Japan Trip 2018 - Day 6

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Tempozan Harbour Village
Dotonbori - Ichiran Ramen


Finally we are back at Osaka! We are going to spend the next few days exploring this exciting city.

As the weather forecast for the day was expected to be thunderstorms, we decided to swap our itinerary around by visiting the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan today so as to stay indoor (and dry). As we only have one destination for today, we decided to take things really slow, chill and enjoy the time together.

Before leaving the hotel, we enquired about the Osaka Kaiyu ticket from the concierge. This one-day pass includes entrance fees to the aquarium and unlimited travel on trains (except JR) and buses. It also offers discounts to various tourist destinations as well. To our surprise, we can buy this ticket from our hotel concierge directly. So lucky! No need to search somewhere to buy.
As the child ticket is for 7-12yo, we didn't buy this one-day pass for the princess as she was technically still 5yo. So we utilised her ICOCA card and bought her ticket at the aquarium entrance.

At the lift lobby

The ground floor of our hotel
Doesn't it look like some art gallery?

Osaka Kaiyu Ticket (Adult)

We then proceeded to have breakfast at the nearest McDonald's outlet to fulfil the princess request.
I must say the toy (a tiger character holder with various matching cards) that came with the Happy Meal was pretty impressive. At least it kept the princess occupied for a long time.

Breakfast time!

Our breakfast

Kids Happy Meal - Mini pancakes

My favourite which we don't get in Singapore often

Toy is more important than meal

My half-awake face

The following was the route we took to the aquarium

1. Namba Station (Midosuji Line) to Hommachi Station
2. Hommachi (Chuo Line) to Osakako

Time for some adventure after breakfast



The train is here!

Showing off her "12345" gloves

  

The aquarium is just a 5 minutes walk from the station and there are many clearly marked signs to guide you. If not, just look up for the giant Ferris Wheel. The aquarium is just next to it.
If you have watched the movie "Finding Dory", you would have known of  this character called "Destiny" - the whale shark - who is Dory's childhood friend. That is exactly the main reason for visiting this aquarium - to see Destiny - and the princess was so excited until she couldn't stop squealing in delight. Hopefully we can get to meet Dory, Nemo and Hank as well.

Osakako Station

You know you are on the right track if you see this

The Lego Giraffe with the missing "horn"

Pure joy at the sight of the aquarium

After purchasing the princess' child ticket, we proceeded to enter the aquarium. There were many staff around to usher you to the right direction or route to follow. Basically, you will take the escalator all the way up and slowly walk your way down while viewing all exhibits.
The aquarium has many stamping booths available where kids (or adults) can collect different stamps. So do bring along a small notebook along. It's certainly a fun way to engage a child as well as for memory sake.
Now, this aquarium is HUGE! So do allocate at least 2 hours for this visit.
Enjoy the series of photos we took at the aquarium

Stamping booth

Let's go!

Cold, cold and so cold!

The otters were too fast for my phone camera!

Oh! I spotted Dory at bottom right!

Destiny ~~~~~~~

I saw this stingray swimming towards me and then disappeared



Then crept out of nowhere to stun me like vegetable

Communicating with her underwater friends?

Hello Dory

Marlin & Nemo

Dory finally found her parents!

The princess is getting tired and hungry

As we entered the interactive zone, the princess was complaining of hunger and thus refused to touch any of the exhibits here. She was getting restless and so we didn't spend a lot of time in this area.

Fish head curry, anyone?

We headed towards Tempozan Harbour Village which was next to the aquarium for our lunch.
Situated on the ground floor, Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho is a food theme park offering local favourites in a nostalgic setting. There are about 20 or so small restaurants offering a wide range of food. Admission is free.
Based on the food display outside the restaurant, we walked into this cosy restaurant selling rice and noodles dishes. Simple but yummy affair.

Alleys of Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho

 

Yeah! Lunch time!

Spiral potato chips (salted flavour)

The princess meal.
She finished the entire bowl!

Daddy's Katsudon

Mummy's Tendon
Super yummy!

After lunch, we shopped around the mall. Most of the shops on the ground floor sell souvenirs and local snacks. There is also a Lego Land and a petting zoo in the mall as well.

Petting zoo

A few zones for you to pet different animals

Crowding around the heater for warmth

Greetings from Crocs

As fatigue seemed to have descended on the princess by late afternoon, we headed back to the Starbucks at the aquarium, hoping to find a comfortable seat for her to take a power nap and for Mummy to sip her favourite cup of coffee. And boy! We were so lucky to find a couch seat and the princess napped for about 2 hours while we took turns to shop at the adjacent mall.

Beautiful mural in Starbucks

Sakura Chiffon Cake + Earl Grey Frappuccino

While the sleeping beauty snoozed, Mummy get to enjoy some ME time

Sunset is approaching

I ran out in the cold to take this picture which I titled
"The Lonely Mermaid"

We left the aquarium close to 6pm and the temperature has dipped to 1 Degree Celsius. Brrrrrr...... After dropping our shopping bags at the hotel room, we headed out for dinner. And guess what the princess wanted to eat? Ramen! So we went back to Ichiran Ramen - perfect for a cold night.

Yes! It was THAT cold!

A happy girl = happy parents

Slurp ~~~~~~

After our satisfying dinner, we shopped around Dotonbori and it was then I found Osaka's famous cheesecake - Uncle Rikuro! O.M.G!
I still have vague memories of this cheesecake from many years ago when I first visited Osaka. Being a newbie at that time, I was walking aimlessly on the streets when I sniffed the cheesecake aroma. Following the aroma and the constant ringing of the bells, I found this cheesecake by chance and decided to buy one box home to try. From then on, there was no turning back. Unfortunately, I don't get rostered on many Osaka flights (more to Tokyo) and can only miss the taste in my dream.
So can you imagine how ecstatic I was when I saw this store again?! At exactly the same spot! So I queued patiently for my turn to get my hands on this out of the world dessert.

Super happy!

Can you see the sparkle in my eyes? Haha.

It was getting cold and we can hear our tummy growling. So we decided to find a place to sit down for supper and was so glad we did so. The food was delicious!



We left our footprints in Osaka

Okonomiyaki

So happy to be eating again!

Kobe Beef

Takoyaki

So yummy!

It was close to midnight by the time we finished our supper. Feeling satisfied, we headed to the nearest convenience store (a usual routine by now) to pick up some sundries before going back to the hotel.

Praying for better weather tomorrow.





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