The famous Hanazono Rugby Stadium, considered by many Japanese to be the true home of rugby in Japan, has a long history dating back to 1929. This rugby-only stadium can seat over 26,000 people. It is the annual Stage for the national high school rugby tournament and venue for many top international league games.
With an impressive 90-year history, any rugby fan is sure to want to visit the Hanazono Rugby Museum, which is located inside the stadium. This museum, which is freely accessible to spectators, takes you through the history of rugby as a sport as well as the stadium's personal history and even includes a VR rugby experience.
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All eyes will be on Japan in 2019 as it prepares to be the first Asian nation to host the Rugby World Cup tournament.
Take the Osaka Metro from Shin Osaka Station to Namba Station, transfer to the Kintetsu Nara Line and get off at Higashi-Hanazono Station. From there it’s an 8-minute walk to Hanazono Rugby Stadium.
Being my first time in the city of Osaka I really wanted to make sure I chose a great place to stay. Not knowing my around, easy access to the hotel was absolutely essential
Sheraton Osaka is an understated hotel with top notch service and swimming pool between Namba and Tsuruhashi. There are direct buses to Osaka Itami Domestic Airport as well as Kansai International Airports, as well as trains to Nara and Osaka.
Osaka is home to the largest Koreatown in Japan, centered on the inner city district of Tsuruhashi. With a vocabulary that is steeped in history, you would be lost for words once you taste the closely guarded recipes at Kudara Rikyu.
Magatama's original concept was to run a cafe that also provides a space for full spectrum of people who can drop by for intercultural exchange. There are concerts and art exhibitions here as well, and guests are welcome to bring their dogs in this dog friendly cafe and community space
Eat in authentic local eatery and join Ms Watanabe and her friends in a comfortable family friendly restaurant.
Osaka Castle is one of the city’s most iconic sites and draws numerous visitors to its spacious park and imposing keep every year. Osaka Castle was first built by warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583. From this stronghold, Hideyoshi put down rebellions and worked to unite the provinces of Japan. After his death, his former vassal Tokugawa Ieyasu took control of the country himself and established the longest running military rule in history. To quell any attempts of challenge from Hideyoshi’s former supporters, Ieyasu torched Osaka Castle in 1615, leaving it in cinders. The keep was later reconstructed by the Tokugawa clan, though fires and bombing raids have destroyed it several times. Today’s main tower dates from 1931 and has been recognized as an Important Cultural Property. A recent renovation from 1995-1997 added an elevator and made the keep completely accessible to disabled visitors. The interior of the castle houses a history museum that details the life of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the power struggles of the late 16th century. Approximately 10,000 items – including weaponry, armor, folding screens and personal letters – are displayed on a rotating basis. A movie theater offers a selection of five short films on the famed warlord; though the audio is in Japanese only, subtitles in multiple languages are provided. The top floor of Osaka Castle doubles as an observation desk, offering visitors a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding park and the golden shachiko (figures that resemble a cross between a fish and a tiger) that adorn the roof. Those looking for a unique photo memory of their time in Japan may want to rent a samurai outfit, complete with headgear, from the castle’s costume corner. For a small fee, visitors can feel like they’re a part of feudal Japan. In springtime, the grounds of Osaka Castle become the perfect picnic spot for sakura fans, as hundreds of cherry blossom trees shower the site with pale pink petals. Visitors can even take a boat ride on the castle moat, for a close-up glimpse of the imposing, stone fortifications. Osaka Castle is easily accessible from a variety of metro stations that surround the grounds. There is an admission fee (¥600) to visit the main keep and the Ninomaru Garden (¥200).
Osaka Castle Park is a public urban park and a historic site in the prefecture of the same name. It is the second largest park in the city and, in combination with Osaka Castle, is a popular photo opportunity. The castle park is located in the south of Ōkawa and occupies a large area in the center of the city of Osaka, a total of about two square kilometers. In addition to extensive green areas and sports facilities, it also includes a multi-purpose arena (Osakajo Hall) and a shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a Japanese commander and politician who made a decisive contribution to the unification of modern Japan. He built Osaka Castle in 1583 in order to rule over Japan from there. In early April, Osaka Castle Park is one of the most popular places to see the cherry blossom.
Panoramic view of the Higashi-Osaka Junction from the 22nd floor.