〔Osaka〕 Osaka Castle with its huge lawn park. The bustling Umeda Underground Mall and Namba are also main attractions.
Osaka prefecture located in the center of Kinki region in the Midwest Japan covers the smallest prefecture land area in Japan, but boasts of largest population and highest population density second only after the capital, Tokyo. Mountains surround three sides of the prefecture and the west faces the arc-shaped Osaka Bay. Since it is close to former capitals of Japan Kyoto and Nara, it prospered as an important point for land and water transportation as well as a commercial city.
In the Osaka City is the Osaka Castle with a five-layer donjon as its core, on a lawn park that stretches for about 60,000 square meters. During the cherry blossom season in the spring, this park is especially crowded with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) crowd. Osaka's north gate, Umeda, has a gigantic stretch of underground mall that houses many restaurants, fashion and sundry goods stores.
In contrast to Kita with Umeda as its core, Minami is an area with core cities Namba, a popular business and shopping district, and Dotonbori with many restaurants on both sides of Dotonbori-gawa River. Minami is known as a town of public entertainment and has many theaters and cinemas.
In recent years, the development of Osaka's new showplace, the waterfront, is taking place. Tenpo-zan Harbor Village, which has a 112 meter-high Ferris wheel, shopping mall and Suntory Museum, a complex of cultural facilities, and ATC(Asia Pacific Trade Center), Japan's largest outlet mall, are also popular.
〔Kyoto〕 The former capital of Japan, famous worldwide for its temples and shrines. Kyoto was the center of politics and culture for 1,100 years.
Kyoto Prefecture stretches out from the southeast to the northwest in the central and northern parts of the Kansai region. It has four geographical features, the saw-toothed coastal area around Maizuru Bay in the northeast, the Tanba Mountains around its center, the Kyoto Basin in the southeast, and the Yamashiro Basin.
Kyoto became the capital of Japan in the 8th century. It flourished as the center for Japanese politics, economy and culture for some 1,100 years, until the capital functions were transferred to Tokyo in the mid-19th century. There remain many temples and shrines in Kyoto that were built during this long period. Seventeen historic sites including, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Nijo Castle, are inscribed as World Cultural Heritage Sites.
You may meet some 'maiko,' young dancing entertainers, who walk in long hanging-sleeved kimono in the Gion district, see the townscape characterized with popular 19th century style latticework, and visit the Nishijin where they weave traditional 'Nishijin-ori' textiles with vividly colored threads. The festivals in Kyoto are famous not only in Japan, but are also known worldwide. The three major festivals of Kyoto are the Aoi-matsuri Festival in early summer, the Gion-matsuri Festival in mid-summer and the Jidai-matsuri Festival in fall. There is also the Gozan-no-Okuribi, more commonly known as Daimonji-yaki, held on the night of Urabon (August 16th). During this festival numerous torches are ignited on the five mountains surrounding Kyoto, with the flames laid out to form a letter or figure. It is a summer event known both at home and abroad.
〔Hyogo〕 Numerous cultural heritage sites, the most famous of which is Himeji Castle. San-in Kaigan Coast National Park is a natural attraction.
Hyogo prefecture is situated in the western part of Kinki Region (Midwest Japan) facing Seto Inland Sea to the south and the Sea of Japan to the north. There are scenic places like Seto Inland Sea National Park, San-in Kaigan Coast National Park, Rokko Mountains and Awaji-shima Island. It also has numerous cultural heritage represented by Himeji Castle which is a World Cultural Heritage.
Seto Inland Sea coastline enjoys sunny, moderate weather and has big cities such as Kobe with one of the leading trading ports in Japan, the Kobe Port, and castle city Himeji, as well as Mt. Rokko-san area known as a health resort. Kobe that is the core of the prefecture's administration and economy is an exotic port city. On Port Island, an artificial land floating in the Kobe Port, is the International Convention Center. The meridian line at 135 degrees east longitude runs through Akashi City and Japanese Standard Time is measured according to this line.
Coastline on the Japan Sea side that belongs to San-in Kaigan Coast National Park reveals complex and varied scenery. At Tajimamihoura and Kasumi beaches you can see formative arts of intricate coastline, washed reef, and cave mouth created by rough wave of the Japan Sea.
Q1. Where are you from(town/city)? What part of Kansai do you like the most? Tell us what is different there from other parts of Kansai.
あなたはどこ出身ですか?関西のどの地域が一番好きですか?そこは関西の他の地域と何が違いま すか?
Q2. What prefecture or city of Kansai do you recommend to your foreign friends for tourism? Why?
外国人の友人に、関西のどの県・都市を観光するのに勧めますか?なぜですか?
Q3. Above articles are from Japan National Tourist Organization webpage, and they are for foreign tourists who might visit Japan for tourism. Did you know all the facts mentioned above? If there is any unknown fact which surprised you, kindly let us know.