The Osaka Aquarium

Read in Japanese

 

You may have heard a lot about the Kaiyukan; everyone seems to want to go there. I think it lived up to its reputation, and recommend a look, but it is quite expensive (2000 yen). I enjoyed the way the exhibit was set up, with the tanks extending through different levels. If it`s too crowded in one area, you may be able to descend a floor and see the same creatures there. 

The gift shops were also really nice. They have little shark forks and everything. I recommend the sweet pins. 

Besides that, it`s has a wonderful view over the bay, the building itself is quite cool, and there is a ferris wheel and butt-load of shops and restaurants right beside it (the area is called Tempozan Harbor Village). 

The buildings and murals were amazing...

...as was the view

The ferris wheel costs 700 yen to ride, and I can`t say if it's worth it since I didn`t go myself, but the restaurants were a nice end to our sea exploration. There was curry, burgers, ice cream, yakisoba, gyuudon... You should be able to satisfy your appetite. There were also clothing shops, a ninja store (really), and more. 

The aquarium is only about a five minute walk from the nearest station. A great place to spend half of your day!

Osaka Science Museum

The Osaka Science Museum was honestly one of the most interesting places I visited. After entering its doors and progressing from one floor to the next, I collapsed to my knees and wept for having not decided to spend my life researching problems of the time-space continuum and other science-y things.

Here you can study the muscular system of Pac Man.

Not only are the exhibits interesting (though many descriptions are written only Japanese), but the bulk of them are interactive. That means there are 4 floors of fun and science where your mind can run amok within your skull. There is also a planetarium (which costs extra to enter, and has the distinction of being the first planetarium built in Japan) and a science show with a Japanese version of Bill Nye (which is free, and only in Japanese).

 I thought this was a prop from Doctor Who. 

It is an accelerator, which is just as cool.

And here is a statue of Einstein sitting on a bench, with which you can take your picture. You can also spend some time staring at the solar system, testing your sense of smell, making an egg spin, speaking through tubes, seeing a spaceman suit from up close, and so much more. I wished desperately that my little brother was there with me, because this is a place made for that childish wonder that adults can often only feel quietly within themselves (unless they want to be pointed at and called stupid). The only thing that disappointed me was the gift center, which was lacking. I wanted to take some of the cool back with me, but there didn't seem to be anything special. So, I went back and took as much video as my little camera would take (see top of post).

 We had very deep discussions.

The Science Museum is right next to the art museum (which is underground, and has one of the coolest entrances you will ever see in your life). We only had time to go the the Science Museum, so I can't testify to the (probably amazing) contents of the art museum, but if you can only go to one, I have to implore you to choose the Science Museum. If you want to see a little more of what kind of exhibits are available (my little camera only had so much memory, alas) check out these youtube videos if you'd like!

Osaka`s Tennouji Zoo 天王寺動物園

日本語で読む

 Baby. Baby zebra.

Very close to the hostel we stayed at in Osaka was Tsuutenkaku Tower, from which you can easily see Tennouji Zoo. From the tower I could see that the area was pretty expansive, and also (most importantly) there appeared to be a baby zebra on the premises, running crazy circles around the giraffes like it was full of crazy water.

Okonomiyaki

Read in Japanese

We went to Osaka. I was told that in Osaka you absolutely must try takoyaki (balls of dough and octopus) and okonomiyaki (sometimes called a Japanese pancake).

**GRAMMAR NOTE: Osaka is famous for okonomiyaki = 大阪はお好み焼きで有名です・おおさかはおこのみやきでゆうめいです。Now you can use this pattern to say X is famous for/known for/infamous for Y. XはYで有名です。This is an awesome power. Please use it wisely.**

Usually you can make okonomiyaki yourself at the restaurant, right at your table, but ours was brought out already made. The flakes on top are bonito (apparently called かつお in Japanese).

They wiggled in the heat, which was a pretty cool effect.

お好み焼き

英語で読む

この文章は、ｔｓｙさん、kyokoさん、kokoさん、megumiさん、KEN0405さん、

Eigoloveさん、Tinaさん、shuichiさん、hilobayさんのおかげでもっと

いい文章になりました!添削はこちらへ。

大阪に行きました。大阪に行くなら、絶対にたこ焼きとお好み焼きを食べるように言われました。（たこ焼きは、小麦粉の生地に小さく切ったたこが入ったボール状のもので、お好み焼きは英語で「日本風パンケーキ」と呼ばれることもあります。

普通は、お店の自分の席で、鉄板を使って自分で お好み焼きを作るものだけど、私たちのお好み焼きはもう出来上がった状態で出てきました。上にのっているフレークは、かつお節と呼ぶんでしょうか？アメリカでは「bonito」と呼ぶと思います。

熱いお好み焼きの上でゆらゆら動いていて・・・すごい！