While the City of Osaka may at first glance appear to be a busy commercial city with hurried people and little time for fun, it is anything but. The Port of Osaka is one of the world's great gourmet centers, with hundreds of popular world-class restaurants and clubs. It also offers a wide range of historic, cultural, and sports-related attractions and activities. The Port of Osaka offers far too many opportunities to describe in this article. For detailed information on the many things to see and do in the Port of Osaka, please visit the city's tourism website.
The Port of Osaka has a comfortable climate with distinct seasons that are neither too cold nor too hot. While it is fairly humid, its weather is tempered by sea breezes and lush natural scenery. The best time to visit the Port of Osaka is in the spring when the cherry blossoms arrive. Summers can be hot and humid with frequent showers, and winters are cold with a few light snow flurries. Temperatures range from an average high of 33 °C (92 °F) in July and August to an average low of 2 °C (35 °F) in February. Rainfall is heaviest in May and June.
The Port of Osaka's most famous attraction is Osaka Castle. Although it's a concrete re-creation, it is the symbol of the city, and it contains 13 structures that are official national Important Cultural Assets including the grand gates and turrets on the outer moat. The Castle is a beautiful sight, with grand high walls, a wide moat, and ornamental tile roofs and carved reliefs, all gilded in gold. The re-made castle captures the ancient grandeur of the original structure, and it is an outstanding attraction that visitors will not want to miss. Naniwa Palace Site Park (Naniwanomiya) is located south of the Osaka Castle Park. Here, visitors will find the ancient Naniwa palace foundations dating back to 643 AD.
The Port of Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium recreates 15 regions along the Ring of Fire (the pan-pacific volcanic zone). It houses exhibits of fish, plants, reptiles, birds, mammals, and much more. One of the world's largest aquariums, the aquarium contains 11 thousand tons of water and thousands of sea creatures that include otters, seals, dolphins, and sharks, among many others. The largest tank, a 5400-ton giant, is overwhelming. The aquarium is a definite must-see for visitors to the Port of Osaka. On weekends, musicians and street performers bring additional entertainment.
Visitors to the Port of Osaka will want to take the Naniwa Tanken Cruise (Japanese) (Osaka River Cruise). This one-and-one-half-hour cruise through Osaka includes a Rakugo story-telling guide. Visitors pass under 49 bridges and get wonderful views of the city and the local rivers from the deck of an open-roof cruiser.
The Port of Osaka's Shitennoji (Japanese) is the oldest officially-administered temple in Japan. Built in the late 6th Century by Prince Shotoku in gratitude for his victory in battle, the layout of the temple remains much as it was when it was constructed despite many reconstructions. It is the favorite temple for many Japanese people, and it is considered to be the Buddhist altar of the Port of Osaka, hosting many festivals throughout the year.
Travelers who want to see the Port of Osaka by sea can find a list of scheduled cruises on the Cruise Compete website.
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