Day 11: Osaka Aquarium
Today I went to the aquarium, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, in Osaka. It’s a really neat aquarium—probably the best I’ve been to. There were a lot of species (particularly larger fish) I hadn’t seen before, as well as a nice collection of marine mammals.
To get to the aquarium, I took the JR Kyoto line from Shin-Osaka to Osaka, then the Osaka Loop Line to Bentencho station, then the Chuo subway line to the Osaka-ko (Osaka Bay) station. (Although the name “subway” is a bit of a misnomer as the short distance I traveled was all on tracks elevated a couple stories above ground.)
The Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel is outside of the aquarium.
And the main aquarium building.
The entry hall was a nice walk-through tank.
Giant salamander.
It was otter (they had river and sea otters) feeding time.
The main focus of the aquarium was the Ring of Fire, so as you walked around there were sections for different coastal areas around the Pacific. Monterey Bay makes an appearance with sea lions and harbor seals.
Some various animals and big fish.
Penguins are always a hit.
And they have dolphins! The dolphins do tricks.
They had a big central tank with various sharks, rays, and other fish.
This is a giant shovel ray. I haven’t seen them before. They really do look like shovels.
This little octopus was smaller than my fist.
Some spiny crabs and other little creatures.
Much bigger crabs. Japanese Giant Spider Crabs.
And of course no aquarium is complete without a jellyfish exhibit. “If you touch the tentacles, you will hurt.”
Arctic exhibit.
And some pictures of the port operating in the harbor.
There’s a food court area that has clearly been influenced by American fast-food chains.
I opted for pork katsu curry.
Back to Tokyo
Reversed my route from the aquarium—subway from Osaka-ko to Bentencho, Loop Line to Osaka, and Kyoto Line to Shin-Osaka—and caught the Shinkansen Hikari 526 to Tokyo. It’s my longest train journey, leaving Shin-Osaka at 15:13 and arriving in Tokyo at 18:10, mostly running at 165 M.P.H. with a few brief stops along the way.
My trip is wrapping up! Tomorrow I suspect I will consider the souvenir situation, then the next day I make my way to the airport and fly home.
I am in the Hotel Metropolitan Marunouchi tonight and tomorrow night, on the 28th floor in a building next to Tokyo Station.
Dinner tonight. It called out to me when I walked by the pizzeria. I've really been missing pizza!
