[JP; 2016] Solo Series | DAY 3 - Osaka

DAY 3

Guesthouse SUN > Nambayasaka Shrine 難波八阪神社 > Namba Station > Shitennoji 四天王寺 > Isshiji 一心寺 > Tsutenkaku 通天閣 > Shinsekai > Tennoji Zoo 天王寺動物園 > Osaka Municipal Museum of Fine Art 大阪市立美術館 > Tenshiba てんしば > Osaka Museum of History 大阪歴史博物館 > Osaka Castle 大阪城 > Osaka Housing Museum 大阪くらしの今昔館 > Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome Station > Umeda Sky Building 梅田スカイビル > Umeda Station > Namba Station

I should have named this post as, "HOW TO BE A KIASU TOURIST IN OSAKA FOR A DAY"! Long post with 7 main attractions + a handful of side attractions! (see the long list above)

Acknowledgements: I have to thank all the Taiwanese bloggers that wrote posts on the One-day Osaka Amazing Pass for giving me so much inspirations for this kiasu-impromptu itinerary.

1. Guesthouse SUN > Nambayasaka Shrine 難波八阪神社

Woke up at 9-ish after such a bad night in the hostel. (refer to my previous post for the review on the hostel) My room was almost empty, a few was ready to go off, I guess I was the last to wake up among the 12 females in the room. A western guy in the first level greeted me with his cereal breakfast, out of curiosity I asked him whether he knows where is the drinkable water, to my horror he pointed the tap water.

Anyway, Nanbayasaka Shrine was just 15-20mins walk away from Guesthouse SUN. So I decided to take a brisk walk to there.

Nambayasaka Shrine, http://nambayasaka.jp/
Nearest Station: Namba Station

 Intimating lion stare at the entrance! Quite unique despite it is just a very small shrine.

2. Nambayasaka Shrine 難波八阪神社 > Namba Station > Shitennoji 四天王寺

So Namba Station is just a stone throw away from the shrine, I took another 15-20mins stroll to there and bought One-day Osaka Amazing Pass. You can get it at some ticketing counter at some specific basement level, otherwise you can get it at the Train Master room located at the grey door behind the Exit Sign for 28, 29, 31, 32.

I think hardly anyone bought it from the Train Master, the master was abit messy getting the things ready for me. Maybe he thinks I can understand Japanese since I was quite responsive when he spoke Japanese. (Actually I've no idea what was he telling me) So I got the Japanese version of the Amazing Pass... which means I can't understand a single thing in the card and brochures. LOL

Osaka Amazing Pass - One day, http://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/index.html
2,300 yen

I find the pass quite worth it, with the pass you can take unlimited subway rides on that day you activated it... and you can go practically go all the tourist spots in Osaka City without paying any entrance fee!

But if you have some time to spare, I would advice to get the 2 day pass (3,000 yen) instead, so you could pace your itinerary better, and cover much more interesting attractions.

So I headed to the famous Shitennoji Temple!

Shitennoji Temple, www.shitennoji.or.jp
Nearest Station: Shitennōji-mae Yūhigaoka Station

As I did not enter from the main entrance, hence I have no idea what was the main attraction in Shitennoji Temple. Thus I just anyhow strolled about, wandering like nobody business.

I love the flat looking humble roofs of Japanese temples, too pretty with the blue sky.

3. Shitennoji 四天王寺 > Isshiji 一心寺 > Tsutenkaku 通天閣

I exited from the main entrance and decided to walk to Tsutenkaku 通天閣. On the way I saw this temple, Isshiji, which had a really cool/modern entrance which attracted me.

Isshiji 一心寺
Nearest Station: Shitennōji-mae Yūhigaoka Station

Walked further down another 10-15mins or so, I reached Tsutenkaku 通天閣!

Tsutenkaku 通天閣, www.tsutenkaku.co.jp
Nearest Station: Ebisucho
FREE entrance with Amazing Pass

Simply find the entrance and the side of the structure!

Flashed the Amazing Pass and took a lift ride to the highest level.

Wouldn't say the best city view I have seen, but still impressive enough.

There are quite a lot of levels to explore, rather fun place to go!

4. Tsutenkaku 通天閣 > Shinsekai

The area around Tsutenkaku is called Shinsekai, THERE IS SO MANY FOOD OVER THERE!

I spent 30-40mins walking through the alleys/streets. So many shops selling deep fried food on stick. So tempted to try, but cons of a solo traveller, I can't order much and try everything. So it was out of my list.

I walked down this covered street, and I decided to settle down for lunch over there.

Came across this ramen shop and it wasn't that crowded. I FINALLY CAN HAVE A PROPER LUNCH AFTER 2 DAYS!

麺処 虎ノ王
Nearest Station: Dobutsuen-Mae Station

The cool thing in the shop was... the ordering machine!

