1Expo Memorial Park

A park rich in nature with the Tower of the Sun as its symbol

This vast park was developed on the site of the Japan World Exposition (Osaka Expo) held in 1970. Its symbol is the Tower of the Sun in the Natural and Cultural Gardens Zone. The Tower of the Sun was built by artist Taro Okamoto at the time of the Osaka Expo.Theme MuseumIt was devised as a part of the Tower of the Sun, and it was decided to preserve it permanently after the closing ceremony. The unique tower, which is about 70 meters tall and has three faces on the outside, can be toured from the inside if you make a reservation in advance. In addition to the Tower of the Sun, there are many other attractions in the park, such as the "EXPO'70 Pavilion," "Japan Folk Crafts Museum, Osaka," and "National Museum of Ethnology."

Visit the inside of the Tower of the Sun, where a mysterious otherworldly world unfolds

Top of the TowerDepartmentA tree stretches out towardsIn the "Tree of Life", tracing the evolution of life from protists to mammals183A unique space filled with biological models of the body spreads out before you. To enter the building, you must make a reservation in advance on the Tower of the Sun official website. Reservations are accepted from four months before the day of your visit (first come, first served). Same-day tickets are only sold if there are vacancies. The tour lasts about 30 minutes. You can enter the museum shop, where you can purchase Tower of the Sun merchandise, without a ticket.

Expo Memorial Park

• https://www.expo70-park.jp/
• Senri Expo Park, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 5 minutes walk from Osaka Monorail "Banpaku Kinen Koen Station" or "Koen Higashiguchi Station"
• 9:30-17:00 (last admission 16:30)
• Wednesdays (open on public holidays, closed the following day, except April 1st to May Golden Week and October to November), New Year's holidays
• Adults: 260 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 80 yen (shared for both the Natural and Cultural Gardens and the Japanese Garden) *Fees vary for each Property
• 06-6877-7387 (Expo Commemoration Call Center)
• Paid

2NIFREL

A new type of museum based on the concept of "touching the senses"

Produced by Osaka's Kaiyukan, one of the world's largest aquariums, this is an experiential museum that goes beyond the boundaries of an aquarium, zoo, or art museum. Unlike traditional aquariums and zoos that recreate the natural habitats of their habitats, this museum exhibits a wide variety of creatures, from small fish to large animals such as white tigers and mini hippos, dividing the creatures' personalities into eight themes such as "color," "skills," "water surface," and "movement."The aquarium can be viewed from 360 degrees, and another great feature is that you can see the creatures from new perspectives that you normally wouldn't see.

A popular exhibition zone where you can experience the free movement of living creatures

Particularly popular are the creaturesThey live freely in an area without fences or cages.This is the "Encountering Movement" corner. You can feel the breathing of living creatures up close, with ring-tailed lemurs bounding energetically across the floor, Asian small-clawed otters, African spurred tortoises, Indian peacocks and more. You can also see African penguins swimming swiftly in the pool and a burrowing owl standing silently on a toilet sign, making it hard to take your eyes off the free-spirited and unpredictable movements of the animals.

NIFREL

• https://www.nifrel.jp/
• Osaka Prefecture, Suita City, Senri Expo Park 2-1 EXPOCITY MAP
• Approximately 2 minutes walk from Expo Memorial Park Station on the Osaka Monorail
• 10:00-18:00 (check the official website for Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays) *Last admission is 1 hour before closing
• Closed once a year for equipment inspection
• Adults: 2,200 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 1,100 yen, children 3 and over: 650 yen, children 2 and under: free
• 0570-022060（ナビダイヤル）
• Enter Nifrel and get 2 hours of free Parking at EXPOCITY (free all day on weekdays)

3Namba Grand Kagetsu

Yoshimoto Kogyo's pride and joy: the "hall of laughter" that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and genders

Founded in 1912 (Meiji 45), Yoshimoto Kogyo is a long-established comedy company and boasts one of the largest theaters in Japan. Regular performances are divided into two parts, with manzai, rakugo, and comedy sketches, and Yoshimoto Shinkigeki, and last about two hours. Manzai, rakugo, and comedy sketches are very popular because you can see live performances every day by comedians who are active on TV, from young to veteran. Yoshimoto Shinkigeki is a comedy of about 50 minutes conducted by four unique leaders. The atmosphere and story are different depending on the leader, and the performers' own material and gags are featured one after another. Tickets can sell out, so it is recommended to make a reservation in advance.

Enjoy Osaka gourmet food and souvenir shopping before or after the show

Before and after the show, you can enjoy the local gourmet food inside the theater, or shop for original goods at the Yoshimoto Kogyo official shop. At the takoyaki shop "Yoshitako produced by Takoyaki Bu!", where Yoshimoto comedians are both the grillers and the sellers, you can taste a special dish produced by a comedian. We also recommend "Chitose Bekkan," where you can try the Osaka gourmet dish Niku-sui, which was created at the request of a comedian, and "Sakedokoro Satsuki," a counter izakaya where you can enjoy a daytime drink with seasonal fish dishes as a snack.

