Japan s Osaka To Host 2019 World Expo

Japan’s Osaka has won the right to host the 2025 World Expo, beating out cities in Russia and Azerbaijan for an event expected to draw millions of visitors.insideosaka.com The winner was chosen by the 170 member states of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions on Friday. Past world’s fairs brought the world such wonders as the Eiffel Tower, the Ferris Wheel and Seattle’s Space Needle. Leaders in Osaka, Japan’s third-largest city, are hoping the expo will revitalize a city that has lost much of its luster to Tokyo. Osaka proposed an expo on a man-made island on the theme of "Society 5.0" and how to leverage robotics and artificial intelligence for the public good. Cities in Russia, Japan and Azerbaijan are about to find out which one of them gets to host the 2025 World Expo, an event expected to draw millions of visitors and showcase the local economy and culture. World Expos are held every five years; Milan hosted the last one in 2015, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is set to host the next one in 2020. Cities also hold specialized exhibitions in the interim years.


Osaka city, registered as the third largest city of Japan, is packed with great shops, skyscrapers, shopping streets, restaurants, historic landmarks, amusement parks, and scenic spots. It’s obvious that apart from experiencing fall colors either in downtown or on the outskirt of the city, there are endless activities await you right in the heart of the city. Many tourists visit Kyoto in the fall, where they want to spend a few days. One of the closest day trips from Kyoto, Osaka is just a 15-minute Shinkansen train ride from the former capital of Japan. How cool is that! If you are one of them, you should embark on a day trip to see Osaka’s fall colors and its charming attractions. Fall is the most colorful season of the year. Everyone knows it, locals of Sakai City too.


The city itself boasts a beautiful park known as Daisen Park, one of Japan’s 100 historic parks, which is located between the Kofun of Emperor Nintoku (Daisen Kofun) and the Emperor Richu kofun. Please note Daisen Kofun is said to be the largest grave in the world by area. Along with visiting Daisen Park, I highly recommend you to take a walk into this huge burial mound. In the park, you can explore a traditional Japanese garden, ponds, rocks, bridge, teahouse, garden trails, kofuns, peace tower, museums, trees of various kinds, and many grassy areas to have some rest and relaxation.


Travelers visiting Osaka can immerse themselves in nature as they stare at the stunning fall foliage in this delightful park. You can’t miss a walk along the trails of the park to explore the gorgeous fall colors including the various elements of a traditional Japanese garden. Walk across the bridge, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. A truly photogenic spot like this should be on your travel bucket list. Don’t you forget that! If you are keen to know a little bit of history of the city, pay a homage visit to Sakai City Museum, located within the park spacious grounds.


Diasen Park is only a 5-minute walk from Mozu Station. Minoo Park (a Quasi-National Park) is arguably one of the best places to see gorgeous fall colors in the Kansai Region. This is said to be the best spot when it comes to viewing momiji in Osaka prefecture. Located on the northern part of Osaka city, Minho is a special scenic spot comprises mountains, temples, shops, waterfalls, gorge, trails, and forests. Enjoy a walk along the trail that starts from Minho Station to Minoo waterfall. It’s a picturesque waterfall with a height of 33 meters, where you must go to fill your mind with fall amazingness.


Apart from enjoying a tranquil atmosphere there, you should pay a visit to Ryuanji Temple, located in the middle of the trail. The view of the red bridge (that belongs to the temple) with red maple leaves is a scene not to be forgotten. No doubt, travelers flock to view incredible fall colors in this park. They enjoy the hike up to the waterfall while gazing at the beautiful surroundings, and are offered to taste Minoo’s local specialty called Momiji Tempura (snack). Every year, a lot of tourists visit Universal Studios Japan and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan especially when they travel with kids.


And bear in mind Minho Park is well worth a visit for the whole family. If you want to know more about this scenic spot, please visit here. If you are sick of those spectacular skyscrapers in Osaka city, you better think of visiting a tranquil spot - Kasuo-ji temple, located in a forested hillside of Minoo city. It’s a gorgeous place offering you a peaceful atmosphere year round. Most of the visitors who have visited this marvelous temple fell in love with it and think of returning back again in the future. The whole temple ground is surrounded by plants of different kinds, which in fact create picturesque landscape upon arrival of each new season. The fall color here is exceptionally beautiful and quite peaceful. Watching vividly colored leaves while taking a leisurely stroll along the trails of the temple is an unforgettable experience.


