Bashcraft, with this recent admission of self-imposed shut-innery, how can you make the claim that Osaka has the best food?!

My word, man, it hasn't been JUST Osaka in all your time in Japan, has it?!

Yodobashi camera in Uemeda offcourse! Best place I went was Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto-incredibly beautiful... oh, and for nightlife...club Pure in Shin Sai Bashi...it's crazy!!! if you're lucky you'll bump into a german called Alfred who is known across the whole of Shin Sai Bashi.

I live in Osaka now but I recommend Arashiyama in Kyoto. It's got monkeys, bamboo forests, shrines, temples and a great view...what else do you need? Its 6 or so stops from JR Kyoto Station on some line which I forgot the name of (easy to find though)
Nara is pretty tight too. He can rend a bike and cruise around the park dropkicking deer and checking out temples.
Dotonbori (I'm sure you know) is a good place too. The human river of people is a good mind exploder.

@pylon_trooper: Dude, for the past X number of months, it seems like it's only been my friggin' desk and the daily trip to the supermarket!

If you're going to Kyoto, you should go to the more traditional side of town (that's where the train stopped when I went there from Osaka, anyway). Osaka's relatively western, so seeing all the old houses and people in Kimonos is like travelling back in time.

There's also a museum about old Japanese art that uses a exclusive white DS to help visitors find out more. I didn't really understand it, as I really don't know much Japanese which the staff thought was quite funny. It's worth a trip, though.

Also worth seeing is the Monkey Mountain (I really can't remember the name). It's a long hike to the top, but it's exciting when you start to see monkeys in the trees. It's overwhelming when you see hundreds of them chasing each other, at the mountain's peak.

@Brian Ashcraft: Good lord, man. Once the Mrs. gives birth to Nano-Bash, you should roll on down to these Kyushu parts and soak up the Onsen goodness.

Cures what ails yer, even the onset of desk-induces bed-sores.

i thought the national museum of art had some really interesting architecture, and it's right by the science museum, if he's into that kind of thing.

If you're sticking to Osaka, Den Den Town takes months to explore fully. If they're a hardcore gamer, your friend would likely be satisfied spending a whole day in Nipponbashi.

@pylon_trooper: ...be that "desk-induced".

Plus, the Kagoshima Kuro-buta is to die for.

@pylon_trooper: Oh def. No doubt, no doubt.

What about a day trip to Nara. It doesn't take too much time with the Kintetsu.
Otherwise, if you stay in Osaka, Kaiyûkan is always a good spot.

tobita red light district :)

The group of guys I went with last October spent a night in Osaka, that we used as a jumping off point to go see Himeji Castle, which, if your friend likes history, was very cool. I believe its one of the only feudal castles to have survived the bombings of WWII. It would probably be very pretty right now with Spring as well.

Mt. Fuji was probably another of the high points for us; I know its a ways out of Osaka but its worth it; we went on one of the touristy bus tours that go 3/4 up the mountain to the shrine and around the Hakone area. It included a trip up to the summit of Mt.Komagatake as well.

In Osaka, Den Den Town was really cool. I had a lot of fun there, i just wish I hadn't been stingy with my money and gotten some of the stuff there I wanted to get.

Those were the highlights of our trip, beyond the general coolness of going in the first place. Hope that helps.

stay in a capsule hotel and get freaked out! then calm yourself down with a super tamago burger at mcdonalds

Nara. Lovely old buildings, a daibatsu, and plenty of deer to assault you in the park.

@spinal77:

Doh, I left something out. I should add that Himeji is in the actual town of Himeji as well. If that wasn't obvious.

If you want pictures and stuff, you can go here [spinaltap.smugmug.com] (it should also be linked from my profile).

i just got my inheritance that i threw into my savings until i can fully afford to go to the land of the rising sun. exciting stuff.

Osaka's got some great food, so all you need to do is take him to the best places. Okonomiyaki ho!

You need to go to Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto. It was almost one of the seven new wonders of the world!

You should also go to Gion, where most of the city's geisha still are (they're called "geiko" there though). Kyoto has something like 95% of the country's true geisha - there's nowhere else where they can really still get the formal, traditional training.

You're never going to be able to get any sort of meeting with a geisha, but you might see them walking down the street (be careful not to confuse a "piano bar geisha" with a real geisha, though!), and if you go to Gion Corner and see the show there, you'll be able to see a real kyo-mai dance performed by either geiko or maiko (apprentice geisha).

If your friend likes drinking, I suggest tracking down a place called La Pausa along the Dotonbori (near the end with the big crab). It's an Italian restaurant (with the usual Japanese flair) but it has (had) an amazing 1,000 yen/all you can drink for 90 minutes special. Lots of fun with a group.

Also Mos Burger...the real Yoshinoya (stay away from the natto!) and a place in the middle of Namba called Buddha Trick. Pretty obvious I miss the food there...

