Osaka, Japan CNN —Let’s be honest. Food is practically a religion in Osaka, which is now anticipating the global spotlight as it gears up to host Expo 2025. It is known as the kitchen of Japan, and, for foodies, any tour of its myriad culinary delights must start in Dotonbori. Like so many parts of Japan, Osaka is obsessed with baseball. The club began life in 1936 and briefly played as the Osaka Tigers, before reverting to Hanshin, the city 20 minutes west, where it plays at Koshien Stadium.

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Persons: Japan CNN —, Osaka hasn’t, Craig Ferguson, Junko Ogura, “, Junko, Osakans, who’ve, Metin, ’ ”, Long, ”, Sanders, Takada, ” Takada Organizations: Japan CNN, Osaka, CNN, Getty, Hanshin Tigers, Osaka Tigers, Koshien, Tigers, Japan, Hardcore, “ Hanshin Tigers Locations: Osaka, Japan, Kyoto, Dotonbori, Nipponbashi, Namba, Tokyo, Kobe, Anadolu, Hanshin, men’s, Finland, Estonia, ” Tokyo