Osaka Sun Child (サン•チャイルド) March 11, 2012 marked the one year anniversary of the Tohoku Earthquake and became the opening date for the statue ‘Sun Child’ or ‘Taiyo no Ko’ in Japanese.
Osaka Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Museum (司馬遼太郎記念館) Architect Tadao Ando designed a museum dedicated to Shiba Ryotaro, a post WW2 author known for his novels based on historical events.
Mie Forty-Eight Waterfalls of Akame (赤目四十八滝) Walk An unexpectedly amazing walk starting from Akameguchi Station in Mie, through a salamander museum, along a river through a valley and into a forest.
Osaka Osaka Skyline (大阪市スカイライン) A brilliant city that gets overshadowed by Japan's capital. The skyline from the Breeze Breeze Building in Umeda lets you take it all in.
Kyoto Tadao Ando Designed Oyamazaki Museum An entrepreneur's Tudor style home from the 1920s received an addition in 1995 by architect Tadao Ando for the Oyamazaki Museum.
Osaka Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (海遊館) & Osaka Culturarium at Tempozan (大阪文化館・天保山) The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (海遊館), designed by Peter Chermayeff and the Culturarium (大阪文化館・天保山) by Tadao Ando sit beside each other overlooking the bay; a short stroll from Osakako station.
Osaka Mount Myoken (妙見山) A one hour train ride north of Osaka Station is Mount Myoken; a great place to observe the beauty of Autumn in Japan.
Osaka Empty City Streets, Osaka (大阪市) Central Osaka is a maze of concrete and overhead expressways. At night cars speed past metres away from apartment and office buildings.
Hyogo Namaze To Takedao Abandoned Fukuchiyama Railway Line Walk The hike starts 10mins walk from Namaze Station in Nishinomiya along the Muko river and takes you through an old tunnel and over a rail bridge; ending at Takedao Station.
Osaka An Empty Osaka Metro Station Japan's inner city subway stations are rarely empty. This particular evening at SakaiSuji Hommachi Station in central Osaka, there wasn't a soul in sight.
Osaka Sakai Bicycle Museum (自転車博物館サイクルセンター) This museum in Sakai, south of Osaka City, showcases Japan's love of the bicycle; one of the most popular forms of transport in Japan.
Osaka Osaka Umeda (大阪梅田) The busiest train station in western Japan offers some great views from the rooftop, including a garden.
Osaka Perfect Liberty (パーフェクトリバティー教団) The Church of Perfect Liberty (パーフェクト リバティー教団) headquarters in Tsuzuyama (廿山), Osaka
Osaka Osaka's Expressways (大阪の高速道路) Osaka's multi-layered expressways criss-cross throughout the city; over rivers and in some cases through buildings.
Osaka Banpaku Kinen Koen (万博記念公園) Osaka (大阪) Osaka hosted the World Expo in 1970 and constructed a vast site now called Expo '70 Commemorative Park or Banpaku Kinen Koen.
Osaka Before The Osaka Yodogawa (大阪市淀川) Fireworks Festival Every year, thousands of people sit at the banks of the Yodo River to watch a large fireworks festival.
Osaka D & Department Project Osaka (大阪) A design store with the motto 'Long Life Design' with many locations throughout Japan.
Osaka Osaka Dotonburi (道頓堀) Dotonburi (道頓堀) The tourist hotspot in Southern Osaka City; known for it's abundance of lit signage at night; as well as an area full or bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
Osaka Osaka (大阪市) Architecture and Eateries There are so many great cafes, restaurants and hidden architectural gems in Osaka.
Kyoto Arashiyama (嵐山) & The Yamazaki Distillery (山崎蒸溜所) A lovely day out from Osaka, visiting the Yamazaki Distillery on the way to Arashiyama's Bamboo Forest.
Osaka Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (海遊館) Located on the port in Osaka is one of Japan's best Aquariums (second to Okinawa's even more amazing one).
Osaka Osaka Bicycles (大阪自転車) Japan's love of bicycles is evident throughout the country and Osaka is no exception. Areas such as America-Mura and Horie show off thousands of unique bicycles parked on the streets.
Osaka Osaka Chuo (大阪中) Osaka's Chuo area has streets lined with trendy cafes and shop scattered amongst architectural gems.
Osaka Osaka City Sakura (大阪市さくら) Osaka Castle is surrounded by parklands filled with cherry and plum blossoms. Each year in April, people swarm to the park for picnics while the blossoms fall.
Osaka Pennennemu (ペンネン ネネム) Children's Book Cafe A cosy cafe selling children's books with dishes themed from the stories.