Osaka Sights

  1. Museum of Oriental Ceramics

    With more than 2700 pieces in its permanent collection, this museum has one of the finest collections of Chinese and Korean ceramics in the world. At any one time, about 300 of the pieces from the permanent collection are on display, and there are often special exhibits.

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  2. National Museum of Ethnology

    Located in Osaka Banpaku-kōen (World Expo Park) the National Museum of Ethnology is arguably Osaka's best, and it's worth the trip from downtown Osaka or Kyoto, especially if there's a good special exhibit on (check the Kansai Time Out for upcoming exhibits).

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  3. Open Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses

    The open-air museum has 11 traditional Japanese country houses, which were brought from all over Japan and painstakingly reconstructed. Inside each you'll find period-era furniture, homewares and tools. Most impressive is the giant gasshō-zukuri (thatch-roofed) farmhouse from Gifu-ken. The surrounding park is beautiful, with lots of maple trees and bamboo.

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  4. Osaka Human Rights Museum

    The Osaka Human Rights Museum which goes by two names, is dedicated to the suffering of Japan's Burakumin people and other oppressed groups, including Koreans, the handicapped, the Ainu and women. The most fascinating exhibits deal with the Burakumin, outcasts in Japan's four-tiered caste system that was officially outlawed in 1879 under the Emancipation Edict issued by the Meiji government.

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  5. Osaka Museum of History

    Just southwest of Osaka-jō, the new Osaka Museum of History is housed in a fantastic new building adjoining the Osaka NHK Broadcast Center. The display floors of the museum occupy the 7th to the 10th floors of the new, sail-shaped building.

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  7. Osaka Rekishi Hakubutsukan (Osaka Museum of History)

    Just southwest of Osaka-jō, the new Osaka Museum of History is housed in a fantastic new building adjoining the Osaka NHK Broadcast Center. The displays are very well done and there are plenty of English explanations; taped tours are available.

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  8. Osaka-jō (Osaka Castle)

    Osaka's most popular attraction is a 1931 reconstruction of the original 1583 castle. Although it's a copy, it's a very good one, and both the castle and the heritage museum inside are very popular. The castle is surrounded by a beautiful park with many cherry blossom trees.

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