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Japan Summer Trip. Day 2: Osaka

Tennojii street and the Tsutenkaku Tower
Summer in Japan, you have to wake up as early as 3am to have your Suboh prayer that lasted at almost 5am. As we skipped Minami attack yesterday, We started early on the 2nd day to cover Shinsaibashi later in the evening. After a simple western breakfast, we took a Sakaisuji line to the Ebisucho station in Tennoji. We took full advantage of the Osaka Amazing Pass on the second day. 

We visited the Tsutenkaku Tower to enjoy the panoramic view of the Shitennoji area from the observatory deck in the morning. However, we missed the nostalgic Shinsekai (Osaka's new world) experience during pre-WWII as most of the shops still closed. The tower was constructed in 1912 after Paris' Eifel Tower also homed 'Wakuwaku Land' that brings big name Glico.



Where is Nu'man?
You can find many of these in Japan
Wishlists to the Buddha in the tower
Shinsekai in the morning
Wakuwaku Land is located in the ground floor
Miniaturize modeled of past era

We will search for this Osaka's city sign in Shinsaibashi later
Walked to the east, we reached the Japan's first Buddhist temple constructed by Prince Shoutoku. The entrance ticket covers the main temple, but we are most delighted with the garden, Gokuraku-Jodo. It took us awhile to find the entrance as it was located on the backside of the main temple. Once we were in, we really had a breathtaking greener view of the garden. Too bad, it would be more awesome if it was a spring season!
The Shintennoji Temple entrance
Everything is odd, 5-storey pagoda
The main temple
The Gokuraku-jodo also known as Honbo Garden
The stream was crystal clear. Rasa macam nak berendam je.
The garden


The Treasure House kept the paintings, scriptures and other valuable belongings. 
Another courtyard surrounded the inner precinct
By noon, we made our move to Osaka Castle. The Tanimachi line takes us to the Tanimachi Yonchome station, which is 10 minutes walk to Osaka Museum of History situated next to NHK Osaka. This museum exhibits the chronicle history when Osaka begins as the Japan's first capital and site of Naniwa Palace and through the modernization of the city. I just realized that actually visitors can have an excellent view of the Osaka Castle from the top floor :-(

The exhibition begins from the highest floor
Too bad.. The museum's lack of English explanation
The Chamberlain
Some of the artifacts kept in the museum
The Naniwa Palace Model
Naniwa used to be the capital city.
The Samurai Sword

Modernization of Osaka City
We literally enjoy the puzzle games in the museum until it took us to realize that we are running out of time. We supposed to be at Osaka Castle by noon since we need to catch Aqua-Liner Pier. An hour Okinawa river cruise should take us towing around the Osaka city and bound for Yodobashi pier. Anyway, we need to pay extra charges for the boat cruise as it is only entitled for special rate using the Osaka Amazing Pass.

Yeah! Done my jigsaw puzzle of Naniwa temple
Finally, Nu'man able to finish the poultry puzzle with the help of 'magic hand'
Nu'man playing traditional Japanese game

We then rushed to Osaka Castle, which is about 10 minutes walk from the museum.

It is summer!
The Oteman Gate (Main Gate) leading to the Nishinomaru Garden
The door itself shows how fortified the castle is
The second gate called Tamon-Yagura Gate.

The Nishinomura Garden Entrance
The fortress quite adventurous to climb, anyone?

Perigi buta?
The Gimmesui Well built by Tokugawa
The Osaka Castle from far
The best green tea ice-cream we ever had
Even though we missed the Aqua-Liner departed at Osakajo Pier, we decided to catch the Tonbori River Cruise. By that time, we had to ride a taxi from Osaka Castle to Dotonbori, which cost us a boom. Anyway, it's based on the meter and yet we haven't felt being cheated.

Gilco Sign Man is the symbolic sign of Osaka City
While waiting for the Tonbori River Cruise, we had our Takoyaki and wedges
It is only a 20 minutes river cruise but we were really enjoy the journey
We walked almost a kilometer along shopping street Shinsaibashi
This 2nd day really a 12 hours full day trip and we able to make full use of the Osaka Amazing pass. I would suggest for anyone visiting this city to get the pass, and maybe extend for another one or two days to really enjoy the Osaka city.

The Tonbori River Cruise experience

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