Naniwa-no-Yu, Santa Maria & Hep Five
Just when you thought you’d seen it all, you discover that there’s a natural hot spring walking distance from Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome (T18) on the Tanimachi Line, just two stops from Higashi-Umeda (T20) in the heart of downtown Osaka. It’s called Naniwa-no-Yu, and its outdoor baths start this trip off at a nice relaxing pace. Your Osaka Amazing Pass gets you in for free, but if you haven’t already got one, a small towel is de rigueur and can be purchased when you arrive.
Once you’ve freshened up, take the Sakaisuji Line from Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome (K11) to Sakaisuji Hommachi (K15), and change for the Chuo Line to Osakako (C11). It’s time for a bay area cruise aboard a replica of the Santa Maria, one of the ships in Columbus’ first fleet to the Americas – a nice way to laze into the afternoon, serenading around Osaka’s harbour past major landmarks like the Minato Ohashi Bridge.
Day cruises on the Santa Maria are free with an Osaka Amazing Pass and depart on the hour, running for 45 minutes. Before or after you get on board, take the opportunity to try some of Osaka’s famous okonomiyaki for lunch nearby at Fugetsu in the Tempozan Market Place. Customers with an Osaka Amazing Pass enjoy a Dotombori local beer or soft drink half price with an order of okonomiyaki or yakisoba – just present your Toku x 2 coupon.
Cruised and satisfied, take the subway back to Higashi-Umeda or Umeda (M16) from Osakako for the day, and venture forth to HEP Five (Hankyu Entertainment Park) to experience the futuristic Umeda nightscape from above. HEP Five is crowned with an enormous red ferris wheel that climbs more than 100 metres into the sky, and your Osaka Amazing Pass lets you enjoy this symbol of the city for free.
©Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau
©Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau
©Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau
OSAKA BAY CRUISE:suijo-bus.jp/language/english/santmaria.aspx
NANIWA-NO-YU: www.naniwanoyu.com/en/index.html
HEP FIVE: www.hepfive.jp/language/
FAMILY FUN
Osaka Castle, Osaka Aquarium & Tempozan Ferris Wheel
RELAXATION AND ROMANCE
Naniwa-no-Yu, Santa Maria & Hep Five
OSAKA RETRO
Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, Tsutenkaku Tower & Hozenji Yokocho
INNOVATIVE OSAKA
Osaka Science Museum, Floating Garden Observatory & Abeno Harukas
REGION INFORMATION
Osaka
| Temperature: 28
Osaka is the cultural and economical centre of western Japan. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides, however, it’s Osaka’s vibrant and innovative culture that produced sushi trains and the tallest building in Japan that attracts its visitors.
