A visit to Osaka Recapped
Located on Honshu's main island, Osaka is situated at Japan's center. The century-old prefecture may be the second smallest, but also serves as Japan's second most populous city. Most of the city's inhabitants are foreigners, making Osaka a diverse city of sorts. Osaka's sole economy exceeds that of Thailand and Hong Kong. It has stayed as an economic powerhouse for centuries. The city was the first capital of Japan, and was chosen as the site of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's castle in the 16th century. The city used to be known as the nation's kitchen, as it has been the site of the world's first modern future exchange market, mainly for the trace of rice. Places for sightseeing include the northern downtown of Kita, the Museum of History, the sprawling Osaka Castle, the southern downtown of Minami, and one of the world's most impressive aquariums, the Osaka Aquarium. The Mino Park seems like a scene plucked fresh from a painting, while the architecture of Peace Osaka, Umeda Sky Building, and the National Art Museum challenge most of the West's architectural feats.