One of Japan's top tourist destination and third-largest city, Osaka is known for its delicious food, the Osaka castle and top-notch tourist spots.
Osaka's founders - Godai Tomoatsu, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Rennyo, and Seki Hajime weren't originally from Osaka. But they contributed to the architecture, modernization and overall advanced development of Osaka.
Osaka was once the capital city of Japan, due to its ports that provided immense business opportunities. Currently, it is the capital of Kansai region.
With a population of about 2.5 million people, Osaka is the third-largest city in Japan.
The Kabuki and Bunraku theatres originated at Osaka.
Japan's first full-scale palace, the Naniwa-no-Miya Palace was built in 650 AD.
The original Osaka Castle was built in 1583, but was destroyed in 1615 in war. It was re-constructed, but again destroyed in 1665 due to lightning! The existing Osaka Castle is a reconstruction.
Apart from the Castle, Osaka's other famous tourist destination is the Osaka Kaiykan Aquarium. It is one of the largest aquarium in the world.
Osaka roughly has 3,395 temples, which is the second-most number of temples in the whole of Japan!
Most of Osaka's monuments were destroyed in World War II and were rebuilt later. Today, you can find a lot of these remains, ancient burial mounds, and historical buildings at Osaka.
Known as the 'Nation's Kitchen', Osaka is known for its famous dishes - takoyaki and okonomiyaki. Dotonbori is the most famous food district in the whole of Osaka!
Umeda, Osaka's underground shopping complex, has ancient fossil remains from the Jurassic to the Cretaceous periods! Check out the walls to notice these remains.
The Tenjinbashisuji Shotengai, that features more than 600 shops, restaurants and boutiques, is the longest shopping street in Japan.