Page 206 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

204  JAP AN REGION B Y REGION

9 Osaka P Osaka Museum of History
Osaka 1-32 Otemae 4-Chome, Chuo-ku.
Tel (06) 6946-5728.  Tanimachi-
Osaka’s prominence as a merchant city dates from Yon-Chome stn, Chuo or Tanimachi
Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s building of Osaka Castle in 1586. lines. Open 9:30am–5pm Wed–
Mon (last adm: 4:30pm). &
He also encouraged traders from other parts of Japan ∑ mus-his.city.osaka.jp
to settle in the city. In the 1920s and 1930s it became This modern museum uses
an industrial powerhouse. Nowadays, though, the life-size reconstructions,
nondescript skyline is being replaced with galleries, miniature models, and video
international hotels, futuristic living spaces, and exciting presentations to bring alive the
postmodernist architecture. The city’s extra vagant history of Osaka from ancient
nightlife and culinary predilections are famous. times to the modern day. Its
most notable exhibits are
A Japanese saying, “Kyoto kidaore; Osaka kuidaore,” objects excavated from the
suggests that Kyoto-ites are apt to go bankrupt from 7th-century Naniwa Palace.
buying kimonos, Osakans from eating out too much. On the 10th floor there is a
model of the Daikokuden,
Exploring Osaka the main building of the
Central Osaka is split into two palace, including replicas of
main districts, which meet at the vermillion-painted pillars.
Chuo-odori. Kita-ku, the The present-day museum
northern ward around the is built partly on the site of
main Osaka and Umeda the Naniwa Palace. Excavations
stations, is where many of the in the museum basement
city’s big hotels, restaurants, and on the adjacent
and under ground shopping archaeological site reveal
precincts are found. It also the remains of warehouses
includes the small island of and palace walls.
Nakanoshima, between the Other floors explore the
Dojima and Tosabori rivers. “Water City” of the Edo Period
Minami, the southern district, and a panorama of Osaka in
includes the lively downtown modern times. There are good
area called Namba, the core of views of Osaka Castle from
the old merchant city where various points in the museum.
you will find Osaka’s best The brightly lit Dotonbori canal Of special interest to children
eating and drinking options, district in Osaka is the Resource Center on the
including Dotonbori. This lane, eighth floor. Kids can complete
running alongside the canal of in compari son with other a jigsaw puzzle using ancient
the same name and crammed major Japanese cities. The pottery pieces or play with
with karaoke bars, brothels, city center is served by a user- Banraku puppets.
and pachinko parlors (see p101), friendly loop system called the
is also a mecca of cheap JR Kanjo Line. Its color-coded E Osaka Castle
restaurants and bars. Namba’s subway system is also easy to 1-1 Osakajo Chuo-ku. Tel (06) 6941-
many pedestrian shopping ride. Visitors who intend to 3044. £ Osakajo-koen stn, JR Kanjo
zones include America Mura cover a lot of sightseeing in line.  Tanimachi-Yonchome stn,
and Europe-dori, with their a limited period will benefit Chuo or Tanimachi lines. Open
imported goods, both north from buying a one-day pass 9am–5pm daily (last adm: 4:30pm).
of, and parallel to, Dotonbori, (ichi nichi joshaken) that offers & ∑ osakacastle.net/english
and Den Den Town, Osaka’s a day’s unlimited travel on The present reconstruction
premier electronics district subways, trams, and local of the main donjon, dating
which is south of train lines. from 1931, is smaller than the
Sennichimae-dori.
Chuo-ku, the old
central ward and
historic center of the
city is to the east; this
is where Osaka Castle
stands. Osaka Port is
west of the city center.
Plenty of information
and signs in English
make Osaka a rela tively
easy place to negotiate Sweeping view of downtown Osaka
For hotels and restaurants see pp304–5 and pp331–3

204-205_EW_Japan.indd 204 08/08/16 2:54 pm