I will be in Osaka, Japan this summer during the world cup finals. Can you tell me anything about the city

Asks Brandon

A. Osaka is Japan's third largest city (after Tokyo and Yokohama) and has a reputation for being incredibly easy going and a "party town" - with hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs where you can wind down after a day at the footie.

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It is also well-known for its food, so if you can't read the Japanese characters for restaurant and they are not printed in English outside, look out for a picture of a giant fugu fish (which is a deadly poisonous blowfish, usually eaten raw) which denotes most city-centre restaurants - Minami (south Osaka) has the highest concentration of restaurants so it's a good place to look for an English menu. Local delicacies include takoyaki (octopus balls) and yakiniki (barbeque that you cook yourself).

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The city of Osaka itself is home to approximately 13 million inhabitants (a bit bigger, but similar in population size to London - Japan has a total population of 126.5 million) - and is pretty much a concrete jungle - but it has lots of hidden treasures which are easy and pleasing to find once you get over the city's overall austere and sterile architecture.

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Osaka is split into north and south - along Chuo dori. The Minami - or southern half of the city is the main shopping district as well as having most of the city's restaurants and bars and contains the smaller areas of Namba, Shinsaibashi and Dotombori. The northern district, known locally as Kita, covers the areas of Umeda and Shin Osaka.

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Q. Can you recommend any sights to visit during my trip

A. There are lots of great and original places to visit in Osaka; some of these include the following:

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Osaka-jo (Osaka Castle) is the most visited tourist attraction in Japan. A complete renovation of the castle was completed in 1997 and the entire building was modernised and equipped for its growing amount of visitors. Its main tower or donjon provides superb views of the city - the top of which can be reached by a new and very swish lift on the outside of the tower.

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Shitenno-Ji: is an old Buddhist temple that dates back to 593 when it was first built on this site (although nothing remains of the original structure) - the oldest part of the building still standing dates back to the 13th Century - Shitenno-Ji is best known for being the first state Buddhist temple in Japan.

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Sumiyoshi Taisha: can be found on the outskirts of the city (20 minutes by train from Ebisucho Station) but is well worth the trip as it is Osaka's oldest and grandest shrine - home to the Shinto gods of the sea - it was built in 211.

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Liberty Osaka (Osaka Human Rights Museum): this museum tackles many human rights issues that are not openly discussed in Japanese society - so it is well worth a visit. It features information and exhibitions about the Burakumin (Japanese untouchable caste), pollution, rights of women, the disabled and health issues.

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Osaka International Peace Museum: tells the story of Japan's involvement in WW2 and the destruction served upon it as a result - most of Osaka city centre was destroyed (but not on the scale of Hiroshima and Nagasaki).

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Osaka Municipal Museum of Art: has a large collection of old and modern Oriental art.

Museum of Oriental Ceramics: found in the Umeda district, this museum houses the best collection of Chinese and Korean pottery in Japan.

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Keitakuen: is one of the city's prettiest parks and is home to a huge conservatory (full of Japanese and international parks) and Tennoji Zoo - but it is probably best known for its outdoor karaoke sessions performed every Sunday evening by the city's homeless since the late 1970s.

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Universal Studios Japan: is a huge theme park set in 150 acres of parkland and features many rides centred around famous Universal Studios films e.g. ET, Jurassic Park and Jaws.

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Osaka Dome: is a masterpiece of modern design or a weird looking space ship depending on your point of view - and is in fact a giant sports stadium full of state-of-the-art facilities and equipment and is also called home by the professional baseball team the Kintetsu Buffaloes.

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Aquarium: found within the Tempozan Harbour Village this is a must-see for any tourist in Osaka. Each massive tank within the aquarium represents an aquatic environment e.g. Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean etc. and has giant spider crabs, whale sharks and mantra rays among its marine life.

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Q. Do you know how big the football stadium is that will be used in the world cup finals

A. It holds a capacity crowd of 50,000 seats and is easily reached by the subway to Nagai Station. You can find out more about football fixtures, tickets etc. for the World Cup 2002 - to be held jointly in Japan and South Korea this summer - online at www.fifaworldcup.com.

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Anyone travelling to Japan to watch the football is advised to book his or her hotel via a tour operator before leaving the UK.

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By Karen Anderson