We love to take a bus route through any new city to get oriented, to get a feel for the layout of the city and usually there is some historical facts playing through the headphones. The one we chose was not a hop-on hop-off but it was an open air double decker. It traveled from the downtown skyscraper laden area, to the trendy fancy shop lined street then along a road that was lined with seven different temple complexes. We passed the Dotonbori restaurant area, several shopping streets, the electronics hub in Donden town. At the extreme of the trip we passed the zoo and the tallest building in Osaka. Then it was the expressway back tot he station. It was getting dark as we walked back to the subway. We got back in the last rays of the day and had a nice warm dinner of shrimp and salad. We watched the Amazing Race's first episode of the new season!
We started out with the subway to the Osaka Train Station
Different length straps to hold on to. Some for the tall folks and some for the shorter folks
Which pointing hand should I pay attention to?
Out of the subway
The train station
We have arrived in the tall building district
This is why they call it Osaka Station City
Shopping in a Kimono
Cherry Blossom cakes
A rainbow of treats
Apple cheesecake
An Apple tart that is crying out for help
New flower earings
Let the trip begin
The central district
More costumed folks
Some flowers to pose in front of
Fantastic architecture
Rivers to cross
The mascot for Expo 2025
We are going to return for this Expo
More waterways
This busy street is going to be pedestrianized by 2030
The are already digging up one of the lanes
This is phase one
Not afraid of using color
A very large banner
Some buildings really seem out of place
White tile exterior
A more modern look
Fancy
Traditional
A busy shopping street
The iconic Glico Man
Signs, people and restaurants everywhere in Dontonbori
We will have to return here at night
A more traditional wooden structure
Dragon vs Octopus!
One of Osaka's food specialties is the fried octopus ball, takoyaki. One is stuck to the head of the octopus
Pointy from the side
From the front it is exotic. One can find everything under one roof, golfing, spas, amusements and shopping all here in Namba Hips
The Osaka theater, home to traditional puppet theater
This plate looks alive
A whole row of temples
Banners in the wind
Many different styles of temples
The gates all looked similar
But the temples were all different
Cute dog. After I took the picture the owner picked him up and had him wave to us!
The Osaka Tower is an iconic structure
P is for pillar of a building
Another unique building
2GF says the penguin
The second tallest building in Japan
In Tennoji Park is a zoo
The entrance to the park
Bordering the Temple street
Shitennoji temple from the 6th century
A decorated roof
The Love Sphere on top of the Love Hotel
Pulling onto the expressway to get back
More signs
We are back in the city center
Lets move to NYC
All the city Icons are here. The Osaka Tower, the sculpture from the Expo Park and the Osaka Castle all holding up a banner that says "Big Time"
Two modern towers
It is getting late in the day
A opulent entry way
This is a very elaborate building, the Umeda Sky Building
Copper with patina
The Sky Building
In cold weather the bike seats are beefy
the buildings from 60 years ago that were put up in a rush are falling apart. Many are being demolished for new development
the temperature is dropping and the sun is setting
Golden orb
The sloped roof of the train station
A maze of underground walkways
Very busy
A mysterious construction
Rare Graffiti
Our one day pi day subway ticket
