Osaka Castle or Osaka-jo was built by the military commander Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Although it is located in the middle of the city, the gates and stone walls remain well-preserved and the vast grounds have become a park. The Nishinomaru Garden is a famous cherry blossom spot. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery in every season. One of the features of Osaka Castle is that huge stones are used everywhere in the castle walls. As with many other castles in Japan, the inside of the main castle tower serves as a history museum. You can also enjoy a great view of Osaka from the top of the castle.

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is one of the biggest and most impressive public aquariums, not only in Japan, but throughout the world. Recreating the natural environment of the Pacific Rim the aquarium uses giant water tanks, with one being 112ft (34 meters) long, 30ft (9 meters) deep and holding 5,400 tons of water and being home to the giant whale shark among other large manta rays and sharks. This huge water tank can be explored via a spiraling ramp around the tank, giving you can overall view of the different creatures at different depths of the tanks. With different themed tanks and areas recreated according to different areas of the Pacific Rim, there are over 30,000 creatures and 620 species to be seen, felt, and admired at this spectacular aquarium.

Dotonbori Street is a popular shopping area in Osaka known for its bustling atmosphere and its many neon lights at night, including the famous Glico man, a symbol of Osaka. The Dotonbori arcade is perfect for shopping, dining and entertainment. It's not that you can't find the things here anywhere else, it's just that you can't find them condensed in such a lively and packed space anywhere else. It's certainly a distinctively Osaka experience you shouldn't miss out on, unless you really hate crowds.