Osaka Museum of Housing and Living

Big interactive activity center on several floors. Great for kids. Planetarium and cinema (with science films) downstairs.

Built in an attempt to upgrade Osaka's somewhat downbeat Kita district, the project wasn't quite the hoped-for commercial success but this bizarrely shaped 40-story, 173-m building is still a city landmark. Take the escalator through midair to the rooftop observatory for an open-air view of Osaka, which is particularly impressive on a clear night. There is a lover's seat, where if you hold your partner's hand, and each hold a metal button on the seat, the ground around you lights up into a heart. You can purchase an engraved heart lock (¥1000) and attached it to the padlock wall around the seat (padlocks only available after 19:00). Observatory admission ¥2000, 9:30AM-10:30PM daily. The basement features a recreation of a Meiji-era street, with a few small restaurants and bars in appropriate style. There is also a small store downstairs where you can purchase quality mochi on the cheap.

It's not widely known even by people from elsewhere in the country that Japan Mint is headquartered in Osaka. For Osakans, Sakura-no-tōrinuke (桜の通り抜け, cherry blossom tunnel road) is a synonym for this facility, attracting a large number of visitors (close to 1 million in just 7 days) during a limited, planned week in mid-Apr. A must-see if you are fond of nature and happen to drop into Osaka in-season. The museum is open 09:00-16:45, is free, and has two floors of coin displays with explanations in Japanese.

Home of the Shiki Theatre Company, proposing plays and musicals.

A pop club, capacity 2500.