Namba Grand Kagetsu

• https://ngk.yoshimoto.co.jp
• Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, Chuo Ward, Namba Sennichimae 11-6 MAP
• Approximately 5 minutes walk from Osaka Metro Namba Station
• Main performance: Weekdays from 11:00/14:30
  Saturday 10:00~/13:00~/16:00~/19:00~
  Sunday 10:00～/13:00～/16:00～
  *Subject to change*Please check the official website for details of the evening performance
• Open daily
• First floor seats for this performance are 5,000 yen, second floor seats are 4,500 yen (same price for advance tickets and on the day, for adults and children. All seats are reserved)
• 06-6641-0888（10:00〜18:00）
• None

4Tennoji Zoo

A well-established zoo with the third longest history in Japan

This historic urban zoo will celebrate its 110th anniversary in 2025. The zoo is home to around 1,000 animals from 170 species, and has an "ecological exhibit" that showcases the animals' behavior in an environment that recreates as closely as possible the scenery of their natural habitat. In the African Savannah Zone, which recreates the savannah environment surrounded by rocky mountains called "kopjes," visitors can see carnivorous lions and herbivorous giraffes and zebras at the same time, just like in real life.

Check out popular animals and rare animals you can only see here

The zoo is home to many popular and charming creatures, including the red pandas that live in the trees, the polar bears that love to play in water, the jaguars that play with straw balls made by the zookeepers, and the Malayan sun bears that are known for their cute, laid-back and comical movements. You can also enjoy the exhibits of rare animals, including the black-faced monkey "drill," which is one of the few in the world to be kept in captivity, and Tennoji Zoo is the only place in Japan where it is exhibited. We also recommend the Penguin Park & Sea Lion Wharf, where you can see penguins and sea lions swimming around lively.

Tennoji Zoo

• https://www.tennojizoo.jp/
• 1-108 Chausuyamacho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture MAP
• About 5-10 minutes walk from Osaka Metro Dobutsuen-mae Station
• 9:30-17:00, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in May and September - 18:00 (Last admission 1 hour before closing)
• Mondays (open on public holidays, closed the following day), New Year's holidays (December 29th to January 1st)
  *Please check the business calendar for special opening days.
• Adults: 500 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 200 yen (free for elementary and junior high school students in Osaka city)
• 06-6771-8401
• None
• Please check the website for "Mealtime/Snacktime"

5Kizu Wholesale Market Kizu Morning Market

A lively morning market held twice a month

Osaka Kizu Wholesale Market, where professional chefs in Osaka buy their supplies, holds a morning market twice a month, on the second and last Saturdays of the month. In addition to shopping and enjoying market gourmet food at the morning market, an auction Experience tour is held from 10am, and anyone can participate in the auction (advance reservations required). The auction floor is livened up by the skillful conversation of the shopkeepers, and seasonal seafood, high-quality meat, and other items are on offer.ofThis is your chance to bid at a great price.This is a rare Experience to take part in an auction in a market that is normally off-limits to many, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere inside.

Enjoy gourmet food and shopping that can only be found at the market

There are also eateries dotted around the market where you can dine in. You can enjoy popular market delicacies such as fresh seafood bowls, sushi, and charcoal-grilled eel on rice in the morning. There are also coffee shops and cafes where you can enjoy breakfast.There are also many stores offering samples at the morning market.There are alsoYou can sample all kinds of canned goods, and there are also prepared dishes made with high-quality fish.Other things include:The market is stocked with high-quality products such as locally produced fish, fresh meat, traditional Naniwa vegetables, and high-quality fruit.You can also enjoy shopping.

Kizu Wholesale Market Kizu Morning Market

• https://kiduichiba.jp
• 2-2-8 Shikitsuhigashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture MAP
• About 3 minutes walk from Osaka Metro Daikokucho Station
• Kizu Morning Market: 2nd and last Saturday of every month, 9:00-12:00 only
• Market: Sundays, national holidays, Wednesdays (irregular holidays), and temporary closing days twice a month
• 06-6631-1139
• Paid

6TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka

An exhibition transforming the botanical garden into a light art space

Osaka City Nagai Botanical Gardens is an area of about 240,000㎡, and is home to about 1,200 kinds of plants.This is "TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka," an outdoor night museum created by the art group "TeamLab."This museum is a project that aims to turn nature into art in its natural state, without destroying it, through the use of immaterial digital technology."Bird Sculptures Scattered in the Wind"is a work that depicts in real time the flow of energy created by the flight of a bird.

What is a botanical garden during the day becomes an art space at night.

