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WHAT
TO
SEE
I
WHAT
TO
DO
I
WHERE
TO
VISIT
I
WORLD
HERITAGES |
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 Osaka
prefecture
located
in
the
center
of
Kinki
region
in
the
Midwest
Japan
covers
the
smallest
prefecture
land
area
in
Japan,
but
boasts
of
largest
population
and
highest
population
density
second
only
after
the
capital,
Tokyo.
Mountains
surround
three
sides
of
the
prefecture
and
the
west
faces
the
arc-shaped
Osaka
Bay.
Since
it
is
close
to
former
capitals
of
Japan
Kyoto
and
Nara,
it
prospered
as
an
important
point
for
land
and
water
transportation
as
well
as a
commercial
city. |
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In
the
Osaka
City
is
the
Osaka
Castle
with
a
five-layer
donjon
as
its
core,
on a
lawn
park
that
stretches
for
about
60,000
square
meters.
During
the
cherry
blossom
season
in
the
spring,
this
park
is
especially
crowded
with
hanami
(cherry
blossom
viewing)
crowd.
Osaka's
north
gate,
Umeda,
has
a
gigantic
stretch
of
underground
mall
that
houses
many
restaurants,
fashion
and
sundry
goods
stores. |
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In
contrast
to
Kita
with
Umeda
as
its
core,
Minami
is
an
area
with
core
cities
Namba,
a
popular
business
and
shopping
district,
and
Dotonbori
with
many
restaurants
on
both
sides
of
Dotonbori-gawa
River.
Minami
is
known
as a
town
of
public
entertainment
and
has
many
theaters
and
cinemas. |
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In
recent
years,
the
development
of
Osaka's
new
showplace,
the
waterfront,
is
taking
place.
Tenpo-zan
Harbor
Village,
which
has
a
112
meter-high
Ferris
wheel,
shopping
mall
and
Suntory
Museum,
a
complex
of
cultural
facilities,
and
ATC(Asia
Pacific
Trade
Center),
Japan's
largest
outlet
mall,
are
also
popular. |
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