Osaka Trip Part 6: Shinsekai & Tsutenkaku Tower

[Introduction]

I traveled to Osaka in late September. This was my first visit to Osaka except for business trips. There are several things I missed doing, so I would like to revisit Osaka in the future. In this article, I will write about Shinsekai as part of Day 2.

[Visit Places (series of articles)]
* Day 1: Umeda
* Day 1: Nakanoshima
* Day 1: Nakanoshima (Light-up)
* Day 2: Osaka Castle
* Day 2: Abeno Harukas
* Day 2: Shinsekai [This article]
* Day 2: Abeno Harukas (Light-up)
* Day 3: Sumiyoshi Shrine
* Day 3: Namba
* Day 3: Amerikamura and Namba
* Day 3: Namba (Light-up)
* Day 4: Expo’70 Commemorative Park
* Day 4: Expo’70 Commemorative Park
* Day 4: Umeda
* Day 4: Umeda (Light-up)
* Day 5: Kaiyukan
* Day 5: Tempozan Marketplace
* Day 5: GLION MUSEUM & Return Home

[Travel Date]
2018.09.22-26

[Main Part]

Go to Shinsekai

Following the previous post, I moved from Tennoji Park to Shinsekai.

On the contrary to Tennoji Park whose atmosphere was relaxing, Shinsekai had a kind of chaotic atmosphere.

The area was crowded with both local people and tourists.

This was “New Star”, an amusement center to play “Smart Ball”.

Clouds were impressive.

Janjan Yokocho

I came to “Janjan Yokocho”.

“Janjan Yokocho” is a shopping district that is 180 meters long north and south. Here are some snap photos from “Janjan Yokocho”.

While I usually use a wide zoom lens (16-35mm), I used two prime lens (55mm and 90mm) this time.

There was a shooting gallery.

Talking of Shinsekai, “Kushikatsu” was one of the most popular local foods and I saw many restaurants that severed “Kushikatsu”.

This was a Japanese chess club.

“Janjan Yokocho” was a deeper area.

Kushikatsu (@Yamatoya)

Now I will have an early dinner. I had decided to eat “Kushikatsu” when in Shinsekai and picked up several “Kushikatsu” restaurants in advance. However, I found there were long queuing at each famous “Kushikatsu” restaurant.

Then, I managed to find a restaurant “Yamatoya”.

In the restaurant. It’s a Japanese-style pub.

Assortment of “Kushikatsu”.

Shinsekai Snaps

I will continue to walk around Shinsekai after dinner.

One of the well-known photo spots in Shinsekai was here – “Fugu” lantern with the background of Tsutenkaku Tower.

I just happened to see a street musician singing songs.

There was also a luxurious bathing house “Spa World” in Shinsekai.

View from “Spa World” toward Tsutenkaku Tower.

I will move to Tsutenkaku Tower.

The main street to Tsutenkaku Tower was surrounded by a variety of shops and restaurants.

I reached Tsutenkaku Tower.

Cafe Doremi

I stopped by “Cafe Doremi” before going to Tsutenkaku Tower.

In the cafe. It’s a retro cafe.

I ordered mixed juice and fruit parfait.

When I had Kushikatsu at Yamatoya, a couple sat beside me. Coincidentally, I saw them in the cafe again, so we looked at each other 🙂

Tsutenkaku Tower

I will go to the observatory of Tsutenkaku Tower.

There was an event space and a performance was held on the stage.

After I bought a ticket, I realized I made a miscalculation. I didn’t expect queuing so much, but it would take about 50 minutes to reach the observatory.

So I queued up to go to the observatory. Here are some photos on the way to the observatory.

Finally, I got into an elevator to move to the observatory.

In addition to the normal observatory, there was a special outdoors observation platform “Tembo Paradise”.

I originally planed to start to take photos before sunset, but the sun has already gone down.

Here are some photos from “Tembo Paradise”.

Unfortunately, I was not able to take sunset photos, but I was satisfied with photos in Tsutenkaku Tower observatory as a whole.

Then, I will continue to take evening photos in Shinsekai and Abeno Harukas.

[Closing]

That’s it for the article about Shinsekai as part of Day 2.

The areas I have gone around (Umeda, Nakanoshima and Tennoji) so far were relatively modern and sophisticated among Osaka, which were similar to Tokyo in a sense. On the other hand, Shinsekai had retro and deep atmosphere with common touch. Perhaps, this is what travelers would look for in Osaka. So I believe Shinsekai would be a place worth visiting in Osaka 🙂

In the next article, I will write about evening scene in Shinsekai and Abeno Harukas as part of Day 2.

[Map]

1 Janjan Yokocho
2 Yamatoya
3 Zuboraya
4 Cafe Doremi
5 Tsutenkaku Tower

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