How to come to Sakai city? (english version)
Sakai is close to Osaka and part of Osaka prefecture, but it's a city in itself, with a culture of its own and older than Osaka.
Sakai is the most accessible touristic city of Japan for foreigners via the Osaka International Airport train line direct to Sakai within 30 minutes
2 important lines leave from the airport to Osaka passing through the capital of knives, incenses and tea ceremony.
These different train station in Sakai give you the opportunity to easily discover the city.
The JR station Sakai-shi is just between the airport and Osaka
From this station it is possible to:
- Visit the old Shinto Hochigai Shrine and to see the Hanzei Emperor tumulus within 15 minutes walking. Take a good soba noodle and tempura lunch at the restaurant Monmae Soba next to the shrine entrance, or a chirashi sushi contemplating the Japanese garden and the tea house of the luxurious restaurant Excel Human and there, enjoy the Castella cake, one of Sakai speciality.
- Continue your walk within 15min to Sakai Higashi Station, the the town's liveliest area with the mall Takashimaya inside the station, the Osaka style shopping street, and panoramic view of Osaka, Kobe, Nara and Sakai from the 21st of the city hall open until 9pm.
- You can take the train at Sakai Higashi station to go to terminus Nanba within 10 min or to Koya Mount within 1:45 via the Nankai Koya line.
The Nankai main line Sakai station is just between the airport (30min) and Osaka (10min).
From this station it is possible to:
- The night only: Eat the great tempura of Daikichi famous restaurant or fresh sushi at the night market (from :11:30pm to the morning, close the Monday). Come early, it is often crowded. Follow the tradition of Daikichi and throw your shell on the ground!
- Enjoy the sea air and walk along the port as far as the wood lighthouse. It is an historic place of the first exchange between Europe and Japan, and the Sakai Incident.
- Visit the Traditional Craft Museum and buy a handmade knife directly to the craftsman at the 2nd floor, or traditional Japanese incense and sweets at the 1st floor. With a little luck you could see the pastry making demonstration and tasting or join to the incense making event.
- Visit the museum of the tea ceremony master Sen No Rikyu, who taught to the Shogun Oda Nobunaga during the 16th century, or discover one of the first woman right defender Yosano Akiko, who was a famous poetess and created the first mixed school of Japan in the 19th century.
- The temple Myokokuji, Honganji and many others.
- When you walk through central Sakai you can admire the old city architectural diversity and many knives shop or incense maker.
- Continue your walk within 15min to Sakai Higashi Station, the the town's liveliest area with the mall Takashimaya inside the station, the Osaka style shopping street, and panoramic view of Osaka, Kobe, Nara and Sakai from the 21st of the city hall open until 9pm.
- You can take the train at Sakai Higashi station to go to terminus Nanba within 10 min or to Koya Mount within 1:45 via the Nankai Koya line.
- Take the Hankai Tramway in front of the Sakai Traditional Craft Museum passing through the Sumiyohi Taisha Shrine direction to the terminus Tennoji and the higher shopping tower of Japan (300m), then take the JR line to Nara
- Taste the famous Tamon Tsukemen restaurant and them handmade gyoza, or handmade soba noodle at Chikuma restaurant. You can also enjoy bagels, drinking some tea or Sakai craft harvest beer at the cherry blossom terrace of Sakai no Ma cafe.
There many things to enjoy in Sakai!
Send me your question if you want to know something.
