Umeda boasts the Floating Gardens, an oasis in the heart of urban Osaka. Tsutenkaku, built in 1912 (rebuilt in 1956) on the model of the Eiffel Tower in France, is well-known as the spiritual landmark of the people of Osaka.

Since Japan's first capital was established in Osaka in the seventh century, Osaka has been the consistent leader in Japanese culture. The spirited Osaka merchants were free thinkers, contributing to and supporting the creation of a rich tradition of popular culture. For example, the Japanese traditional arts of the tea ceremony and flower arrangement, and the world-famous performing arts of Bunraku, Kabuki, and Noh originated and were cultivated in Osaka. In the field of education, the Tekijuku, a school that taught Western medical science in Dutch in the mid-19th century, contributed to the spread of modern civilization in the country. As the city has been blessed with an abundance of products from the sea and the mountains since olden times, Osaka has become popular as a gourmet's paradise. The tastes of sushi, globefish, eel, udon (noodles) and the like are extensive and presented in original cooking styles. Furthermore, one cannot fully describe Osaka, the ancient "water capital," without mentioning its many bridges and the river cruises that operate on its waterways. The city will continue to cultivate its varied culture while conserving its lovely waterside scenery for posterity.