 |
| Shopping Arcade - Osaka, Japan |
 |
| Osaka-jo Castle - Osaka, Japan |
 |
| Wayne with Bullet Train - Japan |
 |
| Pat Being "Eaten Alive" by Baby Koa Fish- Osaka, Japan |
 |
| School Children - Osaka, Japan |
 |
| Dotomboria at Night - Osaka, Japan |
 |
| Wonderful Japanese Food for Dinner - Osaka, Japan |
 |
| "Are You Making Any Money" - Greeting in Osaka, Japan |
 |
| Modern Osaka, Japan |
Bombed almost flat in WWII, Osaka is now a very modern Japanese industrial (hi-tech) and port city with a population of 17 million in its greater metropolitan area. Osaka also has significant history. Serious about business (second only to Tokyo), they even have their own special greeting: “Are you making any money?”
Shopping is huge in Osaka with literally miles of shopping arcades (see photo) - especially women’s fashions. The women in Osaka dress with style.
With our very nice Goodwill Guide, Keiko Kurohawa, we visited the Osaka Aquarium that has the world’s largest aquarium tank home for two huge whale sharks! Osaka Aquarium also has well done simulated marine environments from around the world.
A visit to the Umeda Sky Building, known as the Floating Gardens, gave us an impressive view of Osaka from a tall space-like complex. Wandering through Osaka’s glittery neon entertainment area (Dotombori - see photo) gave us a fun understanding of modern Japanese life at play.
And, of course, a visit to Osaka is not complete without soaking in the many themed baths at Spa World. Spa World is possibly the largest bathhouse in the world with many floors of European and Asian style spas. Pat was eaten alive by fish (see photo) - she had a baby Koa foot treatment removing dead skin and makes your feet smooth.
We took the bullet train (see photo) to Osaka - pretty nice ride.
Some history... Osaka’s history revolves around its famous castle (Osaka-jo - see photo) built by the first Japanese ruler that united all of Japan in the 16th century. Finished in 1583, over 100,000 workers worked for three years to build Osaka-jo. It was Japan’s most impressive castle at that time.
Please
also see our 10 other blog posts for wonderful Japan...
Please enjoy 250+ wonderful places around the world, with award-winning photos, from our BLOG ARCHIVE on the right ---->
Buy this popular book on Amazon.com (also available as Ebook for $9.99), CLICK HERE
Japan Osaka looks a fabulous place. I would love to be there. Your blog is very good.
ReplyDeleteThanks for Sharing!
Wow this is awesome! I have seen photos of the fish foot bath, I don't think I could do it. Japan is on the long list of possible future destinations, I will bookmark your post which included so many other posts.
ReplyDeleteI've never had an interest in going to Japan but am gradually warming to the prospect so this was interesting. I do hope they let the whale sharks free though - it always breaks my heart to see magnificent creatures taken out of their habitat.
ReplyDeleteI loved Osaka but had a very different experience while visiting Japanese friends there. Loved the parks, seeing the small shrine dedicated to the founder of the tea ceremony and touring a tea shop. Funny about them asking if you're making any money!
ReplyDeleteI do hope to get to Japan someday and would very much like to visit the world's largest aquarium! in Osaka.
ReplyDeleteWe missed visiting Osaka when we were in Japan a few years ago. It sounds a like a smaller version of Tokyo with its emphasis on commerce. I'm glad we had a chance to visit Kyoto and Nara which both have a somewhat different vibe.
ReplyDeleteLOVED my time visiting Osaka! Such an amazing city and so much to offer! Castle was a must! Latest blog post to inspire more people to visit Osaka check it out! http://iamdanelson.com/osaka-close-personal/
ReplyDelete