彦根序 is one of the closest and probably the best castle town. I'd say better than 姫路. And if your friend is still in Kyoto it would be easier for him to get to. The 海遊館 is always fun as well, if you don't feel like leaving Osaka.

Somebody recommended Shinsekai in Osaka for really great kushikatsu, saying it's probably the worst neighborhood in Japan, but the kushikatsu makes up for it =). I'd definitely second the Arashiyama and Nara recommendations. **takes notes of other recommendations for next trip to Japan**

Take him to the Mandrake in Shinsaibashi.
The "drop-kick a deer in Nara" rec is pretty spot on too.
OR
Ship him out to Okayama to check out Korakuen. I'll buy him a beer.

Hah, I was just there on vacation like 2-3 weeks ago.

@Cat-Duck: I second Nara. Just don't wear Hawaiian shirts. One of the deer kept on trying to eat my shirt. Shirt was ok, minus a lot of deer slobber.

Kiyomizu, Kinkakuji, Ryoanji, Fushimi Inari in Kyoto were all fun. There's also the Toei Eiga Mura (do NOT pay for the 2 pay attractions there; they're so not worth it) in Kyoto.

In Osaka proper... Dotonburi, Shinsaibashi, Kaiyukan, America Mura?

@SouDesuKa: is that the street near Dobutsuen-Mae station? If it is, it's pretty good. I actually like the place in Dotonburi in the Sammys Ebisu Plaza (I forget what the food amusement park there is called, it's near the big crab). Just because they have a lot larger selection of things you can get. You have to pay to get in tho, unless you buy the Osaka 1-2 day trip pass (giving you access to unlimited subway rides on Osaka for a day or two, the two). The Osaka day trip pass is a good idea too because they give you a lot of free tickets to random places and you get your unlimited rides. The 2 day pass gives you access to more free stuff.

Anyways back to the whole "if it's the place near dobutsuen mae" thing, if you do go down that street, farther past the 2 big kushi katsu places there's a little stand up udon/soba shop. My friends and I LOVED this place. We ate here every day after finding out about it. The kakiage udon is very decent and most importantly it's Y230!

Here is a video of some places that might be enticing to go.

+ Watch video

If you find aquariums remotely interesting, then the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is the best I've ever been to - well worth the visit and you can go on the crazy-huge ferris wheel when you're done.

-Namba and everything around there (Nipponbashi, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi)
-Umeda, especially that building with the giant red whale and the ferris wheel at the top.
-Homeless Town kinda near Tennouji/Doubutsuen-mae (I'm going by Midosuji-sen stops since that's kinda how I know the area)
-Tennouji

As for stores, definitely take him to Yodobashi Camera (I guess the best one is in Umeda), Sofmap (I preferred the Nipponbashi one, with, like, 8 stories, to the one in Umeda), and whatever other places you like.

If I think of anyplace else, I'll make sure to post again. Man, now I'm getting all nostalgic! I wanna go back!

Well, I'm not sure of your friends comfort level in Japan until he is with someone who can show him around (you), but for a quick and easy - I gotta say that I always dug Round 1, so much to do there that you need at least 2 visits! There is one within 2 minutes walking distance, and which is viewable from whatever exit you take if you go to the Sakai Stn on the Nankai line.

As for general recommendations, take him to Tokyo - Akiharbara, and the like. Tokyo Disneyland. Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is good for a day of fun. If you get out to Kyoto then I'd say Kyomizudera and Kigukakuji (Golden Pavillion) which I found impressive. Osaka Castle was great too, it's a museum inside now and it has both English and Japanese written descriptions, which is nice if you are getting frustrated of looking at things and saying "Oh that's neat, just wonder what it is/was/says"

Lastly, if you can, take him to Iga the home of the Iga Ninja - arguably the historical home of the first Ninja clans. They have some awesome hands on, great live show, interesting information (again in English a well as Japanese), crazy cool souvineers!

You know, depending on his age, and his knowledge of and view regarding the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - I might also recommend the Nagasaki peace park, I can't even describe the feelings the place evoked in me as I walked around and listened and read.

Anyway, do be sure to fill us in on what you end up doing.

PugDaddyD

How many of you offering suggestions used to be/are English teachers in Osaka? Any current/former NOVA people?

Osaka's just a cool city to be in, so you could probably just show him around Umeda and Namba, and you'd be fine.

For the real 'sights', you'll want to spend more time in Kyoto. Show him the Kiyomizu-tera, the Golden Pavillion, and all that.

Kyoto Station is a nice place. It's more like a mall than a train statin. Reminds me of 30th St. Station in Philadelphia, PA.

Karaoke, of course. Any trip to Japan isn't complete without it.

Take him out for some okonomiyaki!

Is he interested in games? Take him to a game center. Manga or anime? Take him to Nipponbashi.

