Osaka/Osaka castle

The eastern section of the JR Osaka Loop Line crosses through this district. From Kansai International Airport, take a JR Haruka or Kansai Airport Rapid service to Tennoji and change to the Osaka Loop Line in the direction of Kyobashi. By standard JR trains the trip takes around 75 minutes to Kyobashi and costs ¥1190.
From the bullet train station at Shin-Osaka, take any regular JR train one stop to Osaka station and change to the Osaka Loop Line towards Kyobashi (15-20 min, ¥180).
From Kyoto, an alternate method of reaching the area is to use the private Keihan Railway. The railway runs from the eastern section of Kyoto city and runs through Kyobashi before terminating at the business district in Yodoyabashi. From Shichijo station (a 15-minute walk from Kyoto Station) it takes around 40 minutes to reach Kyobashi (¥400). Taking the Kintetsu Railway from Kyoto Station to Tambabashi and changing to the Keihan Railway takes about an hour and ¥600 to Kyobashi, versus around 40 minutes and ¥800 by JR.

• Osaka CastleOsaka's best known sight, although it's a concrete reconstruction that pales in comparison with, say, Himeji. Think of it as a museum built in the shape of a castle, rather than as an historical Japanese castle. Still, it's pretty enough from the outside, especially in the cherry blossom season when Osakans flock to the castle park to picnic and make merry. Naniwa Palace Site Park or Naniwanomiya can also be found south to Osaka Castle Park (although it's one of Japan's oldest habitats and palace sites, today it's little more than an empty grass field where the outlines of Naniwa's palace foundations from around 643 AD have been partly recreated in concrete).

• Osaka Museum of History

  address: 1-32 Otemae 4-Chome Chuo-ku
  An ideal place to learn all-abouts of Osaka's history. Enjoyable view over Osaka Castle and the OBP skyscrapers.

• Peace Osaka

  phone: +81 66 947-7208
  A museum dedicated to the promotion of peace through displays of war. Because it is an Osaka museum, it features the effects of the bombings on Osaka in World War II. While this is of some interest, the exhibitions depicting the atrocities committed by Japan against China, Korea, and Southeast Asia are what make this museum truly worthwhile. There is also an exhibit with displays relating to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Exhibits have English explanations.

• CarpeDiem InnTraditional-style house and garden within walking distance of the Shiroyama Temple.

• Super Hotel Osaka Tanimachi 4-Chome

  phone: +81 6-6942-9000
  address: 2-2-29 Tokiwa Machi Chuo-ku
  Mid-price chain hotel, around a corner from the Tanimachi 4-chome subway station and a 7-Eleven store with ATM that accepts foreign cards. Modern and clean but compact rooms, with a free Japanese breakfast and free WiFi included with all stays.