Osaka Prefecture

Do
Sip a drink among palms in a greenhouse cafe
A few botanical parks in Japan have a cafe inside their big greenhouse, where you sit among palms and huge tropical leaves with a drink in hand. Walk through the greenhouse first, then rest and watch the plants from your seat. It stays warm and dry inside whatever the weather, which makes it a good stop on a cold or rainy day.
Do
Drink fresh beer next to the tanks it came from
All over Japan, small craft breweries pour their beer in taprooms set right beside the brewing tanks, so what you drink was made a few steps away. Order a few small glasses to compare styles, often with food made to go with them. The places in and around Tokyo make an easy evening out, while those farther away fit into a longer trip through the region.
Do
See three castles built to show off power
Nagoya, Osaka and Kumamoto castles were built around 1600 by the warlords who unified Japan and their generals, with all the wealth and skill they could command. Compare Nagoya's golden shachihoko, fish-shaped ornaments on the roof, the giant stones of Osaka's walls and Kumamoto's steeply curving walls.
Do
Make your own snack in a food factory
Some Japanese food companies open their factories and workshops so you can make familiar foods by hand: design your own cup of instant noodles, shape a biscuit or stuff your own sausages. Whatever you make goes home with you, so it doubles as a souvenir. Most sessions need a booking or a timed ticket, so reserve before the day.
Do
Ride a Ferris wheel with see-through floors
A few Ferris wheels in Japan have see-through gondolas, cabins with clear floors and seats, so the city or the sea opens up right under your feet as you rise. Each wheel has only a handful of these cabins, so pick the see-through line at the boarding area and expect a short wait.
Do
Snack your way through a food market
Japan's food markets are narrow, often covered streets of fishmongers, pickle shops and sweet stalls, and many sell small bites to eat on the spot, such as grilled scallops, rolled omelet and fresh sashimi. Buy a little at each stall and eat it at the shop or in a seating area, as some markets do not allow eating while walking. Go in the morning, since many shops close by mid-afternoon.
Do
Compare eel the way each region cooks it
Unagi, freshwater eel brushed with a sweet soy glaze and grilled, is cooked differently from region to region: split from the back or from the belly, steamed before grilling or not. Try the local version wherever your trip takes you, from crisp Osaka eel to Nagoya's hitsumabushi, eaten three ways from one wooden tub. Many of these restaurants are popular and some close when the eel sells out, so go early.

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