Amerika-mura, often abbreviated to ‘Ame-mura’, is a popular area of Shinsaibashi that is great for tourists wanting to observe a bit of youth culture from the Osaka region. It is also a great place for nighttime entertainment. The name of the location basically means ‘American Village’, but aside from a few western influences, it remains distinctly Japanese in every way. 

Amerikamura features many retail clothing stores, restaurants and bars. The area is a lively hangout, especially during weekends and when the weather is nice. It is well known, perhaps infamous, for its popularity among foreigners and boasts an exciting nightlife.

Triangle Park lies at the center of Amemura. During the day, you can often glimpse interesting fashion trends by just passing through the area -- keep your camera handy! It’s also a nice place to take a break and perhaps get a bite to eat in between checking out shops. There are many great clothing stores in this area carrying USA, European and Japanese brands.

After you’re done exploring Amerikamura (it’s actually quite a small area), you can check out other parts of Shinsaibashi that cater to higher-end fashion, or visit the only Apple Store in Osaka.

Japan happens to have a lot of national holidays!

As we’re still near the beginning of the year, I think it's a good time to list all the national holidays, just so you’ll know when certain services (like banking and government offices) may be unavailable.

Also, national holidays are usually the busiest travel times in Japan. As many Japanese are quite busy and committed to their work life, a national holiday presents the ideal time for them to enjoy shopping, traveling and recreation. Because of this, you might want to avoid visiting certain tourist attractions during national holidays if you’d rather avoid large crowds of people.

Here’s a list of national holidays in Japan for 2011:

January 3 New Years Day
January 10 Coming-of-age Day
February 11 National Foundation Day
March 21 Vernal Equinox Day
April 29 Showa Day
May 3 Constitution Memorial Day
May 4 Greenery Day
May 5 Children's Day
July 18 Marine Day
September 19 Respect for the Aged Day
September 23 Autumnal Equinox Day
October 10 Health-Sports Day
November 3 Culture Day
November 23 Labour Thanksgiving Day
December 23 The Emperor's Birthday

Japan has been using chemical hand warmers for decades; they are extremely common in use and are sold almost everywhere during the winter season.

Need to buy some stylish yet modestly priced clothing during your stay in Osaka?

Uniqlo is Japan’s largest retail clothing chain. Visiting one of their stores in downtown Osaka should be on your list of things to do if clothing or the need to buy clothing (it’s getting chilly outside!) interests you.

Uniqlo rose to dominance in the 1990’s during the tough days of Japan’s economic recession. Their angle has always been to sell casual, quality clothing but at very cheap prices. Since that time, the brand has exploded in popularity, expanded globally and now attracts a more fashion savvy crowd.

Although Uniqlo is still a superb place to shop for essential clothing items, they now offer such specialties as raw selvedge denim.

Uniqlo’s conservative style, hard-to-beat prices and trustworthy quality make their brand a safe bet, especially for on-the-run travelers.

There’s a Uniqlo store quite close to Hotel Kinki if you can find it, but I recommend visiting the one in Yodobashi Camera as it's larger and may offer a greater selection of goods.

Yodobashi Camera Umeda is probably the largest electronics store in Japan. It is housed in a giant building that stands across the road from the Hankyu and JR rail stations in downtown Osaka.

This massive shopping center features seven floors (2 in the basement) of cameras, computers, televisions and other electronic and household goods. Above these floors lies several more dedicated to restaurants and fashion. If you are visiting Osaka for the first time, it is an absolute must to check out Yodobashi Camera!

From the doorstep of Hotel Kinki you can walk to Yodobashi Camera in less than 15 minutes.

To get there, walk to Hankyu Umeda Station (across the road from the red Ferris wheel on top of the Hep 5 building) and walk straight thru the station to the other side (the far west side). Once you are standing outside again, you should easily see the giant shopping center across the road. There are only a handful of crosswalks to get to Yodobashi Camera, so you might have to walk for a few minutes in either direction to find one.