@cid386: @cid386:

Definitely agree about Arashiyama, beautiful area to just wander around. The hike up Mt. Kurama is great too and you can enjoy a trip to an onsen on the way down. Spent most of my time in Kyoto just wandering around the numerous gardens.

If he's a geek/nerd/otaku, make sure you go to Den Den Town. But I guess that is probably pretty obvious. I was also going to suggest Himeji, but spinal77 already summed it up as I was one of the friends he was referring to. :)

It's a little out of the way, but I was really enamored by Koyasan in Wakayama when I went there. It's the head of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism, so there's the temples and what not to see. The thing that struck me the most though was the huge graveyard which is apparently the largest in Japan. A graveyard might not sound too exciting, but it was just the atmosphere, in this forest. If you have the chance, I'd highly recommend it. Apparently an hour and a half or so from Namba on Nankai's Koya line.

Of course, I'd recommend a trip up here to Kanazawa, but that's really out of the way (and not in Kansai at all.)

Well, I can't give recommendations on Kyoto or Osaka that others haven't already said (pretty heavy tourist destinations). I lived in Nagoya while I was there, if your friend has any interest at all...there's a great aquarium there at the port. Really easy to get to, in Minato-cho. They do shows and stuff.

I personally enjoyed just doing the normal stuff more than the tourist stuff, eating and doing karaoke. You can't let your friend leave without doing karaoke in my opinion.

All the above mentioned places are great, not sure if I saw it mentioned but Sanjyusangendo is also a neat place to visit.

And if you end up going to Himeji, make sure you pass Akashi on the way, you should be able to see the current world's longest suspension bridge from the train. It's a beautiful bridge, even at night, when it is lit up by some blue lights.

@Chipya:

That was the worlds longest suspension bridge? I had no idea...I remember seeing it from the train...

Tea with geisha in Kyoto. I don't care how stereotypical it is, it was fun. :)

Might wanna get to Kyoto, as I think there is more for your friend to see there culturaly wise.
Den Den Town is a no-brainer of course.
Main attractions to foreigners in Japan are temples, sushi, manga/games and Japanese girls, so make sure you include all

@pylon_trooper: Ditto, just had me some kurobuta the other day. Stocked up on a bunch of bacon to bring back home after that.

I like Tarui beach.

Kyoto - if you go to Arashiyama, definitely try and find time to hit up Giouji (祇王寺) - a tiny moss covered garden, but one of the most people places in the city.
We also had a good time at Enryakuji, but I was there in winter, and I'm not sure what it's like at this time of year.

@spinal77:

Yup, going by the main span, it's the longest suspension bridge by quite a large margin actually. Other note of trivia on the bridge is that the Kobe earthquake in '95 actually shifted the towers such that the span had to be lengthened by 1m to complete construction.

Noticed a lot of comments for Arashiyama, it's a great place, but note of caution, do not underestimate the Japanese monkeys. I'll never forget back in 6th grade how my friend came back from Japan all scratched and bitten up cause his mother told him to go take a picture with the monkeys. :3

Todaiji in Nara.
Capcom Studios in Osaka.
He's probably going to hit up all the good spots in Kyoto.
I want to recommend someplace in Kobe, but I only ever went there for the yaki-niku. Take him to eat Kobe beek and he'll be eternally in your debt (literally, if you pick up the tab :).

Based on all the suggestions it seems like in the two years I've lived in Nara, I've already gone to all the places worth seeing in Nara, Osaka, and Kyoto. These are mostly tourist destinations being mentioned though as the guy visiting is of course a tourist. So when will we do the first annual Kotaku Kansai meet? Also PissedPS3Fan, what exactly can you do at Capcom Studios as a visitor that makes it worth checking out?

Take him to a Tigers game!

Or even better, take him to a bar/restaurant full of Tigers fans during a Tigers game.

Go see the 10,000 torii in Fushimi-Inari (close to Kyoto)! With the right light it's an amazing sight to walk through tunnels of red gates.

[www.flickr.com]

I'll second (forgive my spelling):
Kyomizudera
Silver Temple (I prefer it to the Golden, actually)
Sanjyusangendo is very impressive

Nara, the deer and the big buddha.

Himeji-jo is awesome, but a bit of a trip from Osaka.

If your friend is up for a trip, he should journey to the north end of Kyoto-fu to see Amanohashidate. It's one of the "three famous views" of Japan and it's a beautiful land bridge covered in pine trees. They run trains up there from Kyoto Station according to Wikitravel. However, it's no short trek because of all those mountains.

I'd say Nara (like everyone else has said) Todaiji specifically, and take him to see the Glico man in Osaka for sure. Kiyomizudera, Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji are musts as well. Hope he has a good time!

You probably know all the cool places already, but from a tourist point of view the quirks of Japan have a