Osaka (
大阪), city of commerce, is at the heart of Japan's second largest metropolitan area (thank you wikipedia). After Nishiwaki, a return to the metropolis for the start of a whirlwind tour of Japan. Although we only spent a day in Osaka, it was a memorable one for Yugo, as we visited the giant Osaka aquarium (which houses no less than 2 whale sharks and a manta ray) and the giant Osaka Toy Store and took a ride on the giant Osaka ferris wheel.
The aquarium was a crowded affair and it was fun to watch so many people thinking hard about the different ways they could eat what they were watching. Yugo grabbed the camera action too, taking about 500 pictures of blurry fish parts, and was sometimes the object of fascination as well.
After the aquarium, we took the ferry through part of the port, hopped on a train and went back to the center of the city for some toy shopping. Yugo fit right in with the other children, jumping in front of a console with his new backpack.
After the toy store, we met Fusae and headed to the Juso neighborhood, not quite a red-light district, but not far off either. Papa was supposed to go to a concert in the area, but jet lag and heat took him out of play. We were all rewarded for the trip to Juso, however, by delicious okonomiyaki from Yamamoto's okonomiyaki restaurant.
When we could eat no more, we hopped on the giant ferris wheel perched on top of a large building and enjoyed a digestive ride, contemplating the Osaka skyline under the setting sun.
It was a fast, busy city, and one day could not do it justice. So we vote for more Osaka next year.
The aquarium was a crowded affair and it was fun to watch so many people thinking hard about the different ways they could eat what they were watching. Yugo grabbed the camera action too, taking about 500 pictures of blurry fish parts, and was sometimes the object of fascination as well.
After the aquarium, we took the ferry through part of the port, hopped on a train and went back to the center of the city for some toy shopping. Yugo fit right in with the other children, jumping in front of a console with his new backpack.
After the toy store, we met Fusae and headed to the Juso neighborhood, not quite a red-light district, but not far off either. Papa was supposed to go to a concert in the area, but jet lag and heat took him out of play. We were all rewarded for the trip to Juso, however, by delicious okonomiyaki from Yamamoto's okonomiyaki restaurant.
When we could eat no more, we hopped on the giant ferris wheel perched on top of a large building and enjoyed a digestive ride, contemplating the Osaka skyline under the setting sun.
It was a fast, busy city, and one day could not do it justice. So we vote for more Osaka next year.
No comments:
Post a Comment