The best part about visiting Yodobashi Camera is that they have more products in-store that any other electronics or camera shop you’ve ever been to. You can get hands on with all the products you are interested in, including many domestic products that are released in Japan earlier than they are abroad.

Also in this shopping complex lies a Uniqlo and a clothing brand store called Comme Ca (spread across 5 floors). If you are a looking for cheap or mid-priced clothing, I recommend checking out these clothing shops when you’re there.

One last note of interest:

On New Year’s Day morning you’ll find hundreds (many thousands) of people lined up in the parking lot to enter Yodobashi Camera. Each person in line selects a ticket that is later exchanged for a mystery grab bag. The ticket holder chooses the category of product that they are interested in receiving and can pay hundreds of dollars depending on the product type.

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is a colossal sea life exhibit located near Osaka Bay. This state of the art aquarium is popular among tourists and locals and is easily accessible from downtown Umeda (where Hotel Kinki is located).

The quickest way to get to the aquarium is to ride the Midosuji Subway Line to Honmachi. From there, transfer to the Chuo Line and get off at Osakako Station. The aquarium is only a 5-minute walk from this station and signs should help you easily find its location. From Hotel Kinki, this trip can be made in about 30 minutes.

Although this giant aquarium is often absent from lists that rank the world’s largest aquariums, this is largely due to the exhibit’s design, which divides its collection of species into 15 separate tanks. However, the combined capacity of these tanks easily places this exhibit among the largest of its kind.

Osaka Aquarium is home to many exotic creatures, including a sunfish and a whale shark. There are also playful mammals such as dolphins, sea otters and seals. There is much to see here, so ensure to budget ample time to fully enjoy your visit to the aquarium.

Admission to the aquarium is 2000 yen. The facility is opened from 10 am to 8 pm and features a gift shop and various eateries.

Established over 1,300 years ago, Nara was the first permanent capital of Japan. Heavily influenced by Buddhism, Nara features numerous temples and other structures of great historic interest.

Traveling to Nara from Osaka is relatively easy. Riding the Kintetsu Nara Line, starting from Namba Station, is perhaps the best way to make this trip, although JR and Hanshin also offer reasonable train routes to this destination. Fare on the Kintetsu Line will cost 540¥ and take 40 minutes of travel time.

The main attractions of Nara lie in an area known as Nara Park. This spacious area is home to the Daibutsu, a massive structure that claims to be the world's largest wooden building. Inside, lies another giant object, the Daibutsu-den, one of the world's largest statues of Buddha. There are several more statues throughout the complex, including fierce looking warriors that guard the entrance.

Around Nara Park you'll undoubtably come across many wild deer. These animals are tame around humans and can be fed with crackers that are sold throughout the area. But keep in mind, with a handful of crackers you'll quickly garner attention from these snack hungry animals!

The bulk of Japan’s landmass lies across four major islands. This territory spans from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south.

As the autumn season hits Japan, tree leaves begin to change color starting first in the north and descending gradually to the southern regions.

Osaka and Kyoto, which are situated relatively south on the main island of Honshu, typically see autumn colors beginning around late November.

Furthermore, tree leaves tend to change color earlier at higher elevations. This means the hillsides surrounding Osaka Bay will offer a spectacular color change a bit before the trees in the city and lower delta follow suit.

Traveling to Osaka and the Kansai area in November is an excellent time to view the autumn colors as they reach the pinnacle of their brilliance.

Rinku Town is Osaka’s premium outlet shopping center, located close to Kansai International Airport.

Many visitors to Japan like to stop at this destination to buy premium brand clothing at heavily discounted prices. Now that summer has finally given way to cooler weather, it may also be a good idea to stock up on some warm clothing.

Most trains bound for Kansai Airport will stop at Rinku Town Station, so getting there is pretty easy if your route starts from Umeda (where Hotel Kinki is located). You can take the Midosuji subway line or JR Osaka Loop line to Tennoji station, and then transfer to a train that’s headed to the airport.

