infomapJAPAN Free Travel Guide. Maps, Sightseeing, Access Guide, Accommodation, Events, Japanese Trends, Gifts

The highest tower in western Japan rises into the sky of the bay area. World Trade Center or Cosmo Tower is a 256-meter tall multipurpose facility providing 24-hour services to assist business activities. The tower consists of five main features: a landmark tower in the Bay area, the media center that is equipped to transmit information to the world, access to business information by networking with other WTC around the world, and convention facility. The 55-story building also ensures the security and comfort of everyone in the building by using the latest technology available - effective smoke control system in case of fire and computerized vibration control device in case of earthquake. Energy-saving air conditioning system is also installed to protect environment. The observatory on the 55th floor offers you a splendid 360-degree panoramic view up to Kansai International Airport, Awaji Island, and Mt. Rokko in distance. To the observation floor, you can take the transparent elevator that takes you up to the 52nd floor in only 80 seconds to access.

One of Japan's best and largest aquariums boasts to the world with its quality and unique features. Consisted of 15 tall tanks containing total of some 30,000 creatures, the aquarium seeks to demonstrate the idea of "Ring of Fire" and "Ring of Life," which take parts of what Dr. James Lovelock advocates in his new "Gaia Hypothesis." Each tank represents nature of different region and the tanks are organized to resemble the Pacific Rim - 13 tanks are placed around the largest 9-meter tall tank representing the Pacific Ocean. Passing through the tunnel of the Aqua Gate where you can see colorful fishes swim by, the escalator takes you up to the 8th floor. As you go around the tanks downward, you get to see different creatures inhabiting in each depth of the ocean and each region. The main attraction of this aquarium is a whale shark in the Pacific Ocean and ocean fish, penguins, sea otters, dolphins, sea lions and seals also attract many visitors.

Located on the ground of the Cosmo Square near the Osaka Bay, the Asia and Pacific Trade Center (ATC) assists and promotes business activities by offering multipurpose facilities consisting of a building largely divided into two wings: one side is the "ITM" (international trade market) and another is "O's" (amusement facility). ITM provides extensive business information while it is comprised of the international wholesale trade complex and "MARE" that is Japan's largest outlet mall providing a large stock of all kinds of goods for people of all generations. O's Park houses restaurants, stores, an indoor amusement park, a bowling alley, and an event space, the ATC Hall in the south side of the building. Outside of the O's is the O's Park stretched for 450 meter and lined with palm trees along the bayside offering various events during the weekend and attracting couples with beautiful sunset and the illuminations at night.

Founded as a part of development projects for the Osaka Waterfront, Tempozan Harbor Village consists of various facilities such as a giant Ferris wheel, an aquarium, a museum, food mall, and shopping complex in the vast area. Kaiyukan aquarium has 15 tall tanks rising up to the 8th floor and each tank represents nature of each region by featuring the “Ring of Fire” and “Ring of Life." Lives of 30,000 creatures can be observed in the tanks. Next to Kaiyukan, there is a complex facility, Tempozan Marketplace that houses approximately 100 stores including restaurants, shops, amusement complex, and event facilities, which make this place enjoyable to all ages. At Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho in the Marketplace, you can taste a variety of local specialties.

The giant Ferris wheel located in the Tempozan Harbor Village boasts one of the world's largest and highest Ferris wheel with its height of 112.5 meters and its size of a 100 meter-diameter wheel. The Ferris wheel was erected in 1997 and it has been famous for not only its height and size, but also its illuminations. The illuminations on the Ferris wheel are controlled by a special device to give weather information and time signal. The time signal is given with the illuminations forming a firework every 30 minutes and the weather information is given by using a color signal - red for sunny, green for cloudy and blue for rainy. From the 60 gondolas, it commands an amazing unobstructed 360- degree panoramic view ・Mount Ikoma in the east, Akashi Straits Bridge in the west, Kansai International Airport in the south, and Mt. Rokko in the north. The Giant Ferris wheel is also a popular date spot with romantic atmosphere produced by the combination of the night view and the illumination.

An artificial island located in Osaka Bay was established in 1994. Since then, as the name implies, the island has been developed to provide facilities for all types of sports and recreational activities you can think of. The island is fully equipped to entertain visitors at all time of the year and consists of not only athletic facilities, but also leisure facilities for outdoor and cultural activities. The main athletic facilities include the Maishima Baseball Stadium, the Maishima Arena, seaside tennis courts, and two athletic fields. The leisure facilities, including a seaside promenade, an outdoor activities center, a camping area, the Pottery Village, a park with vast greenery, and accommodations are making this place even more popular for all generations. A special facility is available for people with disabilities.

Exhibits are displayed in the symbolic glass dome near the Osaka Bay. Osaka's development is inseparable from the sea since it has long been one of the main ports in Japan and the museum is designed to incorporate various creative ways to offer visitors to enjoy learning how forerunners acquired knowledge and ideas through the sea, ship, and port back then and how such knowledge and idea contributed to Osaka to prosper as a city. After going through the tunnel of aquarium, visitors will go through the displayed exhibits from the 4th floor down to the 1st floor centered by a remodeled ship from the 17th century. Besides the exhibits, there are also high tech theaters and yacht simulation (virtual sailing).

This quiet and peaceful park was built over the little man-made mountain called "Tempozan." By planting pine and cherry trees and building stores on the mountain, it became one Osaka's famous spots for boating activity and as a major cherry blossom-viewing spot during the Edo Period, and it was often recognized as a landmark for ships coming into the Osaka Bay. The park turned into a ground to mount a battery and was partially destroyed when Japan open the country; however, it became a holiday spot again when the surrounding area was developed to establish a holiday zone during the late Meiji Period. Today, the park still remains at the same place though it has become smaller compared to its original size, but it is kept in good condition as known for pine trees and the magnificent cherry trees in April, and Tempozan is known to be the lowest mountain in Japan.

Universal Studios Japan is the theme park which brings the magic of movies to life. It is the first Universal Studio outside the U.S. and is located in Osaka, the second largest city in Japan. It consists of 9 areas, 19 attractions and 45 themed restaurants and shops. World famous characters, like Snoopy, Shrek, and those from Sesame Street, will greet you in the studios.