Peak leaf season is mid November through late November. Besides, you can see many cute daruma (tumbling doll) scattered throughout the temple’s grounds. Despite its gorgeous scenery, Katsuo-ji is a temple known for its spiritual energy. Often it’s called as a temple of the winner’s luck. Ever year, many people visit the temple in order to pray for good fortune in life. You may pray for a safety travel, or if you have exams in the upcoming days, be sure to worship here to be succeeded. In the middle of the city, there is the spacious Osaka Castle Park with a total area of 105.6ha, where the iconic Osaka Castle Tower stands. In the spring, when hanami arrives, the park becomes one of the most beautiful places on the planet featuring wonderful cherry blossoms all over the area.


The fall foliage here is not awful as well; rather it houses hundreds of deciduous trees that produce stunning colors to make you speechless. A peaceful walk in the park to admire the fall colors here is a wonderful outdoor activity that every one of you would like to go for.hotels.com The surrounding views of the park and city from the castle tower’s observatory are truly breathtaking! Before you get to the observation deck, be sure to explore the museum first. Indeed it’s a great source to learn about the castle’s history and the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The castle tower is phenomenal and the moats, stone walls, gates, and turrets that surround the castle are equally impressive.


Visit this page to learn more about this beautiful sight. Are you an acrophobic? If you are afraid of heights, skip this part and jump on to the next one. This is not a place for you to visit. Thank you very much. Japan’s second longest walking bridge, Hoshi no Buranko is known for its autumn beauty. It’s a 280 meter long suspension bridge, built at 50 meters above the ground. There, you are offered to enjoy a scenic walk while you cross the bridge, and you ultimately find a lot of things to be photographed. In the fall, the surrounding forested valleys are incredible to gaze at while walking on the bridge.


Before you get to the bridge you would have to hike for a while through the amazing trail in the park. You will be stunned seeing the surrounding nature including deciduous trees of various kinds. Though be aware of insects! In addition, don’t be surprised seeing a rock climbing wall, a perfect spot to have fun with. Also, it’s worth a visit to the observation platform to experience a panorama view of the surrounding area of the bridge. Here colors peak in late November, though you can even still enjoy some fall foliage in early December. Built during the 7th century by the ascetic Enno-Gyoja, Kanshinji temple is a gorgeous place to witness mind-boggling autumn scenery as well as impressive looking architectures of the Nara Period.


The main hall (Kondo) of the temple has been designated as a national treasure of Osaka Prefecture. It houses the seated statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Nyoirin Kannon. It’s an important national treasure shown publicly only April17-18 every year. If you pay a visit to this amazing temple in the fall, you won’t be able to see it. At the temple’s grounds, there are many maple trees together with plum and cherry trees. You will be highly impressed seeing the gorgeous colors the temple showcases in November. While you are there, visit other important cultural assets which include the buildings and statues found within its temple’s grounds. If you attempt to travel to Osaka’s most impressive autumn leaves spots including its year round holiday destinations, you have got to stay there for two nights and two days.


Midosuji is another great autumn foliage spots, located in the heart of the city. It runs from north of the Kita area to Namba in the Minami area. The street of Midosuji Avenue is lined with hundreds of ginkgo trees. This 44 meters long wide street is a prime leaf-peeing spot in downtown Osaka together with Osaka Castle Park. Golden leaves of ginkgo trees paint the entire street quite marvelously, and this is the sight you would hardly want to miss seeing. You should take a walk along the street to see the magical golden leaves. This inspiring avenue is filled with many restaurants and shops. Why don’t you have you lunch there then? A visit to Osaka during the fall would not be complete without a wander through the Midosuji street. If you want to see most of these incredible fall foliage spots, you should plan staying two nights in the city. Check in at Hilton Osaka Hotel which is located adjacent to JR Osaka Station. Perfect Location and Hotel!


Looking for the best hotel in Minami, Osaka? Read some of our 38876 reviews to help choose the right one. The Minami area is one of the more popular neighbourhoods in Osaka. Use our maps to get an overview of all hotels and how close they are to important attractions or transport. You can also filter directly for a certain neighbourhood or choose to stay within a certain distance from a particular area or point of interest. Cheap Minami hotel deals? The average price per night for hotels in Minami is €74. We offer our Price Guarantee on most bookings.


