Explore Osaka from the sky! A special experience of seeing Osaka Castle and ancient tombs on a Cessna sightseeing flight departing from Yao Airport.

Yao City, which developed as a suburb of Osaka City, is a manufacturing town on a par with Higashi-Osaka. It is famous as the birthplace of Kawachi Ondo, and some people associate it with "Yao no Asajiro," the protagonist of the yakuza novel by Kon Toko. Despite its location close to the city center, it is also rich in nature and dotted with famous places and historical sites. There is also a wide variety of local delicacies, using local specialties such as edamame soybeans and young burdock root, prepared by local chefs.

Yao is home to Yao Airport, a rare sight in Japan, where many small aircraft, including Cessnas, take off and land. There are airlines offering sightseeing flights at Yao Airport, including Asahi Airlines.

The approximately 30-minute aerial tour of Osaka aboard a Cessna plane takes you over historical sites such as Osaka Castle and Emperor Nintoku's Mausoleum (Daisen Kofun), as well as various iconic Osaka attractions such as Universal Studios Japan (USJ) and Yumeshima.



*Asahi Airlines does not accept individual applications and only accepts reservations through travel agencies or private bookings for groups.

Joining us on this "air travel" is Tong, a Hong Kong native who loves all types of vehicles.

The places you've always wanted to visit. Experience the thrill of sightseeing from a "special seat" in the sky!

On this day, Yao City was covered with a thin layer of clouds. A clear blue sky is pleasant, but the windless, cloudy weather is also ideal for photography. Cessna planes that had undergone thorough maintenance by the technical staff were lined up in an orderly fashion in the parking lot, eagerly waiting to take off.

After a pre-flight safety briefing and completing the necessary paperwork, I headed to the boarding gate. On the runway in front of me, there were repeated takeoffs and landings, and the low roar of engines before takeoff and the sound of helicopter propellers soaring through the sky reverberated.

The cockpit instruments lit up, the propellers began to spin, and the engine noise reached my ears, softer than I had expected, and I could feel my heart pounding in response.

As he fastened his seat buckle, Tong chatted with the pilot with great interest, saying things like, "The distance between the cockpit and the seats is closer than I thought," and "There are a lot of different controls required on an airplane." It seemed his excitement was beginning to outweigh his nervousness about flying in a small plane for the first time.

The diverse faces of Osaka seen from the sky

As the pilot announced over the microphone, "We are about to take off," the Cessna slowly rolled down the runway and gently lifted off the ground. In the next moment, Tong's field of vision, gazing out the window, suddenly widened, and the residential area of ​​Yao town quickly shrunk to the size of a diorama. The buildings of central Osaka, visible in the distance, reflected the sunlight and looked very beautiful. Tong began taking pictures of "Osaka seen from the sky" with the smartphone he was holding.

Soon the plane turned south, heading first towards Abeno Harukas. Just three minutes after taking off from Yao Airport, we reached an altitude of about 300 meters above ground, and the tallest building in western Japan was right in front of us. The glass walls, reflecting the sky and city, were like a mirror of the prosperity of the city of Osaka.

From there, the plane headed south, flying over Nankai Electric Railway's Namba Station. Standing majestically in the center is Namba's five-star hotel, Swissôtel Nankai Osaka. You can see the Nankai Electric Railway tracks running alongside Namba Parks and Namba SkyO. Tong, a transportation enthusiast, leaned forward and exclaimed, "I want to see the trains coming in!"

Soon Osaka Castle came into view below.

The miniature castle tower is protected by a moat and trees, giving a clear view of the entire fortress.

Continuing on, we came across Yumeshima, an artificial island stretching out over the sea. Until recently, it was the bustling venue for the Osaka-Kansai Expo. In the center of the island, a huge circular "Great Roof Ring" stands as if floating. "Wow, that's the Great Roof Ring!" Tong exclaimed, leaning forward without thinking.

