OrientalTrips » Osaka

Pig and Whistle

Editor — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:52:00 +0000

This is probably the best-known and one of the oldest ex-patriate bars in Osaka, as well as one of the easiest to find. Through the years, the number of foreign customers has fallen to less than 30% (I remember when it was almost exclusively foreign), but remaining are its friendly atmosphere, dartboards for entertainment, happy hour until 7:30pm, and munchies that include, of course, fish and chips. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 5pm to midnight, Friday to Saturday 5pm to 1am. There’s also a branch in Umeda south of Osaka Station at 2-5 Sonezaki (tel. 06/6361-3198; open daily 5pm-midnight).

Osaka International Peace Center

Editor — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:53:00 +0000

Located on the southern edge of Osaka Castle Park, this museum strives for global peace by educating present and future generations about the horrors of war, related by those who survived it. Unlike other museums in Japan dedicated to peace — including those in Hiroshima and Nagasaki — this one does not shy away from Japan’s role in the Asian conflict, including its war campaign in China, the abduction of Koreans to work in dangerous areas, and massacres committed by Japanese in Singapore, Malaysia, and elsewhere. But its main focus is on wartime death and destruction, with personal testimonies of air raid survivors (15,000 people died during World War II air raids on Osaka), displays centering on the suicide attacks by kamikaze pilots at the end of the war, graphic photographs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the atomic bombs were dropped, and a section devoted to the horrors of the Auschwitz concentration camp. You’ll probably spend 45 sobering minutes here.

OSAKA AQUARIUM

admin — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 16:51:00 +0000

One of the world’s largest aquariums it’s constructed around the theme "Ring of Fire," which refers to the volcanic perimeter encircling the Pacific Ocean. Tours begin with a video of erupting volcanoes followed by an escalator ride to the eighth floor; from there, you’ll pass through 14 different habitats ranging from arctic to tropical as you follow a spiraling corridor back to the ground floor, starting with the daylight world above the ocean’s surface and proceeding past Antarctica, Monterey Bay, the Great Barrier Reef, and other ecosystems as you travel to the depths of the ocean floor. The walls of the aquarium tank are constructed of huge acrylic glass sheets, making you feel like you’re immersed in the ocean. You’ll see 35,000 specimens representing 380 species; stars of the show include whale sharks (the largest fish in captivity), Antarctic penguins, the odd-looking ocean sunfish (which has the circumference of a truck tire but is as flat as a pancake), and the Japan giant spider crab with its incredible 3m (9.8-ft.) span. Allow about 1 1/2 hours to tour the aquarium, avoiding weekends.

Museum of Oriental Ceramics

Editor — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:49:00 +0000

This modern facility, about a 15-minute walk south of Osaka Station on Nakanoshima Island in the Dojima River, is my favorite museum in Osaka. Indeed, its 2,700-piece collection of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese ceramics — of which 300 are on display at any one time on a rotating basis — ranks as one of the finest in the world. Built specifically for the collection, the museum does a superb job showcasing the exquisite pieces as the masterpieces they truly are, in darkened rooms that utilize natural light and computerized natural-light simulation. Korean celadon, Chinese ceramics from the Song and Ming dynasties, Arita ware from the Edo Period, and much more are on display. Even if you’ve never given ceramics more than a passing glance, you’re likely to come away with a heightened sense of appreciation. You’ll want to spend 30 minutes or more here.