Osaka - Kita and Minami; 2 points of distinction in western Japan's largest city Map of the Kinki region Osaka has a population of approximately 2.65 million and is the third largest city in Japan with only Tokyo and Yokohama sporting larger populations. Osaka is today the largest city in western Japan and has come a long way from the castle town used by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Many rivers run through and around the city and thus the city has been given the title of "a city of water." The presence of water notwithstanding however, the city today has 2 distinctive 'centers.' In the north, the Kita area around Umeda and to the south of Kita, running along the north-south Mido-suji Street, the Minami area around Namba are always filled with crowds. Kita plays host to many modern shops and various shopping-cum-entertainment complexes while Minami contains both fashionable stores and shops selling local Osakan goods and dishes all wrapped up in a lively, bustling atmosphere. When you talk about Osaka, you can't forget to talk about the food culture of Japan's 3rd largest city and supporting the well known European image that portrays Osaka as the kitchen of Japan is the local saying that people in Osaka will eat themselves out of house and home; the result of the city being host to a wealth of inexpensive restaurants.

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Aizen Matsuri (Aizen Festival) - Shoman-in Temple (Aizendo), Tennoji-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture - June 30th (Mon)-July 2nd (Wed), 2008 This festival is one of the three major summer festivals in Osaka and a famous summer feature of the city. It is dedicated to "Aizome-san," the deity of amiability, popularity and marriage and is also called "Yukata Matsuri." Twelve girls who wear yukata, a cotton kimono for the summer season, ride on a hoe-kago, a palanquin which is decorated with a red and white cloth and artificial morning glories and other artificial flowers. The palanquin is paraded about with calls of "Aizen-san jaa, hoekago" and attracts many visitors. A large memorial service for getting rid of bad luck and bringing better fortune and accomplishment of a good marriage match is held by the chief priest and all monks of Shitenno-ji temple at 5 pm on June 30th. http://www.aizendo.com/festival.htm (Japanese version only)

Takatsuki Hanashobu-en Hotaru Kansho (firefly viewing) - Takatsuki Hanashobu-en, Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture - June 13th (Fri)-15th (Sun), 2008 Hanashobu-en (Japanese Iris Garden) in Takatsuki City will be illuminated each night from June to July with the daily 'performance' by the resident fireflies set to fascinate visitors. A Takatsuki City all-day bus ticket is included in the admission fee and boxed meals and souvenirs are available to those wishing to view the fireflies. http://www18.ocn.ne.jp/~syoubu33/ (Japanese version only)

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