PRESS KIT OSAKA Downtown Japan OSAKA CONVENTION & TOURISM BUREAU OSAKA Tokyo PRESS CONTACTS Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau (Ms.) Aria AOYAMA:
[email protected] GENERAL ENQUIRIES:
[email protected] TEL: 06-6282-5914 (From overseas: +81-6-6282-5914) FAX: 06-6282-5915 (From overseas: +81-6-6282-5915) ADDRESS: 5F Resona Semba Bldg. 4-4-21, Minamisemba, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0081, Japan CONTENTS INTRODUCTION SPORTS & LEISURE 4 Osaka: The Downtown of Japan 26 Outdoor Pursuits THE PEOPLE OSAKA WITH KIDS 6 Defining the Osaka Spirit 28 Family-friendly Entertainment FACT SHEET SPIRITUAL OSAKA 8 Osaka Facts at a Glance 30 Osaka’s Temples & Shrines KANSAI AREA MAP MONOZUKURI 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites 32 Made in Osaka GASTRONOMY POP CULTURE 12 The Nation’s Kitchen 34 Manga, Maid Cafés & Karaoke CULTURE DAY TRIPS FROM OSAKA 16 1,400 Years of Tradition 36 Exploring Kansai ONE YEAR IN OSAKA OSAKA: DID YOU KNOW? 18 Seasonal Highlights 38 Bite-sized Facts 48 HOURS IN OSAKA OSAKA NEIGHBORHOODS 20 Weekend Tour Suggestions 40 Exploring Osaka by Area OSAKA AFTER DARK TOURISM FACTSHEET 22 City Nightlife 42 Osaka Tourism at a Glance OSAKA ARCHITECTURE VISITOR SERVICES & OCTB 24 Osaka’s Iconic Buildings 43 About the OCTB PRESS KIT Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau 3 INTRODUCTION The Downtown of Japan Osaka, ‘the nation’s kitchen,’ is Japan’s friendliest city and the country’s top spot to eat, drink, and party. It is also as quirky as a city comes. To the naked eye of a tourist, Osaka is a kaleidoscope of neon lights, kitsch trinket shops, and giant plastic food sculptures, but there are many opportunities to get below the surface and discover more of Osaka’s true character and its centuries-long history.