National Day rolled round again and as I take pretty much every opportunity to get out of kunming that comes my way nowadays, I booked a trip. My original plan was Sri Lanka but the airlines discount code thing. As a result my flights to Japan were stupidly cheap. Already a good trip in my book. I booked 6 days in Osaka with a few days in Kyoto in the middle.
I arrived in the early afternoon on the Monday, spent a little time in the airport trying (and failing) to get my head around the ATM's and the trains into the city before actually going in search of one. My internet research had left me more than a little confused about the train system, a feeling that didn't lessen in my week in the city. Osaka and the surrounding area has a few different rail systems, networks, companies and all have very long names which are impossible to remember. I gave up most times and asked the people wandering about with clipboards.
The first thing I did was head straight both tourist information center and ask someone who knows what they are talking about. The woman was fantastic and loaded me up with maps, train tourist travel cards, discount code and coupons. It turned out that there had been a pretty hefty typhoon the day before i arrived that had damaged, and closed for repair, some of the places I wanted to visit. It wasn't a huge blow but made for a change of plans.
If i have the time, I always try to spend my first day in a new place just wandering about and taking in the general feel and pace of the city. With 6 days I had plenty of time, so I picked a place on the map and just walking in its general direction. Subways are great for getting to different places easily but I think you miss so much of the city, true some the lines were above ground but most weren't. As it turns out, I was staying very close to the "world famous" shopping area of Dotonbori. During the day, this area was fairly laid back and not too busy, at night however was a different beast. It seems that the lights and general excitement of
the whole area make this a very popular tourist spot, something I was not prepared for. Regardless of the crowds, which only seemed to gather at the central crossroads, it soon became my favourite place to people watch. Osaka is famed for its shopping above everything else and its easy to see why. nearly every station was attached to some form of shopping center. Many were linked by long underground shopping streets, it is almost possible to cross the whole city without going above ground (which is the case in TaiPei). Excellent people watching places all of them!When I wasn't watching the crowds swarm past, I checked out the local attractions. Top of my list was the aquarium which is rated as one of the best in the world. I love aquariums! If i'm in a city that has one, I guarantee I'll go. Osaka overtook ShangHai as my favourite and is the current top runner. Whoever designed the place deserves a medal. It's a huge three floor space with one massive central tank that the rest of the building circles. So for the vast majority of your time in the aquarium, you will always have the same tank on your right. Opposite are dozens of smaller tanks filled with all sorts of aquatic wonders. I saw
dolphins, rays, Japanese Giant Spider crabs, jellyfish and loads more.
The central tank was the highlight for me, WHALE SHARKS! I have long been fascinated by these humongous creatures and I have always wanted to see one. Yes, I am aware in captivity is not the same but its something! I spent several hours here in the early morning quiet and had a great time.As I was leaving, I got a message from a friend (who had seen message I posted about the aquarium) from Kunming who was coincidentally in Osaka for the week and was only a subway stop away. We arranged to meet and then spent the afternoon together.
I had planned on going to Kyoto that afternoon but as it was less than an hour on the train away, I
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