Page 208 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

206  JAP AN REGION B Y REGION

Exploring Osaka

Today, Osaka is Japan’s third largest city after Tokyo and
Yokohama. It also joins Tokyo and Kyoto as the top three
culinary centers of Japan, with a local cuisine known for
its practicality rather than finesse – instant noodles were
invented here in 1958. Working Osakans eat out about
six times a week. Favorite local dishes include oshizushi,
in which sushi is placed in wooden molds and sliced; Crab restaurant and motif in
udon suki, thick noo dles and meat in a rich broth downtown Osaka
served in a ceramic stew pot; and okonimiyaki, a batter  Spa World
and cabbage pancake-type dish in which you choose 3-4-24 Ebisuhigashi Naniwa-ku.
ingredients such as seafood or pork. £ Shin-imamiya stn, JR Kanjo and
Nankai lines.  Dobutsuenmae stn,
F National Bunraku Midosuji line. Tel (06) 6631-0001.
Theater Open 10am–8:45am (open almost all
1-12-10 Nippon-bashi Chuo-ku. day). & ∑ spaworld.co.jp/english
£ Nipponbashi stn, Kintetsu Built to cater for up to 5,000
line.  Nipponbashi stn, people at any time, Spa World
Sennichi-mae & Sakaisuji lines. offers an amazing bathing
Tel (06) 6212-2531. experience. Piping hot water
∑ ntj.jac.go.jp
comes from springs almost
Japan’s main venue for 900 m (3,000 ft) underground.
Bunraku puppet dramas The main part of the complex is
(see p41) can be spotted divided into zones represent ing
from the colorful banners bathing customs of various
hanging outside the thea ter. countries around the world.
Bunraku shows take place The Chinese section focuses
every January, April, June, on traditional Chinese medi cine,
July, August, and November, while the Turkish section has
programs normally running mosaic-tile flooring.
for about 20 days at a time.
The acoustics in this E Japan Folk Art Museum
specially designed theater 3-7-6 Nambanaka Naniwa-ku.
are excellent; headsets are £ Namba stn, Nankai and Kintetsu
Osaka’s Umeda Sky Building, topped available for foreign tourists, lines.  Namba stn, Midosuji line.
by the Floating Garden Observatory with English translations for @ Nihon-teien-mae. Tel (06) 6641-
some performances. 6309. Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun
J Floating Garden (last adm: 4:30pm). &
Observatory  Universal Studios Japan This museum has an
1-1-88 Oyodonaka Kita-ku, Umeda Sky 2-1-33 Sakurajima Konohana-ku. outstanding collec tion of
Bldg. £ JR Osaka stn, JR Kanjo line. £ Universal Studio City stn, traditional folk arts and
 Umeda stn, Midosuji line. JR Yumesaki line. Tel (06) crafts, one of the best
Open 10am–10:30pm daily (last 6465-3000. Open daily. of its type in Japan. It
adm: 10pm). ∑ kuchu-teien.com & (for individual rides and offers a superb intro-
This futuristic structure, reached activities). ∑ usj.co.jp/e duction to regional
by taking an exposed glass This theme park aims to handicrafts centering on
escalator to the 39th floor, is attract people of all ages textiles and fabrics,
not for those who suffer from and is fast becoming a Ceramic bowl, Folk ceramic ware, bam-
vertigo or fear of being caught major landmark of Art Museum boo, toys, and more.
in high places in earthquake- Osaka. There are eight
prone regions. themed areas, as well as live  Shitenno-ji Temple
The observatory, 173 m entertainment throughout the 1-11-18 Shitennoji Tennoji-ku.
(576 ft) above ground, straddles site. Among the attractions are  Shitenno-ji stn, Tanimachi line.
the twin towers of Hara Hiroshi’s the Hollywood Premiere Parade, Tel (06) 6771-0066. Open daily. &
Umeda Sky Building. Views Hollywood Magic, and, in the Prince Shotoku ordered the
of Osaka from the top are “New York” area, a St. Patrick’s Day construction of the original
incredible. High-tech dis plays Celebration. The latest popular temple here in 593. The com-
and a virtual-reality game addition is The Wizarding World plex is considered the birth-
center also occupy the obser- of Harry Potter, which features a place of Japanese Buddhism.
vatory, but neither can really state-of-the-art Harry Potter and Destroyed many times by fire,
compete with the panoramas. the Forbidden Journey ride. the current concrete buildings
For hotels and restaurants see pp304–5 and pp331–3

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