Osaka's Bayside Playground
Waterfront Fun for the Whole Family in Japan’s Second City
Everyone will enjoy a day sightseeing in Osaka's Bay Area. You can watch undersea life, go shopping or sailing, see fine art and sunsets, or even get into movies.
Japan's second city is a great place to visit, and the Bay Area is a must-see. It's easily accessed by clean, frequent train services, and has a wide range of attractions and places to eat. Whether you're an art-lover, a movie buff, a natural history fanatic or just want somewhere to stroll, shop and eat, you'll find something to enjoy.
The Japan National Tourist Office keeps a constantly updated site with transport details, maps and opening times.
Malls and Amusements
A palm-tree-lined sidewalk leads to the Asia Pacific Trade Centre, where the largest outlet mall in Japan fights for attention with shops, restaurants and amusements. If you get tired of spending, head for the 256-meter-high WTC Cosmo Tower. The glass viewing gallery provides a breathtaking 360-degree view of Osaka and its surroundings.
More stunning views can be found on Mount Tempozan, a popular place to watch the sunset or just enjoy the view from the world's biggest ferris wheel, over 112 meters high and 100 meters in diameter. The fifteen-minute rotation offers views of distant bridges, straits, mountains and the new Kansai International Airport.
The wheel also provides spectacular local weather forecasts, lighting up in different colours: orange means sunshine next day, green means clouds, and blue warns you to carry an umbrella!
Entertainment and Seaside Fun
Tempozan Harbour Village offers street performers, entertainment and food. Its World Performance Festival, held every summer, attracts huge crowds to watch live acts from all over the world.
Take an hour's trip around the Bay in a reproduction of the Santa Maria, one of Columbus' ships. Night cruises to enjoy the lights of Osaka are also available, and you can have dinner - or even a wedding reception - on board. If you have more time you can cruise to nearby Shikoku and Shodoshima Islands on a more modern ship.
If you'd prefer to take a look underwater, the Kaiyukan aquarium has the world's largest-volume tank, holding a massive 11,000 tons of water. The Kaiyukan specialises in the sea life of the Ring of Fire, or pan-Pacific volcanic zone, circling the world from Antarctica and the Aleutian Islands to the Tasman Sea.
It's home to almost 40,000 sea creatures, representing nearly 600 species from playful otters and penguins to huge manta rays and whale sharks. Watching them glide gracefully through the water is a Zen experience, guaranteed to help anyone unwind. The Museum website has up-to-date English language information
Fine Art and Culture
Artlovers can head for the Suntory Museum, a multicultural facility built to celebrate the 90th anniversary of local firm Suntory. Its gallery shows 15,000 works by artists including Toulouse-Lautrec, Galle, Laurencin and Mucha. It has an IMAX theatre, plus shops and restaurants. The building itself is a work of art, designed by superstar architect Tadao Ando, and runs on solar power.
Hollywood Movies and International Brands
On the other side of the river, a huge 54-hectare lot is home to Universal Studios Japan. You can cross the bay from the Kaiyukan by high-speed ferry, or use the nearby station. In the park you can meet Spiderman, Snoopy and other Hollywood and cartoon characters, plus Japan's Hello Kitty. See shows like new attraction "Fantastic World - A Musical Fantasy", watch parades and experience white-knuckle rides.
Universal Citywalk has three floors of restaurants, cafes and shops galore, from Western names like Hard Rock Café and Claire's Accessories to traditional Japanese convenience stores. There's even a Nostalgia Museum store for those who want to take home a tinplate robot or Buddha ashtray.
Osaka has much to offer the whole family. Enjoy!
