Thinking Allowed: Amazing Osaka revisited

We have good memories of getting an Osaka Pass on our last visit into Osaka and decided we should go it all over again. I liked the pass because it allowed us access to all those activities the kids always ask to do that I never feel it worth going to as the per person cost adds up.We really wanted to make the most of our two days so planned pretty full days. Tova wasn't the biggest fan of high velocity tourism and we had to compromise a little on our second day to be humane. I think it was lots of fun and definitely worth the initial investment. I pored over the Osaka map and the activities to maximize on worthwhileness and interest to the children. But I also tried to be realistic of the fact that I had four children with me. We didnt feel too rushed. So in case anyone out there wants to spend an intense two days in Osaka here is a quick rundown of what we did on each day. The only thing I would have changed but we really didn't have the energy after long days out was to go to an onsen on each of the two evenings. This is nothing like what our daily life is like just a foray into tourism.

In case this is all of little interest to you or you are reading and have a short attention span here is the summary of our two days activity. For those thinking if the pass pays off: an adult the pass costs 3,600 Yen for two days and this same itinerary would have cost 15,500. You can also just scroll down to the photos.

Day one: Shitennoji Temple, Isshin-ji Temple, Tsutenkaky tower, Tsutenkaku tower slide, Zoo, Ching dong music show, Legoland Discovery Centre, Tempozan Ferris Wheel, Cosmo Tower.

Day two: Koji Kinutani Tenu art museum, Umeda Sky tower, Hep 5 ferris wheel, boat ride from Osaka castle, Ukiyo-e museum, Dotonbori boat ride.

We started out first day at the Shitennoji temple complex. It was early enough in the day that we were the only tourists wandering around the cemetery, grounds and temple. It was also early enough that we go to listen to the morning services. It was a peaceful exploration and a nice way to start our day. The flea market that happens on the temple grounds was just opening up so we wandered through stands of antiques and cloth on our way out. We were a little ahead of schedule so we wandered into Isshin-ji temple on our way to tsutenkaku. Again we arrived just in time to observe a service occuring. The children listened to the chanting, watched the koi fish, and then we took advantage of the peaceful seating area to relax over a cup of tea. Next up we headed to Tsutenkaku tower, a tower set up to resemble the Eiffel tower and once claiming to be the tallest building in Asia. The kids probably liked the lighting and video in the elevator nearly as much as the views at the top. The patron charm of the tower is Billiken -"the god of things as they ought to be" who was interestingly created in the late 1800's by an art teacher in Kansas. To increase the profit potential they have set up a long slide down part of the tower. As it was included in the Osaka pass the children who were tall enough (Zadie stood with me teary eyed) got their adrenaline rush for the morning.

From the tower we picked up some onigiri and snacks and walked over to the zoo with them. The kids both enjoyed strolling around and seeing wildcats and monkeys but we all also felt a little bad for some for some of the animals as they had small enclosures for their size and usual habitats. Nonetheless, it was nice to get to sit and eat our lunch to a background soundtrack of growling cats. We next headed to the mall nearest the zoo to watch a music show. Although this show was part of the pass it occurs only once or twice a month (luck us!) and must not be a popular choice as we were the only tourists and the only children in the crowd. It was a very local performance which gave us a taste of Japanese entertainment, music, and humour. There was much more talking than we expected and Tova and Zadie had a hard time sitting through the long dialogues. But I am glad we went and the performers seemed genuinely overjoyed to have us in the audience.

We next took the metro out to the harbour and went to the Legoland Discovery center. Zadie and Tova had no trouble enjoying themselves at this spot and after a few hours of rides, 3D films, playground, and lego building I had to coax them out with my insistence that the ferris wheel would be best at sunset. Lucky for us the Tempozan ferris wheel is right next to Legoland Discovery Center. It is a very large ferris wheel that did not disappoint and offered stunning views of Osaka and Osaka harbour shimmering in the sunset. By this point the kids were more than ready to go home but I fortified them with ice cream and we headed to the nearby Cosmo tower to enjoy a trip up a great glass elevator and view of the now color changing ferris wheel and the city all dressed up in lights for the night. Although they were hesitant to go to the tower they all agreed it was a good thing we went. At this point we headed home where I quickly fed children and sent them to bed.

Day two: I let the children sleep in a little as they were tired out from the first busy day. This day turned out to be busy with local tourists as it was the emperor's birthday. We trained up to Umeda and walked over to the Koji Kinutani Tenku art museum. I dont think the girls expected to enjoy this gallery as much as they did but if you look up the Koji Kinutani you might get a sense of why they were so captivated. The artist has mastered the art of fresco painting and added a Japanese and vibrant surrealist twist to the traditional art form. I never really imagined frescoes could take on that appeal. The artwork involves not just bright colours but dragons, and gods and leaps into the imagination. There was a 3D film created base don the artwork and the kids were equally mesmerized by videos of the process of artist creating his pieces. We then took an elevator and series of escalators up the Umeda sky building. A building once seen never forgotten. We wandered around on the outdoor platform above the rest of Osaka and enjoyed views of the river and its many bridges stretching across the horizon.

And then spirits were wilting so we ate some lunch before heading into a mall for a ride on one of the more odd ferris wheels I have seen which is nestled between two sections of the building but once it crested over the roof offered great views of the Umeda area. We metroed to catch a boat along the river only to find out that the boat station was closed. We walked along the river and through the Osaka castle grounds to get to the open boat dock. Though this part of our day was not part of the Osaka pass we all really enjoyed this peaceful and scenic stroll. We sat in the sun enjoying Japanese sweets while we waited for our boat to arrive. I really enjoyed the glass roofed trip along the river taking in the sites but Tova grew impatient with the boat guide who spoke nonstop in Japanese for the entire ride ruining her ability to play dungeons and dragons with her sisters. We metroed south to Nanba and visited the Ukiyo-e museum. After spending a week learning all about Hokusai it was fitting for the kids to get to see other works of woodblock prints and get some of the history surrounding them. Then, we walked up to the river to enjoy an evening boat ride along the busy Dotonbori. Our guide this time, though she spoke in Japanese and never stopped speaking, had a soothing voice and delicate hand gestures and interspersed snippets of song into her speech endearing her to all of us. It was another full but great day.