twin delights

As Melbourne and Osaka celebrate the 30th anniversary of their sister-city relationship we size up some attractions in these two towns which, with their mutual love for food, nightlife, fashion and art, have more in common than you’d imagine

WORDS (MELBOURNE) ANDREW HARRIS
WORDS (OSAKA) MANAMI OKAZAKI

Best city views

Melbourne
Whether you’re a local or a tourist, the view from the 88th floor observation deck at the Eureka Skydeck 88 – the southern hemisphere’s highest viewing platform – is a must-see. Kick your vertigo into overdrive in The Edge, a three-metre glass cube jutting out from the building at nearly 300m high.
Riverside Quay, Southbank, Melbourne, tel: +61 (3) 9693 8888

Photo: John HarteOsaka
Tsutenkaku Tower built in 1912 is in the heart of Osaka’s downtown area. Looking like a prop from a Japanese sci-fi film, it offers great photo op’s from its 91 metre-high observation deck. The neighbourhood surrounding the tower has a retro feel, with markets and food stalls that appear unchanged since the 60s.
1-18-6 Ebisu-Higashi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka, tel: +81 (6) 6641 9555

Best street life

Photo: Rachel Farnay-Jacques

Photo: Andrew Harris

Melbourne (man on right)
Get a taste of Melbourne’s charm on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, which is packed day and night with cool young things of all persuasions. Hippies, yuppies and hipsters unite in bookshops, bars, cafés and restaurants serving Afghani, Greek, Indian and Ethiopian. Then there’s the funky shopping, vintage and new, much by local designers, with jewellery, accessories, homewares and even a perfumery to peruse.

Osaka (man on left)
As the hub of Osaka’s youth culture, Amerika Mura is the city’s top spot for people-watching. Gawk at local kids dressed to the nines in their fantastic street fashion, stroll around trying local eats, and look through 3,000 shops offering all manner of kitschy paraphernalia and crazy fashion. This is the thumping pulse of
Photo: John Hartethe city.

Best local food

Osaka
A trip to Osaka can be spent just trying out the local specialities, which include comfort foods okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake, and takoyaki, fried octopus dumplings. Honke Otako in the Dotonbori district is a favourite for takoyaki.
1-5-10 Dotonbori, Chiuo-Ku, Osaka, tel: +81 (6) 6736 0911

Photo: Andrew HarrisMelbourne
Off the coastal Beach Road, down a steep drive into the upscale suburb of Black Rock, Half Moon Bay is a charming patch of cliff-sheltered beach that’s home to Half Moon Fish & Chippery. You can wait up to an hour for your battered flathead and fries, but tucking into your dinner, perched on the sea wall as the sunset sweeps across the horizon, is one of Melbourne’s great pleasures.
Half Moon Bay, Black Rock, Melbourne, tel: +61 (3) 9598 4230

Best chill-out spot

Osaka

Photo: John HarteWith its surrounding park dotted with cherry blossoms, Osaka Castle is the local equivalent of New York’s Central Park – a peaceful oasis in a sea of gritty grey buildings. Everyone comes here for picnics and to enjoy the changing foliage. It’s the best place to enjoy some beers and a Sunday gathering, when live music ranges from the talented to the ridiculous.
1-1 Osaka-jo, Chuo-ku, Osaka, tel: +81 (6) 6941 3044

Melbourne

Photo: Andrew HarrisAbbotsford Convent is a verdant escape from big-city life. On the first Sunday of every month, a showcase of artists’ and artisans’ work is held. On other Sundays, its lush gardens hold festivals and markets that attract creative types and young families.
1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford, tel: +61 (3) 9415 3600Best cultural attraction

Best cultural attraction

Photo: John HarteOsaka
For a relaxing respite from the hustle of Osaka, visit Sumiyoshi Taisha temple. Built in the third century, it’s the most impressive of the numerous temples and shrines nestled within the city. Locals consider it their most important place of worship and it hosts several annual festivals.
2-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Osaka, tel: +81 (6) 6672 0753

Photo: Andrew HarrisMelbourne
Spanish doughnuts, cured meats, pastries, fruit and veggies, and fish headed straight from the ocean to the city’s top tables – the 130-year-old Queen Victoria Market is Melbourne’s most extraordinary confluence of cultures, tastes and smells.
Cnr Elizabeth St and Victoria St, Melbourne, tel: +61 (3) 9320 5822

Best Museum

Melbourne
Melbourne’s fascinating showcase of multiculturalism, the Immigration Museum, is celebrating its 10th anniversary, the same year that the Melbourne–Osaka sister-city friendship turns 30. To celebrate, a stunning kimono collection will be exhibited, from 15 May to 14 September.
Old Customs House, 400 Flinders St, Melbourne, tel: +61 (3) 9927 2700

Osaka
For lovers of contemporary art and architecture, the Suntory Museum offers both, with a harborside location to boot. There’s a permanent collection of more than 15,000 Toulouse-Lautrec, Mucha and Cassandre posters, as well as eclectic exhibition schedules featuring classic and modern art. These collections are displayed in a space that is entirely serene – a characteristic of the architect Tadao Ando’s sensibilities, one of Japan’s architectural superstars.
1-5-10 Kaigan-dori, Minato-ku, Osaka, tel: +81 (6) 6577 0001

Best local watering hole

Photo: Manami OkazakiOsaka
The Dotonbori riverside area at night offers a neon-lit extravaganza of pubs and restaurants. For a guaranteed late night party that’s always heaving, head to Sam and Dave in the Umeda district. The busiest bar in Osaka has a large dance floor filled with an international clientele looking to party with the best of the local bands and DJs.
4-15-19 Nishi-Tenma, Kita-ku, Osaka, tel: +81 (6) 6365 1688

Photo: Andrew HarrisMelbourne
For many pleasure-seekers, besides the CBD, bohemian beachside St Kilda is Melbourne. And for many of those that live there, the sweaty, loud and happening Esplanade Hotel – ‘The Espy’ – personifies St Kilda. Enjoy a pint, grab a great pub meal then stay to hear some of the city’s best live music.
11 Upper Esplanade, St Kilda, tel: +61 (3) 9534 0211