Being the third largest city in Japan, Osaka is also the commercial center of Japan. Literally, Osaka means “large hill” or “large slope”. Osaka often referred to as the “nation’s kitchen” in feudal Edo period because it was the centre of trading for rice, creating the first modern futures exchange market in the world. The city was formerly known as Naniwa and was once Japan’s capital city.
The small economic giant of south-east Asia, Singapore remains one of the most modern cities in the region. The city nation blends cultural aspects of Malay, China, Arabia, India and England into a melding pot of diversity. Its unique ethnic tapestry offers visitors a wide array of sightseeing and culinary opportunities from which to choose.