Hanshin Koshien Stadium

Unexpected hidden gems near the underrated city of Osaka - SilverKris %

"An almost-sacred baseball arena with a raucous, communal spirit: built nearly a century ago and once the largest in Asia, it remains the beating heart of local fandom where inexpensive tickets put you amid orchestras of trumpets and drums, cheer squads, signature songs and dances for each batter, and vendors selling beer from eye-catching young sellers. The annual national high-school tournament turns the ground into a televised pilgrimage—players scoop up dirt as relics—while pro games showcase a uniquely Japanese take on the sport (including draws after 12 innings) in which the crowd often becomes the main attraction." - Pico Iyer