Relax - Gaga over Osaka

Relax

Features

Article

JAPAN has been a favoured travel destination for Singaporeans for many years.

Little wonder why.

The Land of the Rising Sun is an evergreen holiday hotspot with something for everyone, with its cherry blossoms, unique culture, ancient castles and temples.

Osaka is the second largest city in Japan and, perhaps, its most famed attraction is the Osaka Castle.

It dates back to the 1500s and was built by the warlord, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who ruled the country in the late 16th century.

The castle sits on 60,000 sq m of land, approximately the size of five football fields.

The castle tower’s exterior is elaborate with ornamental roof tiles carved in the shape of tigers and accented in gold.

There’s a museum showcasing arms and weapons of that era, along with other cultural artefacts used in those days. Visitors to the castle can head up to the eighth storey for a view of the city.

In spring, visitors throng the castle grounds to see the cherry blossoms.

The Bay Area of Osaka is especially appealing to travellers with children.

Tenpozan Harbour Village in the Bay Area is about 20 minutes from Osaka’s city centre, and is a hive of entertainment and dining activity.

It has been developed into a large entertainment and amusement park area, and houses Universal Studios Japan.

SEA CREATURES FEATURES: Osaka Aquarium is one of the
largest in the world and is home to 39,000 sea creatures.

The Hollywood theme park occupies 54ha, almost twice the size of the Singapore Zoo.

Another big draw for tourists is the Kaiyu-kan, otherwise known as the Osaka Aquarium, located in the Tenpozan Harbour Village.

It is one of the largest aquariums in the world, and is home to 39,000 sea creatures of about 580 different species.

Besides Universal Studios and the Kaiyu-kan, there’s a variety of retail and dining outlets for visitors to enjoy.

Not far from the Osaka bay is Shitennoji temple.

It is the oldest temple in Japan and was built by Prince Shotoku-taishi, who was a cultural hero between the late 6th and early 7thcenturies.

It is believed that he was a devout Buddhist and he brought about the spread of Buddhism in Japan.

When Prince Shotoku, who was from the Soga Clan, wanted the country to adopt Buddhism, he faced strong opposition from the Monobe clan,which led to battles.

Prince Shotoku emerged victorious and, to mark the victory in AD593, he ordered the temple to be built.

Himeji Castle

Venture out further from the city to the Himeji Castle, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

It became a national treasure in 1931, the first national treasure to be registered in the country.

It takes about 40 minutes on the bullet train from Osaka to Himeji City.

The castle dates back to the mid 14th century when it was first built. Feudal warlords who succeeded as rulers of the district in the 16th and 17th centuries continued to build on the castle and expanded it.

The castle comprises 83 buildings, and the tower stands at 5 storeys high.

The castle is also known as the White Heron Castle because of its white walls and architecture that makes it appear like a white heron spreading its wings.

It is one of the most outstanding castles in Japan and is well worth a trip.

For some scenic greenery, head out about an hour by train from Osaka city to the Akame Shiju-hattaki Falls, more commonly known as 48 Waterfalls.

Although there aren’t exactly 48 waterfalls, the term was coined to imply many waterfalls in the area.

The waterfalls can be found within a 4km stretch along the Takigawa Valley and were formed in prehistoric times.

The valley is also known for giant salamanders.

Legend

Legend has it that the falls got its name from an ox with red eyes. Akame means red eyes.

As the fable goes, Fudo Myo-o, a god of fire, appeared at En-no-Ozunu, which is a magic mountain.

Fudo Myo-o was riding an ox with red eyes when he appeared before the magic mountain.

A walk upstream along the valley will take you through a series of falls of various sizes.

These are just some of the few sights and attractions to visit in Osaka and its vicinity. Plan for at least a week’s stay for a comfortable holiday pace.

GETTING THERE

There are several commercial airlines that offer direct flights to Osaka. At least two daily flights operate from Singapore to Osaka.

This article was first published in The New Paper.

Gaga over Osaka

The New Paper | Mon, Sep 14 2009

From cherry blossoms to ancient castles, this hotspot has something for everyone.

Keywords