Autumn is indeed a great time to visit Japan! There are a lot of hidden gems here in Osaka for a soothing hike in search of Momiji (autumn leaves). These two recommended hiking courses left me with unforgettable memories.

Osaka has a rich and deep underground music scene ranging from electronica, to glitch, to hardcore punk, to metal, and everything in between. Additionally, many foreign acts who are touring Japan will make at least one stop in Osaka and have support from the local acts. A result of all of this is that Osaka is home to plenty of live houses and concert halls, big and small.

Starting in the third century and continuing through to the early seventh century, these tombs were constructed for the imperial family, nobility, and the powerful.

Anyone who has been living in Japan for any length of time knows of the friendly, decades-old, rivalry between Tokyo and Osaka – Tokyo built Tokyo Dome for baseball games and as a concert venue. A few years later Osaka Dome opened to great fanfare. Tokyo negotiated with the Disney Corporation and opened Tokyo Disneyland. Not wanting to be outdone, Osaka brought Universal Studios to Japan.

So, without further ado, here’s my suggested local route for traveling from Osaka to Tokyo, with some suggested pit stops along the way.

Three days is a short amount of time if you want to check each and every place in Osaka and Kyoto, but I would like to share the places I have been and will remember fondly.

In Osaka, however, there are plenty of activities to do during the winter which are sure to pull you out of your cosy warm bed and into Kansai’s popular prefecture! Here’s a look at 5 things to do in Osaka during the winter!

Tokyo and Osaka are quite different from one another and each offers things that the other doesn’t (although of course they do also share some similarities). So what is it about these cities that makes them the “crème de la crème” of Japanese cities and which one is for you?

Okonomiyaki is a type of savory dish that looks like a pancake – it might be known as the Japanese pancake or pizza is some countries, like in Indonesia. Okonomiyaki Chitose is a small food shop at the back of an alley in Shin-Imamiya, Osaka. It has been running since 1959 under the hands of Hideki-san.

Markets are a genuine way to experience the amazing food and culture of Japan. Nishiki Market in Kyoto is not to be missed in Kansai, but for fewer crushing crowds of tourists try Kuroman Ichiba Market in Osaka for an authentic Japanese experience.

It is often called “Sports Aikido” or “Tomiki Aikido,” but its actual name is Shodokan Aikido. Tomiki Kenji, the founder of this style of Aikido, chose this name.

Japan has many different ways to travel cross-country. When all has been said about the common methods–bullet train, airplane, and bus–what is it like driving by automobile? This experience made me see a different side of Japan from behind the wheel.