Discovery of Osaka and experience of making Japanese kitchen knives-

Discovery of Osaka and experience of making Japanese kitchen knives-

On this tour, we will take you to Sakai city to experience making traditional Japanese knife. You can do finishing job on the Sakai knife, 90% of Japanese chefs used, then take with you as a souvenir. We continue to "must see" area of Osaka: Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi (America mura), Osaka Castle and its surroundings.

After that, we will walk in Korean town, one side of the Osaka culture.

We will enjoy all the charms that Osaka offers in a day. We are sure that our tour satisfies those whom visits Osaka for the first time.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Sakai Traditional Industrial Hall, 1-1-30 Nishi Zaimoku-cho Sakai-ku, Sakai 590-0941 Osaka Prefecture

From Kyoto Station, it takes about 1.5 hours by train to reach the city of Sakai. Did you know that in the past, the city of Sakai with a natural harbor was an important trading town called the Venice of the East?

Go back in time, in the 16th century, Sen no Rikyu, the founder of Chanoyu, the tea ceremony and Imai Sokyu, a famous merchant and other wealthy merchants lived in Sakai bringing with them wealth and knowledge. The city developed its economy and power as much as the Oda Nobunaga's Shogunate.

Such historical and economical background, Sakai nurtured original industries that are taken over today. One of them is famous Japanese kitchen knife factory. A long time ago, during the period known as Kofun (around the 6th century), the techniques of forging katanas were developed in the area. The techniques extended along with the need of the time, to make rifles, tobacco knives, and finally evoluted the traditional craftmanship Sakai uchi-hamono. The technique began to be used for cooking knives from the Edo era. Today, 90% of kitchen professionals use this famous knife in Japan.

Sakai's Japanese knives are carefully crafted one by one. You will of course bring back with you the Japanese knife that you helped finishing up! You will know all the techniques of grinding control and your knife will be most enjoyable to use for cutting with the greatest clarity. It will undoubtedly become the life long kitchen knife for you!

This experience will take place at Dogu-ya Wada in Sakai city.

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Stop At: Dotonbori, Dotombori, Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0076 Osaka Prefecture

Is not Osaka's image of gigantic billboards in its vibrant neighborhoods, like Dotonbori? Let's start with a photo of one of Dotonbori's best-known spots, the large illuminated sign from the Glico food brand and its runner! You will be immediately immersed in the atmosphere of Osaka. In addition, there are other gigantic animated panels in the form of crabs, octopuses or Fugu that will entertain you in this part of the city, and the symbol of Osaka's eating habits. You will discover unique dishes of the city such as okonomiyaki (a kind of salted pancake batter stuffed with octopus, or meat and vegetables), takoyaki (ball filled with octopus), as well as Kushi-age (fried vegetables, fish, meat).

Enjoy your lunch freely!

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: America Mura, Nishi Shinsaibashi Chuo-ku, Osaka 542-0086 Osaka Prefecture

Then let's take a look at the young district of Osaka, called America Mura. In the 1970s, garages and warehouses were used for disc shops and thrift stores. This habit, still rare at the time, became increasingly popular among younger generations. Today it is not only a fashion district, but also the district of music, art, a real place of expression and interaction between young people. Depending on when you visit this neighborhood, you may have the chance to meet street artists. This is the place to find vintage clothing and discover many other sites of interest.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Osaka Castle, 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka 540-0002 Osaka Prefecture

Founded in the 16th century, Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi took about a year and half to build it.

It is a building built with lots of gold leaf and lacquer, expressing Hideyoshi's ambition and willingness to unify the world. The castle was attacked twice and destroyed and rebuilt during the Edo period before being destroyed again by lightning stroke. Osaka Castle, which we admire today, has been rebuilt thanks to the donations made by the citizens and retains an appearance worthy of the time of its founding, with its splendid stone walls and extravagant tower, restored with precision. Part of its tower has become an observation platform and will allow you to enjoy the view of Osaka as could be admired at the time the Great Hideyoshi. This will be the perfect moment to put yourself in the shoes of a shogun 400 years back.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Osaka Tsuruhashi Ichiba, 1~2 Chome Tsuruhashi, Ikuno-ku, Osaka 544-0031 Osaka Prefecture

After descending to JR Tsuruhashi station where you will feel like you are in Korea for a moment, in the tumult of this district with the smell of cooking spicy Kimchi and Yakiniku (grilled meat). A long time ago, the port of Osaka welcomed a large number of Korean visitors who contributed a lot to pig farming, still little developed in Japan at the time.

At the dawn of the twentieth century, a regular shipping service connected the Korean Jeju island and Osaka. At that time, Osaka was booming and many workers from the island were allowed to migrate there. Thus was formed a true community, the Koreatown of Osaka. The shopping street is full of Korean restaurants and Korean cosmetics shops. The perfect opportunity to go for a walk and have a meal if you want to have a small bowl!

Duration: 30 minutes