Everything was in Japanese, thankful for the staff that was able to communicate with me in Chinese.

This is the highly recommended ramen!

5. Ebisuhigashi > Tennoji Zoo 天王寺動物園

The Zoo was just a street away from Ebisuhigashi. So... I went to the Zoo Zoo Zoo Zoo ZOO!

Tennoji Zoo 天王寺動物園, www.tenzoo.jp/english/tennnouji.html
Nearest Station: Dobutsuen-Mae StationFREE entrance with Amazing Pass

I only had one target in mind... to see the Giraffes.

I spent most of my time at the giraffe area, at least 20-25mins I would say. And I had such a great time watching the zoo keeper bringing more leaves for them to eat. I (heart) GIRAFFEs.

Another animal which I felt was rather cute was the Penguins. I hope I will have the chance to travel to Hokkaido for the Penguin Parade at Asahiyama Zoo.

So I completed the whole zoo in an hour time!

6. Tennoji Zoo 天王寺動物園 > Osaka Municipal Museum of Fine Art 大阪市立美術館 > Tenshiba てんしば > Osaka Museum of History 大阪歴史博物館 > Osaka Castle 大阪城

I decided to head to Osaka Castle next, on the way to there, I passed by quite a handful of attractions.

Osaka Municipal Museum of Fine Art 大阪市立美術館, www.osaka-art-museum.jp/
Nearest Station: Tennoji Station

Further up the Art Museum, there is a spacious green park, Tenshiba てんしば, I did not explore but it looks interesting enough with lots of fun-fair tents.

Took the metro and alighted at Tanimachiyonchome stop. While walking to the Osaka Castle 大阪城, I passed by the History Museum, which was a super big building.

Osaka Museum of History 大阪歴史博物館, www.mus-his.city.osaka.jp/eng/
Nearest Station: Tanimachiyonchome Station
FREE entrance with Amazing Pass

A road away from the History Museum was the area for Osaka Castle. I have to say the sky's blue was pretty awesome!

So if the Amazing Pass you could enter the exhibitions around the Osaka Castle for free. I entered a exhibition which was about how they attack their opponents using those weapons back then.

Out of the exhibition, I figured my way to the Osaka Castle.

Osaka Castle 大阪城, www.osakacastle.net/english/
Nearest Station: Tanimachiyonchome Station
FREE entrance with Amazing Pass

Within the Castle are different levels of exhibitions, and I heard the top roof level has a great view of Osaka, but it was too crowded that day, I only explored 2 levels.

7. Osaka Castle 大阪城 > Osaka Housing Museum 大阪くらしの今昔館

Took the metro to Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome Station, and rushed over to the Konjyakukan before it was closed for the day.

Osaka Housing Museum 大阪くらしの今昔館, konjyakukan.com/
Nearest Station: Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome Station

To my disappointment, there is no more Kimono experience! They only give out Kimono experience tickets till 4pm. ):

So I can only see people wearing Kimono walking around me. No mood to appreciate the exhibitions at all.

If you manage to get a slot for the Kimono experience, I would say the exhibitions are really good for photo taking. And it was really cheap to rent one, like 300yen or so?

8. Osaka Housing Museum 大阪くらしの今昔館 > Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome Station

I really think Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome Station is a much friendlier shopping area compared to Dotonbori; things are cheaper and less crowded. More localised I would say.

So happy to find a connivence store that provides seats for my legs to have a short rest!

9. Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome Station > Umeda Sky Building 梅田スカイビル

Gave up the long stretch of shops at Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome Station, I took the metro to Umeda Station and walked over to Umeda Sky Building.

Going up, up and UP

Umeda Sky Building 梅田スカイビ,http://www.kuchu-teien.com/observatory/
Nearest Station: Umeda Station
FREE entrance with Amazing Pass

Flashed the Amazing Pass for entrance and waited to see the beautiful sunset!

The best sunset I have ever seen! Please google the sunset timing and gauge your time to reach there. Best to reach 15mins before the sunset to get good spots.

10. Umeda Sky Building 梅田スカイビル > Umeda Station > Namba Station

Walked back to Umeda Station, and went to the Pokemon Centre before it was closed for the day.

Pokemon Centre, http://www.pokemon.co.jp/gp/pokecen/osaka/
Nearest Station: Umeda

Wanted to get something from there, but could not find anything that I like. So I decided to try my luck again at the Tokyo's Pokemon Centre instead.

As shops in Japan closes around 9pm, I have practically nothing to eat. So I trained back to Namba Station and tried MOS Burger. The cashier only knows simple English, so really thankful that the menu has small icons to indicate whether it is chicken, beef etc

This mark my amazing day, I feel I am ready to join The Amazing Race after this.

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