We arrived in Osaka
about 8:30am and then made our way through customs, by the way this was the
quickest and most easiest process I have ever been through. We then had to work
out which train to catch into Osaka the JRline or the Kansai. We spoke to the
information people and in the end we brought a three day Kansai Thru pass which
cost 5,200 yen and allows us to use any trains or buses in Osaka, Nara and
Kyoto.
In finding our hotel
and navigating the subway system we met this lovely Japanese man who helped us
out, he made animals out of palm leaves and sells them at Osaka Castle. I got a
lotus. By the way the Japanese subway system is easier they the London system
ever in another language. We are staying at APA Villa Osaka and our hotel is
two doors down for one of the numerous exits.
My room is very small and my suitcase is sitting at the front door as it
doesn't fit anywhere else.
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| My hotel room |
I then adventured by
myself to the Osaka Aquarium. Here I wanted see the whale sharks.
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| Whale sharks! |
The principal
theme for establishment of the Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN was based on the Gaia
hypothesis proposed by Dr. James Lovelock. This idea is an
ecological theory that the Earth with its many active volcanoes and all of its
living creatures closely interact with each other to form, and function as, a
single organism. Also, considering that there is considerable geographical
overlap in the Pacific Ocean region between the Pacific Rim volcanic belt with
frequent volcanic eruptions and an area characterized by rich biodiversity, the
KAIYUKAN embodies the concepts of “the Ring of Fire” and “the Ring of Life”
into all its exhibits.
The aquarium tour
starts at the “Aqua Gate” zone. Proceeding through a tunnel-shaped tank, where visitors
can experience feeling as if they were underwater among a wide variety of
fishes. Then, the tour route leads to various different zones such as “Japan
Forest” filled with bright sunlight and “Pacific Ocean” where a whale shark,
the largest fish in the world, is exhibited in a tank containing 5,400 tons of
water. Walking the full length of the tour route, passing twice around the
various levels of the aquarium, visitors can feel and experience both ground
and marine environments of the Pacific Rim region.
On the way out people
where gathering outside and I ask a information person why and she said it was
the marching of the Penguins. So so cute. Reminds me of Happy feet.
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| The March of the Penguins |
I also found, on my way
back to the hotel, Lego Miniland, wow is all I can say! https://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.jp/osaka/en/
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| Cool!! |
For dinner tonight we went
to an Italian restaurant in Shinsekai where I had sea urchin pasta. It was
beautiful and not overly fishy but sweet.
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| Sea urchin pasta.....! |
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| This was sweets |
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| And Belgian hot chocolate to finish off! |
Night
Chi
Hi Cherie. Too much to read in one sitting but it seems you've already started with some pretty good experiences. Keep 'em coming. I'll arrange time to
ReplyDeleteRead through each one!!