The Nightlife

Osaka never sleeps. Every time I’ve been out in Osaka, I crawled into bed at sunrise. Most of the best nightlife is located around Shinsaibashi and Amerika-mura, and a typical Osaka night out includes the following: a hearty meal at an izakaya, some drinks at fun bar (I like Blow Bar and Wax 69), a whole lot of dancing at a club (Triangle or Azure are always hopping), and a bit of karaoke to survive until the morning. That being said, an Osaka night should always end with some scrumptious ramen sipped while leaning over a counter on a street stall.

Osaka definitely is a bit more grimy and dirty than its Tokyo counterpart, but that’s one more reason to love it.

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Osaka Aquarium

Another little bit of nature can be found at Osaka Aquarium, one of the largest and most impressive in the world. I highly recommend to go for a visit, if only to take a look at the two gigantic whale sharks sharing one of the largest tanks in the world, which can be seen on eight different ocean levels. It’s best to start the tour on the top floor, then descend around the main tank. On the bottom floor, the sight of spider crabs and other fascinating creatures that live in the abyss are well worth the steep admission cost.

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Istana Osaka

Osaka Castle is one of my favourite places to escape the crowds and breathe some fresh air. Although the original 1583 structure completely burned down last century, it’s been fully re-constructed and re-furbished. The interior of the castle presents eight stories displaying a great collection of documents and artifacts. The castle grounds are especially lovely during cherry blossom season in early April, but if you missed it, the park is always great for a stroll and a picnic, at any time of the year.

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