At Global Destination
Debbie Yu
Student ID: 101294342
Method:
Assume you started your vacation from Toronto.
What city (or town or area) and country will you be travelling to?
Country: Japan City/Town/Area: Osaka
What is the website of the Government Tourism Bureau (or National Tourism
Organization/Board) of that country that markets the country as a destination to Canadians?
[Link] [Link]/en/ca/ ? (1 mark)
From Toronto to Osaka, there are no airlines that offer non-stop flights. The airline I have
chosen is Air Canada. I will need to switch three flights with Air Canada, starting with a five-hour
flight from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Vancouver International Airport. Then from
Vancouver to Tokyo, Narita International Airport will be a ten-hour flight. Lastly, from Tokyo to
Osaka, it will be an hour and twenty-minute flight to the Kansai Internation Airport.
[Link]
Hotel/ Stays
When choosing accommodation, the requirements I look for are if the metro station is within walking
distance, is the hotel close to downtown Osaka, is there a pickup service from the airport, and is there a
luggage storage area? These arrangements will make it easier to explore, travel and create a stress-free
experience when I arrive in a foreign country. I have chosen Karaksa Hotel Osaka Namba. It is
conveniently a five-minute walk to downtown Osaka and a seven-minute walk to the metro station. The
hotel also offers a shuttle bus service from the airport to the hotel and a destinated area to store your
luggage if you arrive too early. Additionally, they offer free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, a 24-hour front desk,
laundry service, and a non-smoking hotel. In terms of the room's features, there are blackout curtains
for you to sleep in if you are jetlagged, a refrigerator, air conditioner, flatscreen TV, housekeeping,
complimentary toiletries, and the staff speaks English, Chinese, and Japanese for comfortable
communication. Overall, the Karaksa hotel appears to have a clean and modern design with excellent
room features, amenities, and services to provide me with a smooth and memorable stay in Osaka.
[Link]
Food
I would love to taste Takoyaki, Osaka's must-try local specialties. In the street of Namba, a restaurant
called Kukuru specializes in Takoyaki. It is a pancake batter mixed with octopus' bits, pickled ginger,
green onions, and grilled in a unique mold. The resulting spheres are crispy on the outside, tender on
the inside, and topped with Worcestershire sauce, ginger, and seaweed flakes creating a savory and
sweet taste with a chewy texture.
As
a seafood and crab lover, the second place I would love to try is a restaurant called Kani Douraku located
in Dotonbori. They specialize in red crab and Kaiseki, a traditional multi-course dinner. They prepare and
cook crabs in any way and form you can imagine. For example, they serve fresh crabs, crab tempura,
crab rice, crab broth, and many more tasty dishes. The interior is Japanese style seating, but you can put
your legs down comfortably in the space below the tables. It is a fantastic way to experience and learn
Japanese culture while enjoying your favorite cuisine.
Events
The Toka Ebisu Festival happens every January 9th and 11th after the new year. The Toka Ebisu Festival
happens every January 9th and 11th after the New year celebration. It is a colorful and uplifting
atmosphere attracting thousands of people every year to pray for success. I would be thrilled to
experience and take part in such a meaningful event. The festival is taken place at the Imamiya Ebisu
Shrine, where people host a ceremonial bamboo blessing and pray to the commerce for financial
success in the new year. As you approach the shrine, you will encounter large stalls filled with beautiful
and stunning charms and offerings for Ebisu, a deity who symbolizes business prosperity and success for
people in any occupation. Geishas hand out lucky rice cakes during the festival, and Fuku Musume,
known as fortune girls, give out sacred bamboo branches, called Fuku-Zas. The bamboo gets blessed in a
special ritual dance called Kagura, and from a shrine maiden, you can buy lucky charms and talismans to
attach to the bamboo branch for a successful business year. [Link]
Fuku Musume- Fortune girls Charms and offerings for Ebisu
Imamiya Ebisu Shrine
Attractions
The first attraction on my list would be visiting Osaka Castle Park; it is a historical landmark in the middle
of a modern urban city in Japan. The structure was completed in 1956, and at the time, it was
considered the largest court in Japan. It was constructed with high rise concrete blocks and beautifully
finished with incredible details displayed outside of the castle. The building was to show power and
grandeur by a Japanese warrior, politician, and ruler of Japan named Toyotomi Hideyoshi. I would love
to go during late March and early April to see the Cherry Blooms beside the historical site. Visitors who
have gone during the Cherry Blooms season said it was a breathtaking scene to experience. I believe it
would be a memorable way to experience Japanese history while enjoying Japan's natural beauty.
The second destination, without a doubt, I would go to is downtown Osaka, Dotonbori. The atmosphere
is a mixture of Times Square, New York, and Disneyland. There are neon billboards, 3D signs, and instead
of people waiting in line for rides, they are waiting for food stalls that attract and fill the streets. There
are three locations I would like to visit around Dotonbori. In the exciting ambiance of downtown Osaka,
there is a river between the streets called Tombari River. There are cruises along the river to enjoy the
city, and during the spring, you can capture beautiful photos of the Cherry blossoms. The second
location is Hozenji Yokocho; it is an alley of the old townscape of Osaka. There are over 60 tiny
traditional Japanese restaurants and bars. The stone-paved passage gives an insight into the historical
side of Osaka. Lastly, the Shinsaibaishisuji is one of Osaka’s longest shopping arcades. The 600-meter
shopping path offers modern stores to traditional retailers like kimono shops, tea purveyors, and
authentic Osakan souvenirs to bring home.
Dotonbori and the Tombari River Hozenji Yokocho Shinsaibaishisuji-
Lastly, the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living is in the northeastern part of the Kita Area. The
museum re-creates the life-sized models of the streets and housing during the Edo Periods between
1603-1867. It was the final period of traditional Japan, a time of peace, political stability, and economic
growth under the military dictatorship Tojugawa Ieyasu. Visitors can also experience wearing Japanese
Kimonos while strolling down the streets to appreciate the rich historical architecture and heritage
Japan offers. It is a remarkable experience for me to have a closer insight into Japanese history.
Japanese Schools Housing
