of “Danjiri” and the images of festivals at “Kishiwada Danjiri Kaikan (Hall)”.

I wrote about the festival of Kishiwada in an article introducing Japanese festival. If you do not mind, please drop in to the following article.

Kishiwada Castle

Kishida has a castle. The Japanese garden “Hachijin no Niwa” in this castle, which is said to be the symbol of Kishiwada, is a must-see. It is designated as a national scenic spot. It is also famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot.

At the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival, 15 danjiri enter the shrine inside the castle. The highlight of the festival is the “Yarimawashi”, which runs up the slope from Ote-monzeki and then makes a sharp right-angle turn. At the Kishiwada Danjiri Kaikan, which is adjacent to the castle, you can learn about the culture and history of the danjiri.

>>If you want to know the tour menu of Kishiwada, click here!

 

Expo ’70 Commemorative Park

Expo Memorial Park is a park built on the site of the 1970 Osaka Expo. The famous artist Taro Okamoto’s work “Tower of the Sun”, which became a hot topic at the time, remains as it was at the time. This work of art tower represents the past, present and future. Seeing this up close makes me feel something. Tours of the interior of the tower require advance reservations. Please make a reservation from the official website.

The park has a Japanese garden and hot spring facilities. Various events are also held. There is a complex facility “EXPOCITY” nearby, and there are many cafes and shops. It is a popular spot where you can enjoy various ways.

>>Please check the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park information on Trip Advisor!

 

Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

The Cup Noodle Museum in Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture, is a memorial hall built in the birthplace of instant ramen. The “Chicken Ramen Factory” where you can make your own chicken ramen from kneading flour by hand, and the experience corner where you can make your own original cup noodles are especially popular activities for children.

>>Please check the Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda information on Trip Advisor!

 

Hirakata Park

The most famous theme park in Osaka is Universal Studios Japan, but this page introduces Hirakata Park (nickname: Hirapa), one of the largest amusement parks in Osaka Prefecture, loved by Osaka residents for over 100 years. is. I like Hirakata Park more than USJ, and I repeat it many times.

At Hirakata Park, there are about 40 types of thrilling coasters and fun attractions that will soothe your soul. The rose garden in spring and autumn, the pool in summer, and skating and playing in the snow in winter make this a place of relaxation where you can enjoy a variety of activities.

From Osaka Station, it takes about 30 minutes by car (taxi) and about 50 minutes by train, but you need to change trains once.

>>Please check the Hirakata Park information on Trip Advisor!

 

 

Thank you for reading to the end.
If you want to check the tour menu and deals for the entire Osaka prefecture, click here.

 

 

Now, let’s plan to make your vacation in Japan the best experience ever!

 

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