Tong is normally a bus driver, and although he had taken passengers to the vicinity of Yumeshima many times for work, he says that the park closed without him ever having the opportunity to go through its gates, either for work or for personal reasons. The experience of looking down from above on a place he had a daily connection with seemed to evoke great surprise and emotion within Tong.

The aircraft then turned south and headed toward the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group, centered around the tomb of Emperor Nintoku.

From the ground, the tomb of Emperor Nintoku looks just like a forest, but from the air you can see that it is indeed a keyhole-shaped tumulus. We head back to Yao Airport, taking our time to admire the huge tumulus, which is shaped like a keyhole.

As the airport came into view, the plane gradually lowered its altitude and began preparations for landing. After a flight of around 30 minutes, the Cessna carrying Tong slowly arrived at the runway of Yao Airport. Tong was completely captivated by his first experience of seeing the city of Osaka from the sky. His expression said it all: just how amazing the experience was!

An irresistible selection for airplane lovers. With the tour still fresh in your mind, your desire for things will skyrocket!

Enveloped in the excitement of the sightseeing flight, Ton and I, in high spirits, headed to the Aero Lab Pilot Shop, located on the same premises. This is a popular spot for aviation enthusiasts, and the store is stocked with authentic aviation equipment and related goods for pilots, as well as cool apparel and accessories such as flight jackets, caps, and emblems, enough to stimulate even the most discerning shopper. You can even see and touch the exhibits, which are remade from parts of old aircraft, and just looking around is exciting.

In one corner of the shop, we found an eat-in space where pilots and airport staff come to satisfy their hunger. The most popular item is the "Cheese Dog (500 yen)," a hearty dish made with a large sausage sandwiched between a hot dog bun and topped with melted cheese. "It's delicious! You'll be hungry after a flight," said Tong as he finished his meal.

If you want to have a little more fun and eat near Yao Airport...

Fun to make and delicious to eat - Konpeito Museum and

At the Konpeito Museum Yao, located just a five-minute drive from Yao Airport, you can learn about the history of konpeito, a small, adorable sugar candy that is said to have been brought over by Portuguese missionaries, see the manufacturing process, and even try your hand at making colorful konpeito (advance registration required).

Choosing your favorite color and flavor, handmade konpeito candy tends to be uneven compared to the beautiful star-shaped commercial products, but the added sentiment makes it all the more delicious. Every time you eat it, it's sure to bring back fond memories of your visit to Yao Airport.

The merchandise corner sells konpeito in a variety of flavors depending on the season or event. Some products are packaged in boxes made of washi paper, making them great souvenirs.

Takara-ya is a popular udon restaurant where you'll inevitably have to queue for one of the limited-time bowls

Takaraya is a popular udon restaurant near Yao Airport. Its hours are extremely limited, so if you're lucky enough to find a table open at lunchtime, it's definitely worth stopping by. Their chewy udon noodles are soft and springy, yet smooth. The aroma of the broth wafts out the door, and the restaurant is bustling with regulars and tourists alike throughout its opening hours. Find your favorite bowl from the menu, categorized into "hot udon," "cold udon," "curry udon," and "Kawachi duck udon." Pictured is the restaurant's signature "Chicken and Egg Tempura Bukkake" (1,450 yen), a platter of three crispy tempura. The large chicken tempura is the most popular.

The joy of a scenic flight: transforming familiar scenery into something special!

The air journey that began at Yao Airport was more than just a sightseeing trip; it was a precious moment where we could feel the pulse of Osaka city with our whole body. We saw the shapes of facilities and historical sites that cannot be seen from the ground, the gradations of light seen from the sky, and the breath of people's lives. After a flight packed with moving experiences, we visited the city of Yao, which was also very charming, with everyone we met wearing warm smiles and the beloved local cuisine and facilities overflowing with kind consideration. A place where the sky and the city, the past and the present, and tourists and locals connect - the time we spent in Yao is sure to leave a fond memory.