Rinku Town has many, many outlet stores - checking them all out in one day may not even be possible! And unlike some shopping centers in Japan, you’ll find a plethora of stores specifically targeting men’s clothing.

The outlet mall closes at 8 pm. Afterwards, you can visit the nearby Seacle center to grab a bite to eat before returning home.

Just north of Osaka city lies the township of Minoh (sometimes spelt as Minoo, or Minou). Minoh is one of the best places to visit during momiji-gari season – a time when Japanese people travel to the countryside to view the many colors of autumn.

Looking for a great shopping experience during your stay in Osaka?

As we head into winter, the dipping temperatures can sometimes make trekking outdoors a little uncomfortable on days when the weather isn’t working out as well as you’d like. If you’re looking for an indoor shopping adventure, you ought to check out Nishinomiya Gardens.

Located conveniently on the Hankyu Kobe Line, Nishinomiya Gardens – western Japan’s largest shopping complex – is only a 15-minute train ride from downtown Osaka. Simply walk to Hankyu Umeda Station and board a train headed to Sannomiya or Shinkaichi. All trains on this route stop at Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi. This is where you’ll want to get off and follow the signs leading to this giant shopping mall.

Inside the complex lies many clothing stores, restaurants and other shops suited for buying gifts or household items. And unlike many places in Kansai, Nishinomiya Gardens sports wide and spacious walkways, creating a relaxed and slower paced environment.

True to its Kansai roots, this center features a plethora of restaurants: The fourth floor is entirely dedicated to serving food, but you’ll also find a food court on the basement level along with several other eateries littered throughout the mall.

Situated halfway between Osaka and Kobe, the mall may lie between several of your travel destinations and is worth checking out if you're in the mood to shop.

Arashiyama is one of the most picturesque places to visit in Japan. This popular tourist destination lies just west of Kyoto. Guests at Hotel Kinki can walk to Hankyu Umeda Station and travel there in about 40 minutes.

Arashiyama features many historical points of interest and is absolutely essential to visit during autumn leaf viewing season (right now!).

One of the best places to check out in Arashiyama is Iwatayama Monkey Park. After a short hike up the mountain, you’ll find yourself literally surrounded by wild Japanese snow monkeys!

The monkeys are tame enough to safely be around humans, but feeding them is only permitted in a special area.

At the base of Mt. Arashi you’ll find amazing historic sites like the romantic Togetsukyo Bridge (Moon Crossing Bridge), Tenryuji Temple and Hozu River with row boats that you can rent.

Late November to early December is the ideal time to visit Arashiyama to view the autumn leaves at the height of their brilliance, just like the Japanese have been doing for well over a thousand years!

If you’re an animal lover or traveling with kids, you might want to check out Tennoji Zoo.

Located in the southern entrance to the city, this large animal exhibit can be reached by riding the Midosuji Subway Line to Dobutsuen-Mae Station. From Hotel Kinki, this is only a short trip to the other side of the city.

Admission to the zoo is 500 yen. The gates are opened at 9:30am and closed in the early evening. There is much to see at Tennoji Zoo, so you’ll want to set aside at least a half-day to check out the main attractions.

Over 300 species of animals live at the zoo. Some of the more popular animals can be found in the Savannah exhibit.

Kansai fashion is always interesting to watch as well :)

There are also many reptiles on display in an indoor exhibit.

After your trip to the zoo is complete, you might want to walk around Tennoji for a bit. This area of Osaka is infamous for being a little… poor. But it's a great opportunity to soak in some blue collar Kansai culture!

It’s only fitting that Osaka, the undisputed food capital of Japan, is where instant ramen was invented during the 1950’s by Momofuku Ando. You can visit the Nissin Ramen Museum and learn about the history of instant ramen by making a short trip to this permanent exhibit. This guide will help you get from Hotel Kinki to the Nissin museum in a trip that takes around 45 minutes.

Hotelkinki has been ranked 25 on 「Best Japanese hotel/ryokan by word-of-mouth」 which released by Tripadvisor.com, a free travel guide and research website that over 30 million trusted traveler's reviews & opinions gathered.