Osaka is western Japan's largest city, and in many ways is like a smaller, more laid back Tokyo. I think Osaka was the most entertaining city I was in during my stay in Japan in 2007. Central Osaka was a wonder of light and noise, and I took many of the photos at night of people in the tiny overcrowded, overlit streets. I noticed a tendency towards big hair and slutty dressing in Osaka, and I tried to capture some photos of this, but as you can imagine, it isn't necessarily that easy to do discreetly.
Osaka also offered up some of the best modern architecture of my trip. I am thinking especially of the Church of Light in Ibaraki, a modern take on a temple in the Tennoji area, and two small pavilions in Osaka Castle Park. Strangely, Osaka's exhibitionist nature in dress and behaviour isn't reflected in their buildings necessarily, which can be quite calm and subdued.
Photo List (Total 253 Photos)
Click bolded headers below to view, or click "just the best" for quick tour
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Central city / Dotombori (52 photos) - Central Osaka was a whirlwind of noise and activity, especially at night. These photos show a few tall and a few wacky buildings, department stores in the area, and also show many views of Dotombori (a major entertainment area) at night and during the day.
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Kita area (28 photos) - The Kita area lies north of central Osaka, and is where the main rail station and Osaka's tallest core of buildings is found. Also home to the Umeda Sky Building or Shin-Umeda City. These photos are mostly of tall buildings, of Shin-Umeda City, and of views from the top of the tower.
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Waterfront (19 photos) - Suntory Museum, the Aquarium, a few bridges, a ferris wheel, and a few other buildings.
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Osaka Castle Park and area (43 photos) - Moats and castle buildings, view from the Castle Tower, two beautiful modern pavilions in the park, and the Osaka Museum of History.
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Tennoji (60 photos) - Narrow residential streets in the slopes area, a traditional Japanese temple, two beautiful modern takes on Japanese temples, Tennoji Park (including Tadao Ando's theatre & greenhouse), and a tent city of homeless people.
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Ibaraki (27 photos) - I went to this suburb of Osaka to see a church by Tadao Ando, and about half these photos are of that one building. The rest are houses, commercial buildings, and streets in the suburbs.
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Miscellaneous (11 photos) - Compare plastic and real food, see oversized animals, a picture of Bob in an internet cafe, and best of all, Osaka's peculiar style of big hair boys and big hair girls.
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Transit photos (13 photos) - Kansai airport, photos of the trip on the local train to Osaka's suburbs, and a small number of subway shots.
