Enjoy Osaka Aqua Metropolis and Modern Architectures

First I would like to take you to the 2.6 km long Tenjinbashisuji shopping street. It's the longest shopping street in Japan. I recommend you visit the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living at Tenjinbashisuji sixth street. You can see the reproductions of long houses facing the street, goods for sale, and general household items. You can try wear a yukata or a light cotton kimono for 200 yen per person.

Why don't you enjoy wearing a light cotton kimono and take pictures?

Osaka Tenmangu Shrine is also located along the street. The Osaka Tenjin Festival, one of the three major festivals in Japan, starts from this shrine.

You can also enjoy so many restaurants and reasonably priced shops on this street. You can enjoy sushi or udon noodles for lunch.

Osaka is known as a city of waterways, same as the lagoon city of Venice in Italy. Now the waterfront is used for leisure and pleasure. There are restaurants, cafe, and modern architectures in and around Nakanoshima or a small island between Dojima river and Tosabori river. The bridges of Osaka are called "the 808 bridges of Naniwa."

The Osaka branch office of the Bank of Japan that was built in 1903 and the Osaka City Hall that was built in 1986 are located near Yodoyabashi (bridge).

Osaka Central Public Hall (the former Oskaka Nakanoshima Public Hall) is near Umedankibashi (bridge). This red brick building was built in 1918 and is now a symbol of Nakanoshima.

The Museum of Oriental Ceramics is near Hokonagashibashi (bridge). It was built in 1982. The museum was established by Osaka city to commemorate the donations of the world-famous "Ataka Collection" by the 21 companies of the Sumitomo Group. The Ataka Collection comprises mostly of Chinese and Korean ceramics, Japanese ceramics and the like.

The Osaka Securities Exchange is near Naniwabashi (bridge), which is the most popular bridge in Osaka because of the statues of lions on both ends of the bridge.

You can enjoy the 3,700 roses of 310 varieties at the rose garden in May or October, not only in Nakanoshima park but also on the bank of both rivers.

Tenjinbashi (bridge) is widely known as the starting point for boats cruise when Tenjin Festival is held.

From Tenmabashi bridge you can get to Osaka Castle in about 15 minutes.

If you are particularly interested in the Japanese architecture of the early 1900's or just walking around enjoying the gentle breeze from rivers, I'm sure you'll enjoy walking around Nakanoshima.