This is a guest post from Caroline Secure Thoughts. She is originally from the US but is a long term expat and avid traveler. She has lived in various locations around the globe including spending a year teaching in Japan in 2014 which she loved. Caroline made sure to see as much of Japan as possible and also used it as a base to explore Asia further.
Although she currently has a day job, writing about her international experiences is her passion and she travels as much as time and budget will allow. Her ultimate goal is to travel full time and see more of the world.
 |
| Osaka Castle |
As the third-largest city in Japan, Osaka is
not a city that you can really see in a mere 48 hours—and once you get that
first taste of the city, you will quickly find yourself planning a return trip!
The city may be large, but it’s relatively easy to navigate, especially since
it is one of the first cities in Japan to offer free WiFi at
a citywide level—if you find yourself a bit lost, just connect to
the Internet and you’ll be able to figure it out! (Note that you may want to set
up a VPN to protect your personal information first, though.)
With only 48 hours in the city, you’ll likely
want to pick a couple themes that you’re interested in and see the best things
in those categories, or pick a mixture of activities from each category. Here
are the not-to-be-missed highlights:
Historical
Sights
It’s important to note that many of the
Osaka’s historical buildings were destroyed during World War II, but their
modern reconstructions are faithful to the original designs. Osaka
Castle is one of the city’s best-known sights, for good reason.
Although a reconstruction of the original structure and lacking in some of the
romantic charm of castles outside the city—such as Himeji—it is still an
impressive building which is especially picturesque during the cherry blossom
season.
Inside the castle is a museum with many
interesting artifacts, but if you’re especially interested in history, you may
be better off visiting the nearby Osaka
Museum of History, which has a far more comprehensive selection of
exhibits.
Religious
Sights
One great historical and religious site to
visit is Sumiyoshi Shrine. This is one of the oldest
Shinto shrines in Japan, and not only does it have some lovely traditional
architecture, but it also sits in a tranquil park which can be a great place to
escape the bustle of the city. You may also want to check out the Buddhist ShitennÅji Temple,
which originally dates back to the 6th century. Unfortunately, most
of the current buildings post-date World War II, but you’ll definitely still
get a feel for the place.
With
the Kids
If you’re travelling with kids, they may not
be totally interested in history museums or temples—but in that case, head to Kaiyukan
Aquarium. This is one of the largest public aquariums in the world,
and your kids will be thrilled to see fish, rays, sharks, and other aquatic
species from all over the world. For a more cultural activity, try the National
Bunraku Theatre, which holds traditional Bunraku puppet shows in the
afternoons.
See
the City from Above
There are two fantastic
places from which you can see the city spread out beneath you. Your first
option is to head to the gardens at the top of the nearly 60-story Umeda Sky
Tower. Your second option would be to take a spin around the Ferris Wheel in the Hep Five department store,
which will lift you to a height of 347 ft. Either provides a spectacular photo
opportunity—and they’re both especially magical at sunset, when you can watch
the lights coming on around the city!
 |
| Ferris Wheel in Hep Five, Osaka |
Get
Out
Of course, if you find Osaka isn’t your
thing, you have a couple options for side trips—try heading to nearby Kyoto for
a glimpse at a more traditional, less urban lifestyle. There, you’ll have plenty of options for sightseeing. Or see Himeji
Castle, which is often considered by tourists to be a more
spectacular castle than Osaka’s. Of course, any side trip will require time in
transit, so you’ll have to decide what you really want to do.
Regardless of your interests, you should have
no trouble finding plenty of things to do in Osaka during your time there.
Prepare to be dazzled by this interesting city, while still getting a feel for
its traditional and less-glitzy roots. After your first 48 hours there, you
will absolutely be excited to return in the near future!
For more of Caroline's adventures, check out her other article:
