Exploring Osaka for a few days

Exploring Osaka for a few days

After finally getting to the hotel in Osaka and dropping my luggage there, I decided to explore the underground city, Umeda Underground Area, a real city underground where you can find everything!

It was raining, so I couldn’t have chosen better, I spent a lot of time walking around, trying unsuccessfully not to get lost and just looking around amazed by the gigantic mall without sunshine. While wandering around I tried to make a plan for the next day, the Akame 48 waterfalls was the initial plan, but because of the typhoon I had to think about other thing, most probably staying in Osaka…

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The moment I got back to the streets I tried to figure out where I was, I wasn’t that far from the Umeda Sky Building and it was close to sunset, so I decided to give it a try. Osaka skyline, what does it look like?

The Umeda Sky Building has an amazing view, and a “Floating Garden Observatory“, a circular path where you can see all Osaka, 360º around! A pity that I was under rain again…, but it’s totally worth it! Those afraid of heights, be aware that the elevator might be a bit scary.

Exploring Osaka for a few days
Exploring Osaka for a few days

According to the guide, Umeda Sky Building is where you can see one of Japan’s top 100 sunsets, so I ordered a cappuccino and pancakes while I was waiting for it. Pricy food, because of the view, but really low quality… the pancakes weren’t made from scratch, instead they warmed them up in a microwave, I don’t recommend it at all…

And about the sunset, well…, rainy day, clouds spoiling the fun. It was nice, but not as nice as I was expecting. Still, the view’s totally worth it and they made it quite romantic with several sightseeing points for couples (2 people sofas next to strategic windows). After the sunset, I went back to the Observatory, at night the view is way more beautiful!

Then I went back to the hotel, to check-in, and for food I decided to go to the food market street that I passed through when I hop off from the train. A never-ending shopping street! I had sushi, I had an ice cream, I walked a lot, I relaxed a bit and that street never ended! Later, when I got back to the hotel, I found out that that “tiny street” it is just no less than the longest shopping street in Japan! 2600 meters long! Its name is Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street, another place that is worth to visit, and have some dinner at.

Visiting the Osaka Aquarium

That feeling that things are getting back to normal, when I wake up at 8am and I know that I finally beat jet lag!! I meant to use this day for the waterfalls, but at the hotel they were quite convincing to avoid any where near the mountains, and mostly if traveling alone… Ok, time to improvise! Osaka is a big city, not much of history left due the Second World War, but for sure they have interesting stuff to see. So I ended up going to the Osaka Aquarium.

The day before the Australian guy recommended to visit the Aquarium, not much of what I would expect to visit when traveling to the other side or the world, but why not? I had a nice breakfast, and I went to the Osaka Aquarium that opens at 10am. I spent about 2  up to 3 hours inside, and during that time I took about 240 photos! Well, most of them are garbage, but I hope I can get a few good ones…

The problem with these kind of places, is that they are also popular for primary schools to take kids there, and that can be a bit of a big spoiler… Though, also there I met a Scottish girl, I was quite proud that I recognized the accent the moment she spoke to me! After a few years in Ireland I already can get some accents even if they are not strong.

Jellyfish at the Osaka Aquarium
Jellyfish at the Osaka Aquarium

I am not sure why, but after the Aquarium I got a huge headache, I ate something around and then I went back to the hotel. Since I was on vacations, I couldn’t let the headache destroy my day, like if the typhoon hadn’t done it yet, so I text the Australian guy I met the day before for some food and drinks later that day.  I arrived a while before, so I went to Tennouji area to walk around a bit, the area is quite nice but I didn’t have enough time to explore much, but enough time to get lost while trying to find the train station to Shin Imamiya! Another underground city in Tennouji!

We met, and then we went to Namba, were we ate octopus balls! Delicious thing and really hot too! We passed through Doguyasuji Street, another food/shopping street! Maybe a street food paradise! He had an exam the next day, so we didn’t stay longer, we went to Shinsaibashi Area for a small walk, and then we went both our ways, bot not before grabbing another set of octopus balls to take away! One of the most delicious things I ate in Japan!

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By Gil Sousa

Portuguese expat in Cork, traveler and food enthusiastic.

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