Osaka green wall

The green wall is architect ANDO's idea. Nearby stands the Umeda Sky Building. 

Nifrel is one of the must spots in Osaka

Nifrel is so much fun, artistic yet family-friendly. I probably prefer Nifrel to Kaiyukan. The way of exhibition is so clever and attractive.

Nifrel was produced by Kaiyukan with a different concept and a new addition to Osaka. "ni fureru" in Japanese means touch, feel, or experience something. Indeed this smart aquarium works straight to your senses.

And a self-service udon restaurant nearby is a good place to finish the tour, inexpensive and the food being so tasty! This is THE SANUKI udon, firm and innovative, from Sanuki or now called Kagawa. You can choose the way the udon noodle is served, for example hot or chilled, and can add toppings, mainly tempura. Condiments are free of charge. 

Nifrel and the Expo park are next to each other. Some photos from the park, too.

Real Japan in Osaka

The very best and only in Osaka has to be the Instant Noodle Museum. Of course the busy Dotonbori can't be missed and nor can the Kaiyukan acquarium particularly for families. Recently, the Kaiyukan produced its new affiliate called NIFURERU in the expo city. This surely is osaka's new attraction. 

ANDO Momofuku invented instant ramen

He was thinking about a decent food for all of us. Easy, tasty, inexpensive, and yet not bad junk food. The result was the instant noodle: chicken noodle was the first, followed by the Cup Noodle which makes millions of people happy and warm every day.

In Ikeda city, Osaka stands this instant ramen museum featuring what ANDO invented and how. This is a must place to go to. A bit away from the center of Osaka but people come because it's worth it. 

Go and make your own version of the Cup Noodle. You just need to buy a cup (300 yen) and that's it. You can make and bring back your cup noodles safely. Your cup noodle is packaged in a plastic bag filled with air. 

The facility is super clean. Yep, it's Japan.

This is the OSAKA

Tsuten-kaku is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The present tower is the second one, built in 1956. The original tower along with Luna Park which stood around the tower were completed in 1912, exactly 100 yeas ago. The tower and the park were connected with aerial cable cars.

The new tower was designed by NAITO Tachu, who was nicknamed Dr. Tower. He was asked to build the tallest tower by local Osaka merchants but immediately knew it would be impossible, considering the small area for the tower construction site. But the Osaka store owners begged and Tachu made the height of the Tsuten-kaku observatory highest in the country in those days. It was one meter higher than the tower in Nagoya. Tsuten-kaku became a fun tower with its unique bold design.The most famous tower designed by Tachu is no other than Tokyo Tower.

When Japan was struggling after the Great East Japan Earthquake which shook the country on March 11, 2011 and was saving electricity as much as possible, Tokyo Tower lit up one message by using solar energy and eco-friendly LED bulbs: Ganbaro Nippon (Work on, Japan). Tears on my cheek. 

The Tsuten-kaku tower is the OSAKA. When you are there, don't forget to eat KUSHIKATSU cutlet. Many kinds of veggies, fish, seafood, etc. on a skewer are deep fried. They taste really Osaka. 

Here's the official site of Tsuten-kaku for your convenience.