Overlooking Osaka Bay at the mouth of the Yamato River, Sakai has served as one of Japan’s most important seaports since the medieval era. It’s renowned for its keyhole-shaped burial mounds that date back to the 5th century, as well as being home to one of the oldest wooden lighthouses in the country.

Things to do

Spend an afternoon wandering through the landscaped gardens of Hamadera Park, created in 1873 with around 5,000 pine trees. It’s home to a beautiful Rose Garden designed in a Japanese circuit style and includes a “Mountain Scenery Zone” and a European-inspired “Village Zone”.

Want to see one of the largest graves in the world? Visit the Daisen Kofun, a 486-metre-long moated tomb believed to have been built for the 5th-century Emperor Nintoku. Follow the walkway that leads around this keyhole-shaped tomb, then visit the Sakai City Museum to see artefacts excavated from the burial mound.

Cycling enthusiasts should visit the Bicycle Museum Cycle Center, which explores the evolution of bicycle development in Sakai. Vintage bicycles once belonging to royalty are on display in addition to early-19th-century European models. The museum regularly holds events in neighbouring Daisen Park where you can ride unusual pedal-propelled vehicles.

Visit the old Sakai Port to see the hexagonal Old Sakai Lighthouse, one of the oldest Western-style wooden lighthouses remaining in Japan. It has watched over Osaka Bay since 1877 and boasts a colourful mural depicting 19th-century life.

Getting around

Sakai is 30 minutes by train from central Osaka and around 45 minutes’ drive from Osaka International Airport. A light rail tram line runs through Sakai and buses access most of its attractions.