The Daigaku festival takes place in late July every year at the Ikune Shrine in Osaka. Like other matsuri, it’s a lively community event with street food stalls and children’s games accompanying the traditional elements. The eponymous dai..
Tenjin Matsuri (天神祭) is one of the most symbolic water and light festivals in Osaka, also ranked as one of the three greatest festivals in Japan, held annually on 24th–25th of July. Tenjin is 'god of the sky' and Matsuri is festival in ..
An excited crowd clad in their best Yukatas, the smell of grilled sausages from the street vendors, sounds of excitement and thrill from kids sitting on their parents’ shoulder, anxiously waiting for the next masterpiece painted on the dark sum..
Sakai is a bustling city in Osaka prefecture brimming with scenic parks, keyhole-shaped burial mounds, and temples. Just under an hour away from Osaka city, Sakai, also well-known for its quality knives, is perfect for visitors as its attractions are relatively close to each other. Japan’s lar..
Osaka city needs no introductions. As a major tourist hub in Japan, Osaka rivals Tokyo in terms of attractions and food. Visitors will be spoilt for choice with Universal Studios Osaka, Osaka Aquarium, and Osaka Castle all vying for their attention. And that is only the tip of the iceberg for an Osa..
You may have heard of the cat cafe (here and here), a trend that started in Japan and that has now taken the world by storm. But, have you heard of the Owl Cafe? In this latest plot twist to the "cute animal + coffee shop" formula, visitor..
Wagashi are traditional Japanese confectioneries, which evolved into an art form in Japan's ancient Imperial capital of Kyoto. Beautiful to the touch, sight, and smell, they are a feast for all the senses. The Japanese appreciation of the seaso..
Dining Tabi is an elegant addition to the chic Hiranomachi culinary scene, having opened its doors in 2014. It has a large selection of Sake which is perfectly matched with its superb Japanese inspired French dishes, masterminded by chef Tanaka since..
Hotel Mystays is a Japanese hotel group with an extensive network covering major cities all over Japan. On my visit to Osaka, I stayed at their Shin-Osaka property (there are another two Hotel Mystays situated downtown in Shinsaibashi). For its conve..
Do you remember when you first fell in love? What can you remember? The voice? The scent? Scent can be such an evocative sense, and at the Hotel Inter-continental Osaka, they really want you to fall in love with this five star hotel. Stepping into t..
Osaka is not a small city. It requires detailed planning to see its highlights in a limited time. At the same time, a convenient and comfortable place is needed to make the most of exploring the city. The answer to this is HOTEL MYSTAYS Sakaisuji-Hon..
Everyone loves a good read, and at Standard Bookstore Chayamachi they get this too. The bookstore, which is divided into three sections - books, cafe, and gifts - and features one of the best collections of books on special interest topics that you&#..
There are no bullet trains from Kansai Airport to Shin Osaka. While I can hear your disappointment as I write this, there are other options that are just as comfortable. If money is not an issue, the fastest and most relaxing way is to use Japan Rail..
It is Saturday night and you are looking for somewhere to have some fun. Somewhere you can have a few laughs, a beer and a game or two between jokes or reminiscing over the big day or week you had. Why not come to Nambar 10, inside the Swissotel comp..
