Southern Osaka

Southern Osaka, the western gateways to Japan through Kansai International Airport, has a lot to offer including one the three major ancient tombs, beautiful beach, the highest mountain in Osaka and the famous ‘The Fighting Festival’ Kishiwada Danjiri Festival.Nanshuji Temple Established in 1557, Nansoji Temple is known for Sen-no-Rikyu, the most famous tea master in Japanese history. He studied the way of tea and started tea ceremony at this temple. The stone garden in Karesansui style is a nationally designated fine garden and San-mon (the main gate), and Kara-mon (the gate in Chinese style) are national designated Important Cultural Properties. Address: 3-1-2 Minami-hatago-cho Higashi, Sakai-ku, Sakai-shi, Osaka Access: 8 min walk from Goryomae Station (Hankai Line) Open hours: 9:00am - 4:00pm Admission: 400yen Sakai HAMONO Museum Sakai is famous for its knives. About 90% of kitchen knives used in Japan are from Sakai. You can observe the production process of cutlery and learn from the craftsmen how to attach the blade onto the handle. Exhibitions with the displayed items are available for sale as well. Address: 1-1-30, Zaimoku-cho Nishi, Sakai-ku, Sakai-shi, Osaka Access: 3 min walk from Myokokujimae Station (Hankai Line) Open hours: 10:00am - 5:00pm Admission: Free Daisenryo Kofun Built in 5th century, Emperor Nintoku’s tomb is the largest keyhole-shaped tomb in Japan, measuring approx. 464,000 sqm and approx. 486 meters in length. It is one of the three major ancient tombs along with the Great Pyramid of Khufu and Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. It is an approximately 2.8k walkway around the tomb, which takes an hour to walk around. No entry inside. Address: 7-1 Daisen-cho, Sakai-ku, Sakai-shi, Osaka Access: 10 min walk from Mozu Station (JR Hanwa Line) Hamadera Park Hamadera Park is famous for its beautiful pine trees. There are approx. 5500 trees in the park. There are entertainment facilities, including a swimming pool with a giant slide and a rose garden. Address: (Hamadera-Koen-cho, Nishi-ku, Sakai City, Osaka Access: 2 min walk from Hamaderakoen Station (Nankai Line) Mt Kongo Mt. Kongo is the highest mountain in Osaka (altitude: 1,125 meters), which stretches along the border of Osaka and Nara prefectures. Near the top are Katsuragi Shrine and Temporinji Temple which En-no-gyoja, the founder of Shugendo, opened in 665. There is also the ruin of Chihaya Castle. There are many hiking routes. Among them, the most popular one is taking the Mt. Kongo Ropeway to the Mt. Kongo Station and visiting Shakunage-no-mich (path of rhododendron), Chihaya Nature and Astronomy Museum, while climbing all the way to the top (1 hour trip). In February, Juhyo Festival is held where you can enjoy beautiful scenery of soft rime (trees glazed with ice). Address: Chihaya, Chiyaha-akasaka-mura, Minami-kawachi-gun, Osaka Access: Kawachinagano Station (Nankai Koya Line) - Nankai Bus - Mt Kongo Ropeway Mae Stop - 10 min walk Kansai Airport Kansai Airport is formally known as Kansai International Airport (KIX; 関西国際空港 Kansai-kokusai-kūkō) (commonly incorrectly know as Osaka International Airport) is the main international airport of Japan’s Kansai region. Kansai Airport DeparturesNishikinohama Beach Park ‘Nishiki’ means two colors, which represents white sand and green pine groves in this place. This 1 km long Nishikinohama Beach is popular for Osaka people as it is only one hour trip from the Osaka City. You can enjoy swimming, windsurfing, jet ski and other water sports here during the summer season. In early April, you can enjoy digging clams. There are BBQ facilities, tennis courts, play grounds, sports ovals and cafes. Address: 859-1 Sawa, Kaizuka-shi, Osaka Access: 15 min walk from Nishikinohama Station (Nankai Line) Open: July 1 – Aug 31 Admission: Free Kishiwada Castle The original Kishiwada Castle was built by Takaie Wada in 1334. After much destruction, the current castle was built in 1954, with exhibition rooms for artifacts, and a watchtower, etc. Also it has a garden called ‘Hachijin-no-niwa’. Address: 9-1 Kishiki-cho, Kishiwada-shi, Osaka Access: 7 min walk from Takojizo Station (Nankai Line) Open hours: 10:00am – 4:00pm Close: Mondays Admission: 300yen Kishiki Shrine Kishiki Shrine was originally established in 1361 by the local farmers to pray for good harvests. Since then, this shrine has been played a significant role in the area especially for the Kishiwada Castle. The famous Kishiwada Danjiri Festival (mid Sep) is held by this shrine. This festival, called ‘The Fighting Festival’, is the most powerful and vibrant festival in Japan and from time to time some fatal accident occurred during the event. 35 local teams make their own huge float and participate in the event. These floats are called Danjiri which are adorned with a number of intricate wood carvings and are the pride of the neighbourhood from which they are from. It weighs about 4 tons, is 3.8 meters high, 4 meters long and 2.5 meters wide. The draw-rope is from 100 to 200 meters in length and is pulled by as many as 500 to 1000 people. The Danjiri are designed to go very fast, and the most exciting part of the festival is seeing the Danjiri being pulled at high speeds around narrow roads and street corners. They are pulled in all directions and their sharp 90 degree turns draw gasps of exhilaration from the crowd. As the Danjiri are pulled up the steep slope to Kishiwada Castle, there is a particularly sharp turn, and sometimes Danjiri tumble over or crash into a building, all adding to the drama and spectacle of the race. If two competing Danjiri should bump into each other, the people will compete to ram the Danjiri against one another in exciting battles. This is where the name ‘fighting festival’ comes from. Those Danjiri that survive the festival are exquisite pieces of art. You can also visit the Kishiwada Danjiri Hall to learn about the history of the festival with audiovisual aids. Address: 11-30 Kishiki-cho, Kishiwada-shi, Osaka Access: 5 min walk from Takojizo Station (Nankai Line) Kishiwada Danjiri Hall Address: 11-23 Hommachi, Kishiwada-shi, Osaka Access: 7 min walk from Takojizo Station (Nankai Line) Open hours: 10:00am – 5:00pm Close: Mondays Admission: 600yen |