Osaka city - Osaka prefecture - Kansai

Osaka - as they say, really is the kitchen of Japan, especially Dotonbori area, the downtown. If you are not a foodie, perhaps you can spend 2 tops in Osaka. One day in Universal Studio and one day in Dotonbori/Namba/Amerikamura/Shinsekai for photos and Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki. The Osaka Aquarium is expensive (¥2000), small and not really worth the visit (but they do have a whale shark which I don't think they have in Tokyo? but I am not sure)

Kansai people are perceived as the loud ones by Japanese people, their 'loud and rowdier' characters are magnified by giant animated or non-animated seafood creatures in front of restaurants along Dotonbori. As much as I love the public image of Kansai people and its cool Kansai dialect, I found Osaka downtown is livelier, messier and louder.

Just the place to be.

International translation 

Amerikamura (American village)

Dotonburi

Monja (Tokyo style okonomiyaki)

Kansai style okonomiyaki

Kuidaore Taro - can be seen as a mascot - he's been there for ages, or so I read

Floating garden at Umeda building

A 'showa themed' restaurants underneath the umeda building

Do I really look like a giant kid that the lady gave me one of these balloons?

To the floating garden

View from top

pod seat

Rainy day view from Umeda building

It has photos of many world towers

Outside of the floating garden - there is no garden whatsoever

Kuidaore the city mascot

elevatoring down back to earth

Osaka station - modern and huge

Osaka aquarium

the Osaka aquarium

Inside the aquarium

The main attraction - the whale shark, at feeding time

One of the Kawaii collection

Shinsekai area - known as the lesser safe area, but this is Japan where crime is quite low. I have to admit when I got there, the area seems dodgier and darker than Namba/Umeda/Dotonbori. It has Tsutenkaku Tower, restaurants and a home to big public onsen/pool called SPA World. I went to SPA World (sometimes it has special deal such as ¥1000 entrance fee, which is a huge discount from the usual ¥2700 something entrance fee). This place interest me because of its world theme onsen, just google for more information. Of course as any onsen places, no photos are allowed, I can't even get the camera pass the first floor. The place is quite old though, it definitely needs refurbishment, but for ¥1000, it is ok. 

You can find this creature on top of Tsutenkaku tower, where they say rubbing it will bring you luck

Entrance to Spa World

Tsutenkaku Tower from afar