Osaka aquarium and other highlights of this city

Osaka is a huge city and contrarily to Tokyo, it also feels huge. There are so many underground walkways with shops and restaurants leading from one Subway station to the next, that it’s a miracle for any tourist if you don’t get lost in there at some point. In addition, you will find huge shopping complexes leading from the basement of these passages up to the 13th floor or even a lot higher. In Osaka, you could spend days in buildings and underground without ever getting bored but if you want to go outdoors, there are nice parks, pretty views and of course Osaka Castle  and Osaka aquarium to discover. And have you heard of the Expo70 capsule? Read on to find out more about the highlights of Osaka.

#1 Kayukan Aquarium (Osaka Aquarium)

Wow. That’s the best word to describe it. It’s not only the biggest aquarium in the world, it’s also a very well made exhibition with different feeding times so that you can marvel at the fish in action. The highlight, of course, are the big whale sharks which glide peacefully through the water between stingrays and hammerhead sharks. Your eyes will be magically glued to these creatures!
We took about 4 hours to look at everything at Osaka Aquarium but you can be a lot quicker or stay the whole day. There even is a small food area. Otherwise, the mall right next to the aquarium offers all kinds of food.

Entrance fee: 2300 Yen (adult), 1200 Yen (7-15 y.), 600 Yen (4-6 y.) under 4 years kids are free. When we were there, they had a promotion going on, where we could have a public transport day pass combined with the entrance for 2500 Yen, which was worth it, since the aquarium (Osakako station) can’t be accessed by JR train. Check for special offers online.)

#2 Umeda Sky Building

The iconic building is already an interesting picture stop if you stand below it. Plus, there is a modern park with fountains and walls covered in plants at the bottom. It won’t be the highest building you ever stood on. In fact, the Government Building in Tokyo offers a free observatory at the same height. Yet, it’s worth it to pay 1000 Yen to access the open roof top of Umeda Sky Building. The best time to visit is shortly before sunset so that you can enjoy Osaka’s skyline during daylight and then watch how more and more lights go on in the buildings. Even the floor of the rooftop starts glowing in UV light. In case you get cold, you can go one floor lower and enjoy the view from bar chairs and high chairs behind big glass windows.

#3 Osaka Castle

Surrounding Osaka Castle you find a nice park to stroll around in and you can watch the tourist boats on the moat. Inside the castle, you find Japanese paintings, showing the history of Osaka castle and interesting armors. There also is a floor with entertaining little holograms, telling different stories that happened in and around the castle. If you are looking for the antique rooms of the castle, you will be disappointed, as it’s a normal museum with a balcony around the roof, from which you have another view from above over Osaka.
Entrance fee: 600 Yen. It’s a 7 min walk from Osakajokoen JR Station.

A lot more culture you can find in the post about Kyoto and its sights.

#4 Expo ’70 Capsule

During the expo in 1970 a capsule was built in which small artifacts and plant seeds from all over the world were placed inside and locked up. At every millennium we celebrate the capsule will be opened. In the year 2000 the capsule was opened for the first time and pine and Japanese cypress seeds had been retrieved and successfully planted in the Expo park. The capsule will be opened for ist final time in 6970. You can find it 100 m in front of the front entrance of Osaka castle.

#5 Ramen Museum

In the Momofuku Ando instant ramen museum you find different exhibitions and show rooms and a small production factory. If you love ramen, this is the place for you to go to and create your own cup of instant noodles! And the best thing: it’s completely free.

Address: 8-25 Masumi-cho, Ikeda-shi, Osaka 563-0041 Japan

Admission: free

Opening hours: 9.30 am to 4 pm (last entry 3.30 pm), closed on Tuesdays

 

#6 Pokemon Center

Relive your childhood and fight against other people with Pokemon cards or buy a souvenir of your favorite Pokemon.

Address: 530-8202 Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, Kita Ward, Umeda, 3−1−1 大丸梅田店13F

Opening hours: 10 am to 8 pm

 

#7 Lose yourself in Osaka’s underground

The whole area below Osaka and Umeda station is one huge shopping mall and you can lose hours in it visiting the shops or stopping by in one of the restaurants. Due to the special architecture, you might find yourself wondering whether you are still in Japan or landed somewhere in Europe through a time gate. There are enough restaurants to keep your stomach satisfied and in case it’s a rainy day, you won’t even notice that the sun is not shining in the underground. In case you lose your orientation, just find the next stairway to go back above ground and try to spot the train station, Umeda Sky Building or the ferries wheel of Hep5 Mall and find your way again.

 

#8 Universal Studios

Visit Universal Studios in Japan and immerse yourself into the world of Harry Potter. However, be aware that you will wait longer in the lines than in any other Universal Studio park and unfortunately, all the characters from the rides speak Japanese. The entry fee for adults is about $70. Check the webiste for more information.

 

#9 Ride a ferries wheel

If you wander through Osaka you will notice several ferries wheels. A special one is the red one at the top of a skyscraper (Hep 5 mall). Another one is Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel next to Kayukan aquarium down by the harbor.

#10 Minno Park

Escape the bustling city and take a picture of 33 m high Minno waterfall. Get to Minoh Station by train. For example, take the Takarazuka Line from Umeda Station to Ishibashi station (15 minutes) and transfer to the Hankyu Minoh Line to Minoh Station (5 minutes).  A one way trip takes about 25 minutes and costs 270 yen. The area with the waterfall is especially nice in fall and a whole website is dedicated to Minno waterfall.

 

#11 SpaWorld

At Spa world you find a huge variety of different onsen (Japanese and European ones), slides and a dining area. It’s a marvelous water entertainment park and usually this has its price between 2400 Yen and 2700 Yen for 3 hours. However, look out for special offers. Sometimes you can visit SpaWorld for just 1000 Yen for 24 hours. It’s also possible to spend the night at the onsen (not in the slide area). If you stay after midnight you have to pay 1300 Yen in addition. Usual opening times are from 10 am to 8.45 am the next day and the slides until 7 pm on a week day/ 10 pm at the weekend.

 

#12 Bicycle Museum Cycle Center

If you like bicycles, this is your museum to go to. It displays various kinds of bicycles from old to ultra modern and shows the development from the invention to today. In addition, at special events several times a year you can learn how to ride a bicycle.

Address: 590-0801 18-2 Daisennakamachi, Sakai-ku, Sakai City, Osaka (13 minutes walk form JR  Mozu station)

Admission fee: Adult 300 Yen, Students (university, highschool) 200 Yen, elementary school student 50 Yen, Pree-school kids are free and seniors 100 Yen.

 

#13 Eat a “Japanese Pizza”

Again, you will find a wide variety of food in Osaka but a must try are the omlets which you then will finish cooking yourself on a hot surface in front of yourself. Check out the post about which food you absolutely have to try while being in Japan.

 

#14 Stay at Bonsai Guesthouse

We absolutely loved our stay at that cute guesthouse which was very conviniently situated. It was literally right at the exit of a small station along the JR loop line. Starbucks, Mr. Donut and Mc Donalds are all there as well plus a Japanese covered outdoor mall. Book your stay here and receive $15 Euros for your next booking.

 

What is your tip for Osaka? Have you ever gotten lost in a cities underground? Please, leave a comment.

Heading to Nara or Kyoto afterward? Read my blog post about Kyoto here.