ASIA OSAKA DESTINATIONS K


yoto and Tokyo have long been the big draws on any


IN OSAKA


Step aside Tokyo, it’s Osaka’s time to shine, says Tamara Hinson


Japan itinerary – once visitors have seen geisha girls and the capital’s neon skyscraper-filled streets, it’s easy to assume they have had their fill of the Far East. Not any more. Japan’s growing popularity has provided a welcome boost to the many spots that didn’t always make it onto the classic first-timer’s itinerary, but more than merit the attention. Osaka – the name given both


to the port city on Honshu island and its surrounding prefecture – is one of those rising stars. Here, you’ll find Japan’s typically quirky mix of modern electronics shops and ancient artworks, classical


theatre and funky cocktail bars, with plenty more highlights to be found in the surrounding cities.


w DAY ONE 09.00: Get your bearings with a visit to the Umeda Sky Building in the city centre. A spectacular observatory connects the two towers of this distinctive structure. You’ll enjoy spectacular views over Osaka, and on a clear day you’ll be able to see Awaji Island, 62 miles away.


11.00: Head to bustling JR Osaka Station, the main rail hub, for some retail therapy. It’s home to Osaka’s finest department stores, including Daimaru and Hanshin, which are famous for their


depachikas – beautiful food halls filled with Japan’s finest foods. The most mouth-watering


areas include the patisserie and fresh-produce sections, which cater to the Japanese’ love of gifting elaborately packaged food. Honeydew melons, encircled with ribbon, come with a price tag of nearly £40 apiece, but for those on a budget, bunches of beautifully wrapped, golf-ball-sized grapes are a bargain at about £12. Next door to the station is the


Grand Front Osaka shopping centre. You’ll find a wide range of stores, but for a truly unusual souvenir, head to the Suntory Whisky House and pick up a duck-shaped bottle of Japan’s


15 February 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 69


FAST FACT Flights from Heathrow to Osaka, via


Amsterdam, start at £550 return with KLM


PICTURES: OSAKA CONVENTION & TOURISM BUREAU


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