Osaka

We arrived in Osaka late in the evening and immediately dumped our bags before heading out to the Dotonbori area in the Namba entertainment district of Osaka. I had been there the last time we came here but as others were visiting for the first time I got to play tour guide for the night.

The view from the hotel.

Of all the neon in the district, the Glico sign is the most famous. The runner has been in place for decades and is the most popular photospots in the city.

Last time here I got a late ride on the strange shaped big wheel. Not this time however, just as we got close we could see other club members looking dejected and leaving the Don Quixote building in which it resides.

With the wheel down we decided to go and get something to eat before the restaurants closed.

We decided tonight should be sushi night and found a restaurant that served some amazing pieces.

Close to the restaurant, missed by the majority of club members, but not missed by us was the Hip 5 drop tower. (Hurrah for pre-trip research). Despite the nice light show the tower drop, like the wheel, was down and when we asked when it would be open we were told "never". Somehow I don't think the translation was flawed either.

But they did kindly let us go out onto the station platform and get a couple of photos.

Inside the Hip5 complex we spent the remainder of the night playing the games. I've seen horse racing gambling games before but not one featuring a real track where the horses move around. You can see them here on their parade lap, they then moved out into the gates and then raced properly around the track. There must be some sophisticated magnet system under the baize.


Whilst not the exact same game you can get an idea of how it works here.

This video game plays like a House of the Dead shooting game but there are no guns. Instead you have to throw balls at the screen.


More footage carefully picked from the Youtube world :D

Back at the hotel and time to get some rest. Tomorrow will be Universal Studios.

Osaka Castle

Before heading out to the park I decided to drag Jeppe and David out to Osaka Castle. I had been blown away by Kokura Castle and knowing the one here was even better this was a definite must do, regardless of how tired I may have been.

Rather than walk it I chose to be sensible and took one of the first metros of the day. Osaka-jo hall is the main sports hall close to the castle compound.

A rather isolated skyscraper.

One of many moats surrounding the castle grounds.

and here's the completely stunning Osaka Castle. Like Kokuro Castle this was built in the 1600s before catching fire, this time lightning being the cause. It's restoration also completed in the 90s.

Completely amazing!!

Making our way back down from the castle we could hear men screaming, like proper screaming so being the curious tourists that we are we decided to head towards it and check it out.

This was the hall that the noise from emanating from.

Inside a Kendo session was in full swing and we were very kindly invited in. As we sat and watched an elderly man came over and asked us if we'd like to take part. Now we were completely blown away by the request but complete chicken-shits and kindly rejected their offer. These guys were not holding back and the idea of having some untrained bodies to bash senseless filled me with dread (but of course I'd tell people that I wouldn't have time to get into the garb). Another man challenged Jeppe to a fight and he declined too. Only on the way out did we discover that the class was for the over-80s; they didn't move like 80 year-olds that I know. An amazing morning!

Nice statue close to the hall. Clearly there's some sort of kendo/sword fighting history here.

Hard to make out but that's an old man running up the stairs on the left. He did this continuously without getting out of breath. I got tired walking the descent :)

Nice water feature close to the metro station we'd take back.

Jeppe has a "The Birds" moment.

Back at the hotel. Nice busy skyline spoiled by the Colonel.