Another major feature is that the impression you get will change depending on the time of year you visit, as the art space changes with the seasons of the botanical garden. The artwork space changes interactively in response to the wind and rain blowing in the natural environment, and the behavior of birds and people. These artworks are the product of the latest digital technology and the nature of the botanical garden. If you listen carefully in the dark, you can hear the sound of the wind and the voices of the birds, and if you take a deep breath, you can smell the scent of flowers, making you feel the presence of nature right nearby. Some artworks change when people pass by or touch them, so you can interact with them using all five senses.

TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka

• https://www.teamlab.art/jp/e/botanicalgarden/
• Nagai Botanical Gardens, 1-23 Nagai Park, Higashisumiyoshi Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 10 minutes walk from Osaka Metro Nagai Station
• Varies depending on the season (check official website)
• Irregular
• Adults: 1,800 to 2,400 yen (price varies)
• 06-6699-5120（16:00〜20:30）
• Paid

7Dorakutei

A comedy hall where you can casually enjoy the traditional art of Kamigata Rakugo

Located in a corner of Shinsekai, this comedy hall offers the chance to enjoy Kamigata Rakugo.The late Katsura Zakoba established this center in 2008 with the hope that "people would be able to enjoy rakugo casually."Kamigata Rakugo, which originated in Osaka and Kyoto and uses the dialect of the Kinki region, is characterized by lively stage productions, such as playing shamisen and drums called "hamemono" and banging on a small table placed in front of the performer to attract the attention of passersby. Here you can enjoy a variety of performances, mainly from the Katsura Beicho school, which represents Kamigata Rakugo.

The "Dorakutei Lunch Show" can be viewed without a reservation, making it the perfect spot to stop by between sightseeing in Osaka

Because it is a small venue with a capacity of about 100 people, you can get up close and personal with the performers, feeling their gaze, eyebrow movements, and even their breathing.
We recommend the Dorakutei Lunch Performance to tourists, as there is no need to buy tickets or make reservations in advance and you can just drop in whenever you feel like it. It is held from 2pm on the 1st to the 20th of each month. From the 21st onwards, not only rakugo performances but also various other performances such as rokyoku and kodan are held day and night. Why not visit this rare spot where you can casually Experience traditional performing arts and experience the excitement of a live performance?

Dorakutei

• https://beicho.jp/dourakutei/
• 1-17-6 Nishinari-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture MAP
• About 3 minutes walk from Osaka Metro Dobutsuen-mae Station
• Varies by performance. Check the official website
• According to the performance
• Varies by performance
• 06-6365-8281 (Beichou Corporation Office) *Inquiries accepted weekdays from 10:00 to 18:00
• None

8Osaka Castle Main Tower

A panoramic view of Osaka city from the elegant castle tower

Osaka Castle was constructed in 1583 (Tensho 11) by Toyotomi Hideyoshi as a base for unifying the country. The castle tower was burned down twice but was rebuilt in 1931 (Showa 6), and is currently open to the public as a history museum.
Inside the building, there are plenty of things to see, including items related to Hideyoshi, a diorama of the Summer Siege of Osaka, and a full-scale model of the Golden Teahouse, but the highlight is the observation deck on the 8th floor. The 360-degree panoramic view of Osaka city from 50 meters above ground is a breathtaking sight. Why not try to immerse yourself in the feelings of Hideyoshi, who unified the country?

9Night view of Sakai and Senboku coastal industrial area

A fantastical view of factory chimneys and pipes

The waterfront area from Sakai City to Takaishi City, where a cluster of petroleum and chemical manufacturers' factories spreads, is a popular spot for viewing factory night views. If you drive on the Hanshin Expressway Route 4 Bayshore Route from Kansai International Airport to Osaka City, you will see the industrial area on your left after passing Izumiotsu Parking Area. In particular, the area around Chikko Hamadera Nishimachi at the tip of the pier is a spectacular spot where you can see a group of spires across the sea. Multiple factories are lined up on both sides, and the steam rising from the spires and the light reflected on the sea surface create a fantastic view.

See the city's night view up close, like something out of a science fiction movie

Located in an industrial area"Chikkoshinmachi Hamahakobe Park" is also a hidden spot where you can enjoy the night view of the factories up close. You can enjoy the inorganic night view of the factories through the gaps between the palm trees growing in the park, and it is very impressive to look up at the towering plants from below. Although the field of view is narrow, the distinctive shape of the oil refinery plant stands out in the dark night.
To visit the viewing spots, you basically need to travel by car, but a recommended spot that you can get to without a car is the walkway along the waterway at Hamadera Park. It is just a short walk from Hamadera Park Station, and you can see the rare view of the Hanshin Expressway Bayshore Line crossing in front of the factory.

Night view of Sakai and Senboku coastal industrial area

• https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/feature/detail/7
• Osaka Prefecture, Sakai City, Sakai Ward, Chikko Hamadera Nishimachi, Chikko Shinmachi 3-cho MAP
• Approximately 15 minutes by car from Sakai Station on the Nankai Main Line
• 観光タクシーの予約は072-233-6601（公益社団法人堺観光コンベンション協会　周遊促進グループ）
• None