Sakai (Osaka)

Sakai has two main train stations. Nankai Railway's Sakai station (堺駅), is 15 minutes from Nankai Namba Station (南海なんば駅) in Osaka via the Nankai main line and costs ¥250.

JR Sakai-shi station (堺市駅) is 7 minutes from Tennoji Station (天王寺駅) in Osaka via the JR Hanwa line and costs ¥170. This trip is fully covered by the JR Rail Pass.

Train service in Sakai is largely provided by Nankai rail service with trains running sometimes intermittently

Sakai is home to numerous Tumuli. Large burial mounds in various shapes from circular to keyhole mounds with moats around them. The largest--Nintoku-ryo-- is approximately 480 m long, 250-305 m wide and 35 m tall. At Nintoku Ryo there is an accompanying tourist office and volunteer historical interpreters.

Take the JR Hanwa Line and get off at Mozu Station. Address: Daisen-cho, Sakai-ku, Sakai City

• Sakai City Hall Observatory Lobby, 3-1 Minami-Kawaramachi, Sakai-ku (3 min walk from Sakai-higashi Station on the Nankai Koya Line), ☏ +81 78 590-0078. 09:00-21:00. Get above street level and get a panoramic view of the city's many Tumulus tombs. There are exhibitions on the history of Sakai and English language videos and pamphlets. There is also a cafe with drinks and snacks. Free. 

Sakai has always been known for producing some of Japan's best swords and knives. Today there are many stores and even a small museum that houses a coalition of knife makers. If you are a cooking aficionado looking for the best examples of Damascus style blades, or a knife specific to cutting melons, or simply a good sharp knife that you have no idea what it is supposed to be used for. Sakai is a good alternative to the steeper prices in central Osaka.

• Commercial and Industrial Cooperative Federation of Sakai knives, 1 Street材木町西first thirty-ku, Sakai, ☏ +81 78 590-0941. 

Plenty of fastfood, from American Bob's Big Boy to Yoshinoya, yakitori joints, etc.

• Comfort Sakai Hotel, 1-5-1 Ryujimbashi-cho. A basic but presentable hotel a mere hundred meters from Sakai station. Rates run about ¥6,000 for most rooms.