As a global travel destination, Japan offers a plethora of something for everyone. The most common destinations for tourists within Japan are the greater Tokyo region and the greater Osaka region. In my opinion, the greater Osaka region is the best destination in all Japan for families touring the country with children. 1 when planning your future travels to Japan. Tokyo is renowned for being one of the world’s most expensive cities to stay in. Attentive and frugal planning, in addition to fluctuating currency rates, can surely help minimize costs when you and your children travel throughout Tokyo, but in general, be prepared to pay a premium cost for transportation, food, and lodging.


The entire greater Osaka region, on the other hand offers all the pleasures of Japan at the fraction of the cost of Tokyo. Once you travel out from Osaka City towards the nearby popular cities of Nara or Himeiji, travel costs will drop even more allowing for budget friendly family adventures. Tokyo continues to offer the world’s finest dining. In fact, Tokyo has the title of the city with the most Michelin starred restaurants on earth. The Osaka region can’t offer such opulent dining experiences as Tokyo, but most families traveling in Japan together with children aren’t intent on eating filet mignon in three Michelin starred restaurants. Osaka does however have an infamous and rich food culture that appeals to the tastebuds of the common people.


In fact, Osaka was once known among the Japanese as tenka no daidokoro (the kitchen under the heavens) and today, the phrase osaka no kuidaore (eat till you drop in Osaka) is still vocalized throughout the entire native population. Osaka’s two most famous and unique "Japanese soul food" dishes are takoyaki and okonomiyaki. Takoyaki are piping hot balls of batter containing crispy tempura pieces, ginger, and bits of octopus and covered in mayonnaise and a barbecuelike sauce. The cooking process is a bit labor intensive so your kids will have a blast watching the cooks prepare takoyaki from scratch. Okonomiyaki is cooked on an iron hotplate, typically in the middle of your table!


In this case, your server will cook your food before your eyes. Okonomiyaki is sometimes called "Japanese pizza." It contains flour, eggs, sliced pork, shrimp bits, and ultra-thin slices of bonito fish that seem to dance atop because of the heat. Here's an interesting take on Osakans and their culinary culture from Anthony Bourdain's perspective. The greater Tokyo region is the largest metropolitan area on the planet. The majority of the population travels into Tokyo proper during weekday business hours, creating a chaotic influx of bodies within both the transportation system and the cramped city streets. This incredible population density can be overwhelming and even stressful for families with young children trying to locate tourist spots within the city. We’ve all seen videos of train "pushers" cramming passengers into trains. This is a daily occurrence in Tokyo. Osaka City is a metropolis but certainly not on the scale of Tokyo.


Thus, Osaka can satisfy families with older children who are craving for the hubbub and thrill of the quick paced city while not being overly frustrating and hectic like Japan’s capital. If your family needs a break, a quick 45 minute train ride from the center of Osaka will have your family relaxing and enjoying the quieter and slower paced side of Japan. Tokyo has only enjoyed being the capital of Japan for approximately 150 years. However, the bulk of Japan's long and rich history was controlled by capitals surrounding Osaka. The greater Osaka region includes Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. Prior to 1868, nearly all the emperors of Japan resided and governed the country from within this region.


Thus, the greater Osaka region is considered the historical and cultural heart of Japan. Nara and Kyoto both overflow with traditional Japanese architecture, ancient palaces, breathtaking temples and shrines, and deep history. In fact, the greater Osaka region is home to five out of fifteen UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites within Japan allowing for you and your family to experience officially recognized locations with minimal travel and expenses. With the exception of Japan's recent postwar meteoric rise in the high-tech industry, you and your family most likely desire to become familiar with Japan's zen-like side and the cultural relics of its rich history. From beautiful Japanese gardens, ancient shrines, to castles and bustling cityscapes with permeating neon lights, Osaka and its surrounding cities will be more in line with what you expect from Japan.


