Osaka Activities

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Skyline of downtown Umeda, City-Centre Osaka

• IMAX Osaka is home to a large IMAX movie screen located in the Suntory Museum (next to Kaiyukan). English headphones are available for no extra cost. If you plan on going to Kaiyukan aquarium and IMAX, you can purchase a discount ticket for both at either ticket office.

• Kaiyukan (Osakako, Chuo Line) www.kaiyukan.com/eng is one of the world's largest aquariums, with 11,000 tons of water and plenty of sharks (including a whale shark), dolphins, otters, seals, and other creatures of the sea. The largest tank, representing the Pacific Ocean with 5,400 tons is nothing but overwhelming. On the weekend, musicians and street performers offer additional entertainment to people outside the aquarium. ¥2000 (¥900 children).

• Tenpozan Ferris Wheel, next to Kaiyukan at Tempozan (天保山) area. There is also the Suntory museum, a mall and a port for sightseeing boats. Open 10am to 10pm. Admission ¥700, children up to 3 free of charge. The mall has a wide variety of shops that cater to fashionistas, otaku, tourists or dog lovers, variably. The mall itself doubles as a kind of amusement park, along with the Ferris wheel, and the best deal is to catch the ferry from there to Universal Studios across the water.

• Sumo Spring Grand Tournament (大相撲春場所), Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium (approx. 10 min walk from subway Namba Station) www.sumo.or.jp/eng/index.html. The Osaka Tournament of Japan's national sport, sumo wrestling, is usually held mid-March annually at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. Check for schedules and ticket availabilities at the official Nihon Sumo Kyokai homepage. Ticket prices range from ¥3000 to ¥14,300.

Universal Studios Japan

• Universal Studios Japan, at Universal-City Station (JR Yumesaki Line, 10 min from Osaka), www.usj.co.jp/e_top.html. Japan's second-largest theme park. One-day tickets for adults/children ¥5800/3900. Expect much Japanese dubbing over your favorite characters and movies. (If you are coming here on a side trip from Tokyo Disney Resort, see that article's Get out section for information on how to get here and return to Tokyo that same day.)

• Umeda Joypolis Sega, next to Umeda (Osaka) station, occupying 8th and 9th floors of the Hep Five building with arcades and a Ferris wheel at the top. 11AM-11PM; ¥500-¥600 attractions. Local laws prohibit kids being here after dark even in the company of their parents, so if you want to take the kids along, plan on going early. The HEP5 Ferris is okay though.

• Spa World Just near Tsutenkaku Tower in Shinsakai. Gender-separated European and Asian themed spas and saunas as well as a pool for the family with slides and fun (don't forget your swimming trunks). Open 24hrs so handy if stuck for accommodation or locked out of your hotel after a night on the town, just pay up, change into their cotton overalls and pass out on one of their comfy leather recliners with as many blankets as you like. Can try the outdoor onsen (try not to get burnt in the sun) or watch their huge TV in their bar with a cold beer. Gym also available to you as part of the entry free. Regular prices are ¥2400 for 3 hours, ¥2700 for all day www.spaworld.co.jp/english. Extra charge ¥1000 for stays midnight-5AM. Watch out for the special ¥1000 deals offered from time to time, often in Mar. Well worth spending an afternoon chilling out here. It is important to note that individuals with tattoos, permanent or temporary, are barred from using the facilities.

• National Bunraku Theater, Nippombashi, www.ntj.jac.go.jp/english. One of the last places in the world where bunraku, a form of intricate puppet theater from the Edo period, can be seen live. The large puppets, which require three operators each, are accompanied by traditional music and narration, and act out great Japanese plays of the 1600s and 1700s. Transcripts in Japanese and synopses in English are provided.

• Osaka Siki musical theater, Umeda,in the Herbis ENT. Home of the Shiki Theatre Company.

• The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen museum, Ikeda, www.nissin-noodles.com/index_new.html approx. 30 minutes from Umeda on the Hankyu line. There are signs in Katakana pointing the way from the south exit. A homage to the universal Cup Noodle, with more flavors than could fill supermarket aisle. It features among other things, a statue of Momofuku Ando, the creator, standing atop a giant Cup Noodle holding an instant ramen packet aloft. Open until 4PM, admission free.

• The festival hall in Nakanoshima, near Umeda, and the symphony hall in Umeda host modern and classical recitals, while Umeda Koma in Umeda, and Shin-Kabukiza in Namba host Enka performances. For more independent or underground music, try Banana Hall in Umeda or Big Cat in Amerika-mura.
• Zepp Osaka (POP clubs) , Nanko (Nanko_Kita 1-18-31,Suminoe_ku, near Cosmo-squair station. ).
• Blue Note (Jazz clubs) osaka-bluenote.co.jp/obn/information/information.html Umeda.The branch of Blue Note in N.Y..

• The City Country Club, Hyatt Regency Osaka Hotel, 1-13-11 Nanko-Kita, Suminoe-Ku, ☎ +81 6 6612 1234 (inquiry.hrosaka@hyattintl.com), osaka.regency.hyatt.com/hyatt/pure/spas.
• Osaka Outdoor Club, osaka.konnichiwamapper.com. A non-profit site about ongoing local events and interesting places to go. Periodically updated by Osaka outdoor activists.