Osaka
Because it is by the sea, it is good for transportation.  That is why an ancient emperor made Osaka the capital city.  In the early part of the 8th century Naniwa was one of capitals of Japan.  In the middle of the 16th century Toyotomi Hideyoshi founded Osaka castle and governed Japan in Osaka.  The basis of development of Osaka was prepared in those times.  Osaka castle was destroyed once by Tokugawa Ieyasu but Ieyasu choose Osaka as one of the political centers in the Western Japan.  He made Osaka a direct dominion of the shogun.  During the Edo period Osaka was a center of commerce, finance, pharmacy and other products.  It was a center for literature and theater.  Kabuki in Osaka is as famous as Kabuki in Edo and Kyoto.   It is also known for bunraku (a traditional puppet theater) and manzai (a kind of stand-up comedy).