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Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle is one of the two best castles the Kansai area.
(Himeji Castle is the other). Japanese castles,
like most things, observe the law of diminishing returns. The first castle you visit
will entertain you for hours. By the third, you are ready to leave after 15 minutes.
Osaka Jo is a big castle with a large garden. Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered up the castle back
in 1583. Open 9 am - 4.30 pm. Closed Dec 28 - Jan1. Adult admission 600 yen. The castle was refurbished recently.,
and frankly looks a lot better than it did before. The garden has apricot blossoms in
February and cherry blossoms (and drunken salarymen) in April. It can be romantic at
night, but beware if you start getting carried away with the romance. The park is
populated with a bunch of very lonely middle aged men who enjoy spying on couples. Recently the
park has become home to a few hundred homeless people who live in small blue trap tent-houses. Lovely.
Directions: Take the Osaka Loop Line to the Osaka Jo Koen station, and walk east. OR
Take the Chuo subway line and get off at the Tanimachi 4 chome station.
Osaka Business Park
- OBP
Nice looking new office buildings near Osaka Castle. Nearby is the International Market Place, IMP,
offering stuff to buy from around the world.
Take the JR loop line to Osaka-jo station, walk west and then over the bridge. Or take
the Nagahori Tsurumiryokuchi subway line to the Osaka Business Park station. The Twin Towers have
an observation platform on the 38th floor, open 11 am - 8.30 pm. 500 yen for adults, 300 for kids.
Call IMP 06-6945-1313.
Copyright © 1998 - 2000 by Mark
McCracken, All Rights Reserved