Japan is a wonderful country and offers something for every one of its visitors. If time and money allowed, I would suggest you visit and experience both the Tokyo and Osaka regions. However, the greater Osaka region has that extra magic that appeals to parents traveling together with children thus leading to an optimum family vacation in Japan. Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission which helps support this blog. Caleb Parsons is a California native teaching English in Japan and the founder of Kids Travel Japan, a program that creates cultural exchange events which bring together foreign families traveling in Japan and local Japanese families. Follow this exciting cross cultural program on Facebook and Instagram.


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Kansai Airport is located on an island that was artificially built. It cannot boast of spacious terminals, however, its design has repeatedly withstood various natural challenges, including earthquakes and typhoons. Chubu Airport is located near Tokoname. 3. Tourists looking to make intercity and international calls should better use street call boxes. One can easily find them in the streets as they are commonly bright green. The street call boxes accept special phone cards as payment means which can be bought in all day shops, hotels and tourist information centers. 4. The best place to profitable exchange any currency is an airport.youtube.com In the same year, the National Museum of Ethnology received its first visitors.


The museum has always been one of the most important cultural centers of Osaka. Currently, it is one of the country's largest museums. Its walls present thousands of exhibits devoted to diverse spheres of life of the indigenous population. The festival is celebrated according to lunar calendar and after the Gregorian Calendar the dates of the festival fall on the middle of August. Local people believe that in this period the spirits of their ancestors come back home. To help them find a way home at nightfall doors of the houses are illuminated with bright lanterns. The festival is followed with different religious events. A speciality of the Ippudo restaurant is considered to be a sort of noodle named soba. All the ethnic treats in the restaurant are cooked following original chef recipes.


Guests will be surprised with affordable pricing policy and highest quality of served dishes. The Ippudo restaurant is always filled with jolly and buzzing atmosphere. For genuine gourmands Osaka offers great Italian restaurants. One of the most popular amusement parks of the city of Osaka is the Universal Studios Japan park. Each day the park holds bright and impressive parades and marches with fairy creatures engaged. The territory of the park features different rest zones, attractive small boutiques and cafes. Those tourists tending to recreation in scenic nature areas are recommended to visit the Nagai park. The shrine is one of the most significant religious objects in the country. The religious landmark enshrines the three Sumiyoshi kami which are considered to be protectors of travelers and sailors. The same impressive and attractive religious landmark is a Buddhist temple Shitenno-ji. Its opening was held in 593. The temple presents a scale architectural complex with numerous buildings of various types.


Japan has more festivals (matsuri) than almost any other country in the world, and Japanese festivals - in all their color, tradition, and exuberance - are often spectacular.weatherbase.com The celebrations themselves vary widely depending on the occasion, but almost always involve spirited processions of participants vigorously chanting, dancing, and bearing massive, intricately-decorated omikoshi (portable shrines) or floats. If you want to see Japan at its liveliest, a high-energy matsuri is the place to do it! In addition to their bursts of color and energy, Japanese matsuri are rich in tradition. And, as if all of this weren’t enough, festivals in Japan are also one of the best places to sample an incredible array of unique, casual, and seasonal Japanese foods! To the surprise of many, street food is not very prevalent in Japan (unlike in many other parts of Asia).


But at matsuri you’ll find the streets lined with yatai (food stall) after colorful yatai, offering a remarkable selection of healthy - and not-so-healthy - festival snacks. Japan has too many fantastic matsuri to include in one list! Of course, it’s important to keep in mind that some of the most entertaining matsuri are unsung festivals held in small neighborhoods throughout Japan. Festivals take place year-round throughout the country, with many of the most prominent in summer. Japan’s summer is hot and muggy (read more about the seasons and weather in Japan), and the sultry weather lends itself well to the rambunctious atmosphere at many matsuri.


Here is a quick-reference list of our favorite matsuri taking place throughout Japan. Read on below for more about each of these festivals! We begin with a selection of Tokyo’s best festivals. Kanda was a key central district of Edo (and remains so in present-day Tokyo), and Kanda Matsuri is known as one of Tokyo’s big three festivals. This shinto festival began as a celebration of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s victory at the battle of Sekigahara, and continued as a show of wealth for the new Edo period shogunate. Over time, the festival has come to represent prosperity for the residents, and it’s quite a spectacle to observe as the parade of portable shrines, musicians, priests on horseback, and dancers make their way through the streets, blessing local onlookers.