Welcome to Osaka!

PLACES OF INTEREST:
Osaka -City of Water, Osaka Castle, Kansai International Airport, Osaka -Shopping and Local Cuisine, Osaka - business center, and Osaka Municipal Museum of Art.

FESTIVALS IN OSAKA:Tenjin Matsuri (July 24) is one of the three biggest festivals in Japan attracting more than 500,000 people each year

Danjiri Matsuri (September 14) is nicknamed "the fighting festival" with parade floats competing with each other throughout the local streets

Located in the heart of Japan's Kansai region, Osaka is Japan's third-largest city after Tokyo and neighboring Yokohama, and has a population of 2.5 million residents. Some 1,400 years ago, Osaka began to emerge as an important center of trade in Japan as well as with its Asian neighbors. The city became prominent in the 4th century A.D. when the Emperors Ojin and Nintoku built palaces on what is now the site of Osaka Castle. Osaka became the official capital of Japan in the mid-7th century as a critical vehicle for foreign trade just at the time when Japan was first importing cultural traditions from China. During the Tokugawa period (1603-1868) Osaka emerged as Japan's mercantile capital and when the city incorporated in 1889, the population was already nearly a half-million. Home to a vibrant business community, a major port and Japan's second largest airport, Kansai International Airport, it has become one of Japan's most important commercial and industrial centers.

While Osaka is best known for its mercantile prowess, it has and continues to make a great contribution to the arts and culture of Japan. 'Bunraku' (Japanese puppet theatre) was born in Osaka and many of Japan's cultural geniuses came from this great city including the literary giants, Ihara Saikaku and Chikamatsu Monzaemon; as well as the famous 20th century filmmaker, Ozu.

CITY OF WATER
Because of its location on Osaka Bay, its navigable Yodo River and numerous canals, Osaka became known as the 'City of Water' and is often referred to as the Venice of Japan.

OSAKA CASTLE
Osaka Castle is Osaka's most popular tourist destination. Originally built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi in the late 16th century, it underwent its most recent renovation in 1931. It is an excellent example of Japan's feudal lifestyle and of great historical interest.

KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Built on reclaimed land in Osaka Bay, Kansai International Airport was Japan's first full-scale 24 hour airport. Opened in 1994, "Kanku" is, this year, celebrating its 10th anniversary boasting more than 19 million domestic and international passengers with 45 airlines from 32 countries and regions.

OSAKA- SHOPPING and LOCAL CUISINE
Osaka is famed for its shopping and fine restaurants. Two popular dishes to come out of Osaka include the tasty, 'okonomiyaki' which is a Japanese-style omlet and the infamous 'fugu' or pufferfish which is served raw but if not prepared correctly is poisonous.

OSAKA- BUSINESS
The international conglomerates Daiwa, Marubeni and Sumitomo all trace their roots to Osaka which today, is responsible for more than 25% of Japan's total GNP.

OSAKA MUNICIPAL MUSEUM OF ART
Osaka Municipal Museum of Art, located within verdant grounds in the center of the city, was once owned by Osaka's own, Sumitomo Corporation. Officially opened in 1936, this museum exhibits more than 8,000 works of traditional Chinese and Japanese art - many of which are designated as National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties.

JapanCorner 2005