大阪 Osaka
After visiting Hiroshima and Takayama, we thought that Osaka could be a good base for a day trip to Nara but we didn't know much about the city itself. We were initially thinking to stay there only one night, but we fell so much in love with this food and neon lights paradise that we ended up spending three days and nights there.
Formerly known as Naniwa and Japan's first capital city, Osaka is the third largest city of Japan with a population of 2.5 million and it is the capital of the Kansai region.
Historically a merchant city and thanks to its location that has provided access to high quality ingredients, Osaka has also been known as the "nation's kitchen" since the Edo period. And indeed, the city is filled with endless culinary experiences
Osaka is a shopping heaven, and you can literally spend days wandering in the numerous malls and shopping arcades (Osaka has the longest shōtengai shopping arcade of the country, which runs along 2.6 km!).
In Shinsaibashi, you can find very interesting shops, but be ready for the crowd! I still enjoy walking around though, and the experience was well worth it!
When visiting Dotonbori, be prepared for a fest of bright lights, strong colors, sounds and for a never ending crowd! And of course it's even better at night! It can be overwhelming at first, but the more time you spend there the more you love it. It was exactly how I pictured modern Japan to be! Being a japanese streetstyle lover for ages, I was also excited to come there to watch the fashion!
Dotonbori is the famous food district of Osaka, so just walk there and enjoy the yummiest food!
And do not forget to explore Den Den Town, the electronic and manga district, Osaka's answer to Tokyo's Akihabara.
