Osaka's best sights are scattered far and wide from each other, but there are some areas worth exploring on foot. A fine place to start is the castle Osaka-jo and its immediate environs. Umeda , north of the centre, also has a few attractions, such as the rarefied Museum of Oriental Ceramics and the soaring skyscrapers near the clutch of train stations. The areas south of the Ogawa, including Shinsaibashi, Dotombori, Amerika-mura and Namba, are almost exclusively shopping, eating and entertainment districts which fully come to life at night .

Another good area for strolling around is Tennoji, south of the centre, where you'll find Shitenno-ji , the city's most important temple and an evocative old downtown area around Tennoji-koen . Further south is Sumiyoshi Taisha , Osaka's venerable shrine, an oasis of greenery amid the urban sprawl.

Heading west towards the port area, don't miss out on the enlightening Liberty Osaka , a museum highlighting aspects of Japanese contemporary history usually swept under the carpet. In a country fixated with fish, you'll find the ultra-cool Osaka Aquarium , at Tempozan Harbour Village, the best collection of aquatic life on display in Japan. Nearby is the split-new Universal Studios Japan , a giant theme park with eighteen spectacular rides.