Unique Places in Osaka

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I took a little walk in the port-area of Osaka, its just a quiet neigbourhood but for european tourists it might be interesting to take a little walk there through the empty sidestreets. No bad areas or drunk people in the streets like in other port-areas of the world, just clean streets and an almost unreal, quiet atmoshere.
Unfortunately I did not dare to step into any of the restaurants there, but it was interesting to see that the entrances were partly covered by cloths like in my main photo.

If you are there in Autumn season, this farm is a great place to go.

Yamabikoen is located in the southern part of Osaka in Tondabayashi.
Mikan (mandarin orange) picking is available from Oct to December
Chestnut picking is available from September to October
And Sweet potato "digging" is available from September to November.

The place is run by a sweet elderly couple, but they do not speak much english though.

They have an open air BBQ pit area as well.
If you use their ingredients is 2500yen per person
If you are just renting the pit it's 500yen.
Great if you have just picked Sweet potatoes :)

For Mikan picking it's 800yen for Adults 700yen for Kids
How the "picking" works is that you pay a flat fee and you can pick as many as you like, but you have to eat your pickings in Yamabikoen itself.

For Chestnuts it's 1000yen for Adults 400yen for kids, but you get to take back home 500g of chestnuts on top of the ones you eat in Yamabikoen.

For Sweet Potato it's 220yen per piece.

Access is a little tricky but fun, as you get to see Rural Osaka.

From Nankai's Nanba station, take the Nankai Koya Line Express to Kawachinagano Stn.
Transfer to Kintetsu's Minamiosaka Nagano Line Semi-Exp train and take to Tondayabashi Stn.
From here take 金剛東条 Konga toujou bus (from 4th platform) and alight at 蒲 Gama bus stop.
Call 090-4303-9751 for a free pickup to Yamabikoen.

There's also a hiking course that starts from Takidanibudou Stn
Map's located here http://www.yamabikoen.com/img/high-course.gif
It's a 2.2km course that takes about 40mins.

If you drive there, parking is Free.

If you ever feel you need to get some space and greenery for a while when you're in the city of Osaka, go to Namba parks shopping mall. Take the glass lift to the highest floor (8th?) Right on the top floor, there is kinda like a rooftop space with amphitheatre. Good place to rest and chill for a while, look down at the city below you while you feel the wind in your face.

After two aborted attempts to visit this musuem on earlier Osaka trips I finally made it. It admirably attempts to publicise the many human rights abuses that even today are still all too common in Japan....discrimination against many minorities such as the burakumin (the lowest caste in feudal Japan, and still treated dreadfully!), ethnic Korean and Chinese, the disabled, women; effects of pollution. I left feeling a little depressed at witnessing the darker side of Japan, which maybe is the whole point of the place.

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun 10.00-5.00

It's located a few minutes walk south of Ashiharabashi Station on the JR Loop Line

every year for the past three years people in osaka will hold and outdoor stage perfprmance , lights and sound show
you can see them every night ,at the asian trade centre ,sea side
the bands sound great and they sing in english
i've watched them three years in a row

This is a cool place in the west of the city (between Tempozan and Bentencho) that offers that rarest of Osakan commodities - greenery!

We've had some good barbeques and drinking sessions on lazy summer days here as the park is is ringed by trees for those that just wanna sit and hang out with their friends.
It is also fairly flat with grass space for playing football or other ball games and even catches the late afternoon sun well for those that want to work on their tans!

Take exit 2 from Asashiobashi subway station on the Chuo line.

Come see local kids putting on special displays of falling off BMXs with style! Potentially tricky, well, tricks are played out badly to music by teenagers who can't dance at OCAT.

This is a pretty cool spot to hang out in during the warmer months, the water seeming to freshen the air a little (remarkably, given that it's the Dotonbori river).

We often go for a few quiet cans to relax after work and watch the world go by. You can also now take cruises on the river from here. Although it's debatable whether you would want to!

In September, Minato Machi places host to "September Sky" - a small, free open air festival with live music and stalls.

Minato Machi is the area around FM Osaka (the big silver mushroom opposite OCAT) and the boardwalk is on the north side of the tower by the river.

There are 6 Grand Sumo Tournaments a year. 3 in Tokyo, and one in Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyushu. I wasn't sure if I'd like it or not, but I found it very interesting and exciting! Before I went, I did a bit of research on Sumo so I would know more than just 2 fat men trying to push each other out of the ring.

Origin of Sumo
Sumo is an ancient Japanese sport that has spiritual roots. It dates back around 1500 years ago. First sumo matches were a ritual dedicated to the gods for a good harvest.

In the 8th Century, sumo was introduced into the Inperial Court. They held annual wrestling festivals. Sumo didn't have many rules and was a mix of boxing and wrestling.

Later, more rules and techniques for sumo developed. Sumo became used in the military.

Professional Sumo today is from the Edo period, when Sumo was organized to entertain.

Sumo Rules:
A bout is won by forcing the opponent out of the inner circle.
You may lose by: touching the ground with any part of your body. Or by putting any part of your body out of the ring.
Prohibited: Punching, hair pulling, eye gouging, choking, and kicking stomach or chest.
There is no weight limit so Sumos often find themselves in matched against someone much heavier.

Price of Sumo
Ringside Seats: 14,300yen ($US 140)
I tried to buy ringside seats, but basically you have to be affiliated with the high-prestige geisha houses or be someone very very important.

Box Seats (seats 4): 10,300yen per person (US$100).
Good view, from high, but not as good as ringside!! Tip! Sumo tournaments run all day and the highest ranking Sumos fight later on in the day (4pm-6pm) so go around lunchime, there'll be no one in ringside seats! 'Borrow' their seats and take some good photos!

2nd Floor Arena Seating:
A - 8,200 yen
B - 4,900 yen
C - 3,600 yen

If you're interested in Sumo Ceremonies / Rituals, and more Sumo Photos, visit my Osaka Travelogues!