Overview Located on Japan's main island of Honshu, at the mouth of the Yodo River (on Osaka Bay) Osaka is often considered to be the gourmet food capital of Japan.
Osaka is a part of Japan's metropolitan area of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto, a very commercial region in Japan. In addition to that, Osaka is well known for having a good nightlife scene. Those looking to experience some of the most historical landmarks in Japan, such as the famous Golden Pavilion, opt to visit the nearby city of Kyoto.
July and August are the hottest months of the year in Osaka (with average daily highs of 34 °C and 33.3 °C, respectively), while January is (by far) the coldest month of the year (with an average daily high of 9.4°C).
Destinations The following destinations can be visited on a cruise leaving from Osaka, Japan:
Asia
Transpacific Cruises
Currency The official currency of Japan is the Yen (¥). Using a credit card whenever possible is a great way to avoid having to exchange currency. ATM machines are available, but make sure you use one that works with the card you're using.
Language The official language of Japan is Japanese. English is spoken by many locals in the main tourist areas and hotels.
Tourist Attractions Osaka Castle is one of Japan's most famous castles. It's open to the public and is a popular location for festivals. Construction of this castle started all the way back in 1583.
Dotonbori, located right in the heart of the city, is considered to be one of the main tourist areas in Osaka. It's a street filled with various stores, and restaurants, and is part of Osaka's Namba district. There are also many popular theatres, nightclubs and bars located nearby this area. This part of Osaka is also well known for its many large neon and mechanized signs. One of the most well known landmarks in this area is the Glico Man, a giant symbol of the Glico Candy company (built in 1935). This is the most popular area for those looking to experience Osaka's famous cuisine. Besides traditional Japanese cuisine (such as sushi), Osaka's regional specialties include udon (a noodle dish), takoyaki (octopus dumplings) and okonomiyaki (a pan-fried batter cake). Kani Doraku is one of the most famous places in Osaka. It's a crab restaurant with a giant (moving) crab billboard. Hariju is one of the most famous Japanese beef restaurants in Osaka.
There are many shopping areas in Osaka. Among them is American Village, also known as Amerikamura. This area is located in the Minami district and is popular among young fashionistas. There's a small-scale version of the Statue of Liberty in this area. The main shopping area in Osaka is usually considered to be Shinsaibashi, featuring many stores and high-end boutiques (such as Coach, Harry Winston, Cartier, Fendi, Armani, Versace, Louis Vutton, Gucci and Dior). Den Den Town, also known as Nipponbashi, is well known for being a great place to shop for electronics.
For those looking for a theme park, Universal Studios Japan (opened in 2001) is actually located in Osaka. It features many of the same rides that can be found in Universal's Orlando, Florida location.
Many cruisers opt to visit the nearby city of Kyoto while in the Osaka area, as they're only about 27 miles apart. This is because there are many historical landmarks in Kyoto. Among them are the Golden Pavilion, considered by many to be the most famous temple in all of Japan. Ryoanji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a famous Zen temple in Kyoto. It's actually the most famous Zen stone garden in the world. Another famous UNESCO World Heritage site in Kyoto is Kiyomizudera, a Buddhist temple (one of the oldest temples in Kyoto).
Port Location Cruise ships dock at either Tempozan or SeaSideCosmo, both located in Nanko port (west of downtown). Located nearby Tempozan are the Osaka Aquarium, Tempozan Marketplace and an IMAX theater. SeaSideCosmo is nearby the WTC Tower and ATC Center.
