Osaka Facts for Kids

Because it is by the sea, it is good for transportation. That is why an ancient emperor made Osaka the capital city. In the early part of the 8th century Naniwa was one of capitals of Japan. In the middle of the 16th century Toyotomi Hideyoshi founded Osaka castle and governed Japan in Osaka. The basis of development of Osaka was prepared in those times. Osaka castle was destroyed once by Tokugawa Ieyasu but Ieyasu choose Osaka as one of the political centers in the Western Japan. He made Osaka a direct dominion of the shogun. During the Edo period Osaka was a center of commerce, finance, pharmacy and other products. It was a center for literature and theater. Kabuki in Osaka is as famous as Kabuki in Edo and Kyoto. It is also known for bunraku (a traditional puppet theater) and manzai (a kind of stand-up comedy).

Osaka Castle

Traditional Osaka food dishes include okonomiyaki (pan-fried batter cake) and takoyaki (octopus dumplings).

In this region, many people speak a dialect called Osaka-Ben (e.g. "ookini"="thank you").

After the Meiji restoration Osaka was modernized and industrialized. It was a center of Japanese industry. After the World War II its economical importance was relatively less because Tokyo grew as an international city and many companies moved their headquarters to Tokyo. But Osaka is still a large, important city.

Sightseeing spots

Universal Studios Japan – This is the most famous theme park in Osaka. There are shows, popular characters and musicals.
Kaiyuukan – This is the most famous aquarium in Osaka. They have animals including whale sharks and penguins.
Yoshimoto shinkigenki – It is a traditional comedy in Namba Grand Kagetsu.

Seasonal spots

In spring, good places to see cherry blossoms are the Mint and Banpakukinen Park.
In summer, there are displays of fireworks at the Tenzin festival, Yodo river festival and PL art of fireworks.
In winter, there are Christmas decorations at Nakanoshima and Midosuzi.

Sports

Football clubs in Osaka

Baseball teams in Osaka

Mind sports in Osaka

Kansai Ki-in (Non-profit organization to promote Go in Osaka)

Images for kids

Satellite image of Osaka
A street in Umeda, Osaka
Osaka Exchange in the Kitahama district of Osaka
Greater Osaka (without Kyoto) Metropolitan Employment Area.
Keihanshin with Osaka (red), Kobe (green), and Kyoto (blue).
Map of Osaka Metro system
The Glico Man among numerous signboards at Dōtonbori
Grand Front Osaka
Chayamachi district in Kita-ku
Amerikamura in Chuo-ku
Nipponbashi in Naniwa-ku
The National Museum of Art, a subterranean museum for Japanese and international arts
Tenjin Matsuri
The Osaka Dome, home to the Orix Buffaloes and Hanshin Tigers
NHK Osaka
Kansai University
Osaka Metropolitan University
Universal Studios Japan
Nagai Park is visible
Tsūtenkaku, a symbol of Osaka's postwar reconstruction
Ancient shells found in the Morinomiya kaizuka (Jomon period)
Daisen Kofun, the largest Kofun in Sakai, Osaka, 5th century
Sumiyoshi Taisha Grand Shrine
Shitennō-ji
Remains of Naniwa-no-Miya Palace (2017)
Osaka Castle (first built in 1583)
The Sumiyoshi-matsuri in the 16th century
Japanese painting of the Siege of Osaka (1615)
Map of Osaka, 1686
Dōjima Rice Exchange ukiyo-e by Yoshimitsu Sasaki
A model of the Kawaguchi foreign settlement (1868-1899)
Skyscrapers in Umeda district
Sennichimae area in 1916
View of Osaka after the bombing in 1945
The Expo '70 was the first world's fair held in Japan and Asia
Abeno Harukas, tallest building in Japan
Central Osaka looking north from the Abeno Harukas observation deck (2014)
Osaka skyline towards Umeda (2014)
Nakanoshima, a boundary of Kita (right) and Semba (left)
Umeda district (2019)
Dōtonbori bridge
Namba (2015)
Utsubo Park
Osaka Castle Park
Sakuranomiya Park
Yodogawa Riverside Park
Izumi Hall
Osaka-jō Hall
National Bunraku Theatre
Tenma Tenjin Shichotei

Osaka facts for kids

Contents

History