Osaka, Japan: Shinseikai and Tsutenkaku Tower

On the outside, Tsutenkaku Tower sure looks like the Eiffel Tower, but inside, it's nothing like the Eiffel. Osaka - the epitome of quirkiness (I like!)

Shinsekai (新世界), Osaka's "new world," is a district developed pre-war for the 1903 National Industrial Exposition and later left neglected. At the district's center stands Tsutenkaku Tower, which is the symbol of Shinsekai.

Interestingly enough, the Exposition brought over five million people to the neighborhood within just five months. Paris was chosen as the model for Shinsekai's northern half, while the southern portion was built to imitate Coney Island in New York. Tsutenkaku Tower was constructed in 1912 after Paris' Eiffel Tower. Although it was scrapped during WWII, the tower was reconstructed soon afterwards in 1956. The current tower is 103 meters high, with the main observatory at a height of 91 meters. Source

I enjoyed the quirkiness of the streets and even more so inside the Tower!

 

(Using the Osaka Day Pass) From inside the Tower

To what goes inside the Tower

How the street was in the past

Again, my fave activity:

I understand all these words, but I can't sound them correctly, not in Japan at least!

Shinsekai is near the Tennoji Zoo and also home to Spa World, a huge bath complex with themed-pools using natural hot spring water is pumped up from far below the earth's surface. *I enjoyed it very muchly!!!

More pictures are available on my Flickr (simply click any photo).

Shinseikai and Tsutenkaku Tower

Cost: 700 yen for the tower

Access: Shin-Imamiya Station on the JR Loop Line, Dobutsuen-mae Station on the Midosuji and Sakaisuji Subway Lines, and Ebisucho Station on the Sakaisuji Subway Line.

Related Posts:

My Japan Itinerary (December 2012)

Japan Day 10 – Osaka, Day 2:

• Using Osaka 2-day Unlimited Pass
• Tennoji Zoo
• Shiseikai and Tsutenkaku Tower
• Shitennoji Temple
• Dotonbori / Namba
• Natural Open-air Hot Spring Spa Suminoe
• 5 Reasons I Love Osaka

Osaka, Japan: Osaka by Night

After seeing Osaka by day, it's time to admire it at night

To make the best use of the Osaka day pass, it's time to hop on the Hep 5 Ferris wheel.

The bright red Ferris wheel, 75 meters in diameter, is an eye-catching feature of HEP FIVE. Commanding sweeping views of famous spots in the Kansai area from its highest point 106 meters above the ground, the Ferris wheel lets you enjoy a leisurely trip in the air. All 52 cars are fully air-conditioned, guaranteeing a comfortable and pleasurable time.

And hang out around the mall after that.

Tapioca Drink aka Bubble Tea

Crepe

Around the city

More pictures are available on my Flickr (simply click any photo).

HEP Five Wheel

Cost: free to 500 yen

Access: Umeda Station, Higashi-Umeda Station, JR Osaka Station

Related Posts:

My Japan Itinerary (December 2012)

Japan Day 9 – Osaka, Day 1:

• Using Osaka 2-day Unlimited Pass
• Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan 1 2 3
• Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel and Cruise Ship Santa Maria
• Osaka Castle
• Hep 5 Ferris Wheel
• Natural Hot Spring Naniwa no Yu

Osaka, Japan: Osaka Castle

Third and last time (I hope!) building this beloved symbol of Osaka

After temple-fatigue, it was time to visit some castles. I wouldn't miss the Osaka Castle for the world. Another castle worthy of mention is the Wakayama Castle. I had to walk all the way around the perimeter of the castle to get inside the Castle Park (too bad it was not cherry blossom season!).

Gokurakubashi is a bridge that connects the Yamazato-maru Bailey and the Ni-no-maru Bailey. The original Osaka Castle that Hideyoshi Toyotomi began to build in 1583 had a bridge called Gokurakubashi, and this name was succeeded by the bridge rebuilt later by the Tokugawa shogunate. This bridge was lost in a fire in 1868 and the present bridge was rebuilt in 1965. Considering that "gokuraku" is a Buddhist term meaning the world of peace, the name could be associated with the Osaka (Ishiyama) Hongan-ji Temple, located on this site before the Osaka Castle was built by Hideyoshi.

The main tower we see today was rebuilt in 1931 with donations from the citizens of Osaka, modeled after a picture of the main tower dating back to the Toyotomi period (late 16th Century) as depicted in the folding screen illustrating the summer war of Osaka.  The original main tower was completed in 1585 by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, but was lost in a fire during the Summer War of Osaka in 1615. The second main tower was built in 1626 by the Tokugawa shogunate, which again, was lost in fire caused a lightning strike in 1665. The third main tower, which remains today, has been open to the public as a museum (Osaka Castle Museum) since its inception.

With a museum inside

And commanding a panoramic view of Osaka City

With a glimpse of the golden carp

A miniature of the Castle

With activities like fortune telling

And coin engraving

Just outside the castle, the old city museum

The huge stone is huge.

Drain covers in Osaka - such attention to details!

More pictures are available on my Flickr (simply click any photo).

Osaka Castle

Cost: free to 600 yen

Access: Osakajo Koen Station (JR Osaka Loop Line) or Tanimachi 4-chome Station (Subway Chuo Line)

Related Posts:

My Japan Itinerary (December 2012)

Japan Day 9 – Osaka, Day 1:

• Using Osaka 2-day Unlimited Pass
• Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan 1 2 3
• Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel and Cruise Ship Santa Maria
• Osaka Castle
• Hep 5 Ferris Wheel
• Natural Hot Spring Naniwa no Yu