Osaka: Japan's Historic Commercial Capital on Honshu

During the Edo period (1603–1868), Osaka served as Japan's commercial capital. Located on the island of Honshu, it was the nation's primary hub for rice trade, finance, and merchant culture. Known as the "Nation's Kitchen" (Tenka no Daidokoro), Osaka's bustling port and extensive canal network facilitated the flow of goods from across the archipelago. The city also fostered a vibrant urban culture, including bunraku puppet theater, kabuki, and a distinctive merchant cuisine that still defines its identity today.