Dating back nearly fifteen hundred years, Osaka boasts one of the country's most magnificent castles and is an important distribution center for Japan. It is also known for its excellent food, underground shopping arcades, port, and the Bunraku puppet theater. Osaka also has the only Universal Studios outside of the United States. Visitors can visit the oldest state temple in Japan, Shitennoji Temple, The Museum of Oriental Ceramics, The Osaka Aquarium, which is one of the nation's best, and the Floating Garden's Observatory. The city is also an excellent base for day trips to Mount Koya, Nara, Kyoto, and Kobe.
