Let’s go to Osaka

Osaka is the second city of Japan. Not only it is the second city in its size, 17 million inhabitants, but also regarding its importance to the Japanese economy.

Tokyo is the official capital, but Osaka has something special, that sets it apart from all the rest of the country. Osaka has developed itself as an alternative culture capital.

Osaka is an ancient city to Japan and it was once its capital more than 1,000 years ago. Its importance derives partly from that time and partly from its own achievements in culture, art and industry. Osaka is a hub for the country regarding all aspects.

The best way of visiting the real Osaka is buying a subway ticket with unlimited travels. The subways covers the whole city and with an unlimited pass, you can just let yourself go.

As in many Japanese cities, there is a castle. The best views over Osaka are from this castle. The Osaka Castle has been converted into a museum, you can see original samurai’s swords in it that have seen combat and detailed weaponry used across the centuries by Japanese warriors.

The Osaka Science Museum is also a unique place to visit. You can spend days and days within it and won’t have seen everything. From miniatures to whole planes, in this museum, you’ll find anything that has been invented or improved by Japanese engineers and technicians along the years. It has a planetarium and a 3d cinema. It is a appropriate visit for young and old. Both children with a grasp of science and grown-ups will find entertaining activities in it.

Due to its old age, Osaka also has one of the oldest Shinto shrines. It has a known history of more than 1,800 years. It is embedded in a park and even if you don’t practice the Shinto faith, you are welcome at this place and you will be able to appreciate the inner piece that this sites transmits.

Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum is not so big or famous as the both alternatives above, but it has its charm. It will show you how it was invented, how it can be developed and you will have the chance of even letting them manufacture your favorite noodle according to your specifications.

What to expect from traveling to Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital of Japan and its biggest city. With over 12 million inhabitants, Tokyo is also one of the most populated cities in the world.

Despite its huge size metropolitan character, Tokyo can also be a quiet place with its many carefully cared gardens outside the vibrant central Tokyo.

Tokyo is the symbiosis between new and old. In Tokyo you can find the last high-tech developments combined with the oldest Japanese traditions. You can see a huge high-fidelity screen flashing ads in a main street, turn the corner and find a century old tea house. Japanese life turns around these two central pivots.

You might be surprised, but Tokyo is only 400 years old. It was a fisher’s village, named Edo, that was turned into a capital. It is since then, the center of business, culture and government.

If you are visiting Tokyo for the first time, you won’t find your way round in less than some months. It is terribly difficult for foreigners, especially those who don’t speak Japanese, to navigate this city. Happily, many Japanese, specially the younger generations, speak English and are eager to practice with any foreigner who might need directions. Always carry the name of the destination with you, written in Japanese and show it, to a better understanding.

What should you visit as a tourist?

A place that you can miss is central Tokyo, the centre not only of the city but of the whole country. It is the place of the Imperial Palace and of the electronics Mecca of Akihabara. In central Tokyo, you’ll find all the nightclubs and luxury hotels. Futuristic skyscrapers and giant camera stores. You’ll find the shopping district and one of the biggest train hubs in the world. Everything is connected through an excellent subway system.

A second focus of attention in Tokyo is Old Tokyo (Shitamachi in Japanese). This is the mirror image of central Tokyo. Going into this neighbourhood is like travelling into another country or another time. It is the counterpoint of the vibrant life of central Tokyo and the centre of traditional Japanese life. In it you’ll find Zen gardens, sumo rings, temples and many museums. It is surrounded by the woodlands and there are many parks encrusted within it.

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