Day 02: Osaka Aquarium (海遊館) and Shinsaibashi (心斎橋)

On our second day in Osaka, the nearest attraction at Hotel Universal Port is the Universal Studio. Naturally everyone will want to go Universal Studio at the first light.  Too bad, this trip we decided to skip Universal Studio.  Many may say, what a waste!!!  Personally find that there are many fun and interesting places to visit in Osaka region than Universal Studio. Most of all, i am not a theme park fan.

Visited Universal Studio during the first year of opening.  The experiences then was not very present, mainly of the long queue for all rides.  On average, the queue of each ride is about an hour.  This really kills all my moods.

Ticket to Osaka Aquarium (海遊館) 

There are two ways to Osaka Aquarium, by train or ferry.  For convenience and time saving, we get the ferry and entrance tickets to the aquarium from the hotel's ticket counter. 

There are several ticket combinations, we get a one way ferry with aquarium entrance tickets.  After getting the tickets, just go to the jetty from the exit near to the ticket counter.  The prices for a one way ferry with aquarium entrance ticket are as follow.

1.  Adult.  ¥2,700
2.  Secondary School Student.  ¥1,800.
2.  Primary School Student.  ¥1,500.

Captain Line Ferry

Jetty to board and alight from Captain Line.

Photo taking outside the waiting room.

Arriving of Captain Line.

Half way to the aquarium.

Reaching Osaka Aquarium (海遊館).

Osaka Aquarium (海遊館)

Entrance of the Osaka Aquarium.

The main attraction of the Osaka Aquarium is the two whale sharks.  Really beautiful and we are able to have a very close view of them swimming in the tank.

There are many others species of fish and sea creatures.  There are seats around the tank for you to sit and enjoy the view of the fishes swimming round the tank.

The best part of the aquarium i love most is the jelly fish section.

There are several tanks of different types of jelly fish.  They are really beautiful drifting around the tank.

There is a touch and feel area for the kids near the exit of the aquarium, where the children are allow to touch and feel the different type of shark and ray.

There are two souvenir shops, one locate after the exit and the other locate before the exit.  The souvenirs from the shop before the exit are of better quality.  Especially the whale shark soft toy, it looks better and nicer to hug.  Brought two big size Whaley home.

The shop after the exit has more varieties, both the quality are not so good as the before.  The shopkeepers are also wearing different uniform, believe both shop are operated by different operator.

Lunch 

There is no problem in solving our lunch.  We walk over to Tempozan (天保山) Harbour Village for our lunch and to charge up for the next destination.  There are several restaurant and a big food court in the mall.  We decided to go for the food court, as the varieties are more.

Shinsaibashi (心斎橋) 

We walk to the nearest station, Osakako (大阪港駅), then transfer at Hommachi (本町駅) to Shinsaibashi Station.  It is fast and convenient, with us exit straight at the shopping arcade.

http://www.jrpass.com/images/map/map_osaka_metro.pdf

Direction toward train station.

Ticket counter at Osakako Station.

Platform of Osakako Station.

Transfer at Hommachi Station.

Middle of Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade.

Nothing much to describe about Shinsaibash, it is the hottest and most happening shopping district in Osaka.  In order to cover the whole area, you need at least two days or more.  For this trip, my missions are as follow.

1.  Kinryu (金龍)  Ramen.
2.  Shopping at Takashimaya.

Wth only two objectives, we should able to cover in half a day.  But too bad, the ladies only manage to complete part of their shopping list only.  Mission failed because there are too many distraction along the way....

Distraction 01 - LUSH Soap 

LUSH is a shop that sell soaps and cosmetics that make of fresh ingredients.  It stated that all the soaps and cosmetics products are hand made.  The products can also be purchased online from http://www.lushsg.com

The shop assistants are full of drives and friendly.  They also do a simple product demo for each of us, applying different types of their facial or hand masks.  Very good services and colourful shop that make us spend about an hour there.

They also demonstrate making of bath bubble with their bathing soap... really lot of bubbles..  too bad the shop assistants do not allow us to take photos.  

Distraction 02 - Food and Shop along the way 

On the way to the Kinryu (金龍) Ramen shop near to the river, there are many street foods, cakes and cookie shop;  We stop, buy, eat and move to next store...

Kinryu Ramen (金龍ラーメン) 

There are three stores that located at different part of Namba and Shinsaibashi areas.  Personally prefers the one near to the Shinsaibashi and the river.  The ramen from this store tastes the best among the rest.  Think it may be also the atmosphere around this shop that enhance the taste.  

The get the best of 金龍ラーメン is to add lot of kimchi and garlic.  These side dishes will strongly enhance to taste, especially in the cold weather.

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Back to Universal Studio

Nothing much to write about Takashimaya, it is a very big shopping mall that located at the main junction between Namba and Shinsaibashi.  It is the major landmark in the region.  

Once reached the Takashimaya, the ladies and children start their hunt for bags and toys.

Luckily the departmental store close at 8.00 pm. Else we can stay there for another day.

The easiest way back to Universal Studio is to take the Hanshin Namba Line from Namba Station, which is beside Takashimaya, and transfer to JR Nishikuju Station.

However, my friends would love to explore around the neighborhood and we start walking to the JR Namba Station.  It took us about half an hour, stopping by a Lawson to top up water and food.  The JR Line was so crowded that night, we got confused and took the wrong direction and do a complete JR Osaka Loop.

Overall, it was a good experiences for us to better familiar with JR Osaka Loop.