Japan Trip: The Mystery of Osaka Maritime Museum

My travel partner and me went to western side of Osaka, which is Cosmosquare. When we browsed about this place in the past, we found that there is a maritime museum in this place. We interested to visit this place since it has unique shape and it sparkling at night, it also has unique entrance which looks like an underwater tunnel. But when near departure date to Japan, the review about Osaka Maritime Museum was disappeared from www.japan-guide.com. We wondered what was happened to the museum, but then we still tried to visit it while we were in Osaka.

That day, the weather was raining. To get to the museum, we need to walk from Cosmosquare station through bay side park and at the end of the park we could meet the museum. Since the weather was raining, the walk through the park is like a long, winding, and stormy road. Actually the view of the park was amazing, there were sea and at the other side of the sea was filled with lots of huge cargo ships. We really couldn't enjoy the park since my umbrella flips several times due to strong wind. 

with Osaka Maritime Museum as my background

What we saw after arrived near the museum was a place that looks like an abandoned place, so deserted. We felt disappointed actually, but since it was really quite place, we were a little bit scared to enter the museum and decided to go back to the station. But as a prove that we ever gone to this place, my travel partner took me this photo. The pose not really nice since I had to bear the rain, wind, and the cold weather. I really curious the status of the museum but can't find it anywhere :( 

XOXO, 

The Tourist

Japan Trip: Osaka Castle and Its Time Capsule

Going to Osaka won't feel complete if you didn't visit Osaka Castle. That's why I decided to visit this famous landmark of Osaka. My travelling friends and I went to the castle using subway and stopped in Tanimachi 4-chrome Station. The exit gate of the station is not really close to the castle, but there were many signs that guided us to the castle. Since the castle is huge, you can even see it from far away.

To enter the castle, we had to pass many layers. The outer side of the castle complex is the huge walking area, then the walking area get smaller and smaller until we really getting close to the castle. One cute thing that we found in the walking area was a fat cat who just sat in the park. He didn't bother with people who passed by or took his photos.

walking area before entering Otemon gate

the shady and beautiful walking area after Otemon gate

in front of Sakuramon gate

the fluffy and fatty creature who sat quietly in the walking are

Before arrived at the castle,  we walked in front of the former Osaka Castle Museum. This place was used as museum during 1960 to 2001.

the former Osaka Castle Museum

Then we arrived in front of the castle. In front of the castle, there was a time capsule buried 15 meters beneath the monument, in 1971. Actually there are 2 identical capsules were buried in it. The upper capsule will be opened at the beginning of every century, and the lower are remain unopened until the year 6970. The capsules contain 2,098 cultural assets of the 20th century, selected with the cooperation of the people of Japan and those from all over the world are stoned in the special metal container. Constructed with the latest technology. Hoping for never-ending world peace and prosperity. The Manichi Newspaper and Matsushita Electric Co. Ltd. (who buried these capsules) bequeath these two capsules to the people living 5000 years from the time of burial.

in front of Osaka Castle and its time capsule

the time capsule

description of the time capsule

Finally we enter the castle. The entrance fee was 600 yen. When entering the castle, many people queued for lift directly to 8th floor. Because we didn't want to waste time queuing, we used stairs to 8th floor. Even though each floor interested us, but we insisted to go upstairs first, because this museum were made to be enjoyed from top to bottom. The top floor (8th floor) is used as observatory. We can see the beautiful scenery of Osaka from above here.

entrance tickets

view from 8th floor

another view from the top

The other floors are filled with museum, which tells about the history of the Hideyoshi Toyotomi (the one who construct Osaka Castle in 1590) and His Era, The Summer War in Osaka, and the Osaka Castle History.

The Summer War in Osaka diorama

The most interesting part is in 2nd floor, where we can experience using battle surcoat and samurai helmet for 300 yen/person and take a photo with them. The helmets are vary and have different type for women and men.

ticket for trying the surcoat and helmet with the options of helmets

getting ready to battle

After finish wandering inside Osaka Castle Musuem, we took a rest by sitting at the bench outside the castle. From there, we could see a souvenir shop and many food sellers, but the most interesting view that we saw was a dogs pack using sun-glasses. It such a rare moment to see this kind of view. Kawaii!

dogs with sun-glasses

XOXO,

The Tourist

Japan Trip: Another Side of Dotonbori

After walking around Dotonbori, my eyes were attracted by some teenage girls that standing along Dotonbori avenue. These girls wore short skirts and thin tops. Well, that evening was not really cold, maybe around 19 to 20 degrees celsius, but for me who usually live in temperature 24-28 degrees celsius, I still needed my shawl and cardigan to keep me warm enough.

When the first time I saw these girls, I thought they were just teenagers who hang out together and still waiting for friend whom not yet came. But the more I looked at them, the more I saw a pattern, these girls not only waiting, they also approached teenage boys or salary men who walked near them, especially the ones who walked alone without companion. In most cases I saw one of these girls approached the man and talked like offering something, the man then said something, after that the girl took a step back, and then she looked for another man. Well, who these girls really are?

To solve my curiosity, I googled about them and found out that these girls usually looking for salary men who needs “entertainment” at night, by bring the men to hostess club nearby and accompany them for some chat and drinks stuffs or other things beyond it. Then I amazed, because it was something that I did not expect to see in Japan, but I believed that every city in the world has this kind of story. I guess I was just lucky to saw this story in Japan with my own eyes.

XOXO,

The Tourist