A bustling, multicultural city, Osaka is best known for its unique cuisine, castle, and port--one of the first to open to the outside world after the end of Japan's isolation. In three days, you can visit the top historic attractions and take in some of the luxuries of modern life in this economic capital.

With a theme park or animal attraction for every day of the week, Osaka has plenty of activities to keep children busy and entertained during their visit.

Historically an immigrant city, Osaka's affordable food and attractions welcome budget travelers, who can visit the city's most beloved shrines for free and enjoy local specialties from vendors on historic streets.

Osaka itself is a bit off the beaten path for travelers, generally skipped over in favor of nearby Kyoto, so it's easy to find unique attractions, from a museum dedicated to instant noodles to a building transformed into a vertical garden.

Between the historic imperial capital Kyoto and ancient Nara, Osaka is well-placed for day trips to major historic sites as well as natural attractions.