Osaka, Japan

Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル) is a high tower you can go up to have a view of the city. I visited it during the day but didn't actually pay to go up to the very top level. I just looked out the windows on the floor with restaurants and stores for free. 

Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル)

Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル)

Near the tower is a huge hedge vertical garden that borders the gardens just outside the tower.


The walk along the water from Osaka Station to the castle has old bridges and nice manicured park including a lovely rose garden that smelled fantastic and had some very unique coloured roses with huge flowers.

Osaka Castle is lovely for a nice walk and despite the cloudy weather it was still lovely to see this landmark again. The waters of the outer moat were so calm that the reflection was very beautiful in the outer moat.

Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle

Gokurakubashi Bridge (極楽橋) links the castle grounds across the inner moat. From there you get a very nice view of the castle. I wish the weather was a bit nicer to give this a blue sky background. 

Osaka Castle

The pond up at the castle is still my favorite view of the castle and is one of the quietest places on the castle grounds where you can sit without other people.

Osaka Castle

The castle is surrounded by various gardens and parks as well as the Hōkoku Shrine.

Hōkoku Shrine

Taking my recently arrived friends to Namba on their first full day in Japan was quite an experience. They were amazed by everything and just walking a few streets took all afternoon wandering in and out of the stores and watching their amazement at everything that was new and interesting in Japan.

Namba

 As well as crowds you get to see a lot of odd things like spider man climbing into a shellfish. Amidst the crowded streets there are many small quiet side streets.

Namba

Nabma

  In the Namba area Hozenji Temple (法善寺) is a small but lovely temple in the middle of the city. You find it by wandering down some small alleys that look like you would expect from traditional Japanese subdivisions.

Hozenji Temple (法善寺)

Hozenji Temple (法善寺)

The temple is most famous for its moss statue.  The statue is covered by moss because after you pray you pour water on it. Over time the rock became moss covered and now the statue is quite adorable.

Hozenji Temple (法善寺)

Hozenji Temple (法善寺)

Hozenji Temple (法善寺)

After walking the area during the day we grab some drinks and went to the riverside to relax with a cold one and watched the busy streets as the crowds thickened for the dinner rush. 

Namba

Namba

Near the dotonburi area we went to an all you can eat Japanese BBQ restaurant called Yakiniku Rokko (六甲 心斎橋). I would say that for the food you get the price is very reasonable. 

Yakiniku Rokko (六甲 心斎橋)

Yakiniku Rokko (六甲 心斎橋)