Tsutenkaku Tower There are two lines: the Hankai Line, which runs from Ebisucho Station to Hamadera Station, and the Uemachi Line, which runs from Tennoji Station to Sumiyoshi Station. The Uemachi Line runs from Tennoji Ekimae Station to Sumiyoshi Station, and is Osaka's only chin-chin train.

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Guns arrived on Tanegashima in 1543. Sakai, where the manufacturing method was introduced, became famous as a major gun-producing area, and they contributed to the battles of warlords such as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Sengoku period. A 10-minute walk from Takasu Jinja Station is the residence of a gunsmith from the Edo period. The rows of stately old houses are a testament to the past.

It's a three-minute walk southwest from Myokokujimae Station. During the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate monopolized tobacco knives (knives used to chop tobacco leaves) marked with the "Sakai Goku" brand, and the high quality and fame of Sakai cutlery spread throughout the country. This facility allows you to see, hear, and experience the history and process. In addition to videos and materials, the artisan's finishing process of "sharpening" is fascinating. There is also a consultation and repair service for knives.

The lush green park, visible from the windows of the streetcar, is a popular spot for local residents to relax. Francis Xavier, the first Christian to come to Japan, arrived in Sakai in 1550. He stayed at the mansion of wealthy merchant Hibiya Ryokei and carried out his missionary work there, and this park was built on the site of the mansion. The park was named after Xavier in 1949 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of his arrival.

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Yosano Akiko, a poet known for her poems "Midaregami" (Wandering Hair) and "Kimi Shinitamafu Koto Nare (Do Not Die), " was born on December 7, 1878, as the third daughter of Otori Soshichi and Tsune, who were confectioners in Sakai. Her birthplace was burned down during World War II, but a monument commemorating her birthplace stands on the west side of the road. There are also monuments to Akiko's poems scattered throughout the city.

Sen no Rikyu, who perfected the tea ceremony, was also born in Sakai. Yoshiro (Rikyu), born in 1522 as the eldest son of a wealthy fishmonger, later studied under Takeno Jo'o and others, mastering the art of wabi-cha. He served as the tea master for Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but incurred Hideyoshi's wrath and committed seppuku. A well remains at the site of his residence.

Originally built by Miyoshi Nagayoshi, it was burned down during the Summer Siege of Osaka. It was later rebuilt in 1617 by the monk Takuan, making it a famous temple. Known as the temple where the young Sen no Rikyu trained in the tea ceremony, the temple grounds include the Jissoan teahouse, which is associated with Rikyu, his beloved hand-washing basin, a memorial tower for the Sen family, and a dry landscape garden designated as a national scenic spot. Surprisingly, the temple grounds also contain the grave of Tokugawa Ieyasu...? A temple with surprising historical lore.

Hamadera Park, located in front of Hamadera Ekimae Station, the terminus of the Hankai Electric Railway, is one of the oldest parks in the prefecture, having opened in 1873. The beautiful pine forest has been praised in poems since the Manyo period, and the pine forest remains beautiful even today. The park also has a rose garden, a traffic amusement park with a miniature locomotive, go-karts, and an amusement park. It is also a popular resting spot for local residents, with a monument to Yosano Akiko's poem "The morning breeze blows gracefully over the mountains of my hometown, Izumi, from the floating sea."

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