View from Tsutenkaku Tower (Photo by Maame Akua Sarpong)
This summer, I went on a road trip to Osaka with my family. We loaded into our minivan and began the five-and-a-half-hour trip from our home in Sagamihara. While driving is an option for road trips in Japan, with its endless stretches of scenery, it’s not the fastest. If you’re travelling with only a few people, taking a bullet train (Shinkansen) would be a faster option.
Day 1. Famous castle, tower, street
We started our first full day by taking the train to Osaka Castle. It was extremely hot and humid. Still, the walk through the park to the castle was peaceful and the view of the castle made the heat worth it. The castle itself was huge, with towering white walls and gold details to match.
Osaka Castle (Photo by Aivlys Adjei Mensah)
Inside, we explored the museum, which told the story of Osaka’s history with a major focus on the late Emperor Hirohito (1901-1989). There were artifacts, dioramas, original letters and many more historical items to look at and interact with. But the nine flights of stairs to climb and no elevator access made the visit a grueling workout. At the very top floor there was a great balcony view of the city.
While the top floor of the castle offered a great view of the area, our visit was unexpectedly interrupted when an elderly man climbed over the balcony and casually sat on the ledge overlooking the large drop to the ground. Emergency responders were called and eventually arrived and evacuated everyone. Though I didn’t stay to see what happened, it reminded me of the unpredictability of life and how close anyone can be to death.
After the castle we headed to Tsutenkaku Tower, one of Japan’s famous landmark towers, and enjoyed the view. We also rode the slide down! Though the ride was only 10 seconds long, the atmosphere was amazing because those at the bottom clapped more enthusiastically the louder the slider screamed.
Tsutenkaku Tower (Photo by Maame Akua Sarpong)
Tsutenkaku Hondori (Photo by Maame Akua Sarpong)
Following dinner, we headed to Dotonbori, Osaka’s most famous street. It was full of people, music, food, shops and giant crab and octopus signs. We took a river cruise which carried a beautiful breeze and floated past neon signs and city lights. We then took a ride on the Don Quijote Ferris Wheel which turns on an oval on the river-facing store front.
The view from 253 feet above was beautiful until it was too scary to watch. I’m glad we did it anyway. At the highest, scariest point, my siblings and I began singing as loud as possible to make the experience more bearable, which helped. And we ended the night with strawberry treats from a dessert cart.
(Photo by Aivlys Adjei Mensah)
Day 2. Observatory and riverboat
Dotonbori (Photo by Maame Akua Sarpong)
Dotonbori (Photo by Maame Akua Sarpong)
Umeda Sky Building (Photo by Maame Akua Sarpong)
Umeda Sky Building (Photo by Aivlys Adjei Mensah)
On our second day, we visited the Kuchu Teien Observatory, located at the top of the Umeda Sky Building. The building featured a glass elevator that made me queasy just being in it. It was so tall. But to be fair, it is one of the tallest buildings in Osaka, making my feelings justified. The view from the top was almost empowering, it was as if there wasn’t anything you couldn’t see.
A few hours later at the Osaka Castle Pier, we boarded the Aqualiner, a colorful, sleek riverboat that gave us a quieter, air-conditioned tour of Osaka from the water. The tour lasted about an hour and covered some of Osaka’s landmarks, including a view of the castle and the Japan Mint. After hours of exploration, riding the boat was so relaxing that I almost fell asleep.
Day 3. Universal Studios Japan
Minions (Photo by Aivlys Adjei Mensah)
Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan (Photo by Aivlys Adjei Mensah)
rollercoaster ride (Photo by Marian Adjei Tawiah)
Universal Studios Japan (Photo by Maame Akua Sarpong)
Universal Studio Japan (Photo by Maame Akua Sarpong)
For our last full day in Osaka, we headed to crowded Universal Studios Japan. As expected, it was busy but worth it. We went on multiple rollercoaster rides, I watched a 4D show for the first time and saw a live K-pop performance in the park. USJ is home to Super Nintendo World, Minion Park and streets recreating those in famous U.S. cities like Hollywood and Brooklyn. All the different sections were beautifully designed and made you feel as if you were there.
Super Nintendo World was my favorite because it was like walking into a real-life game. Everything felt and looked so real. It quite literally was amazing.
If you plan to visit, I recommend getting there early, always having a drink with you and maybe even getting a fast pass. My brother and I were able to do about one ride per hour but in the extremely crowded areas like Super Nintendo world, a fast pass would cut the 120-minute wait time down by more than half. PRO TIP: Take the singles line if you don’t mind riding beside someone you don’t know. Those lines move much faster as well.
Other Osaka faves
Don’t forget to eat! Osaka is famous for its street food, like takoyaki and okonomiyaki. I did stay safe with my food choices and didn’t explore much with new dishes. So don’t make the same mistake I did and try something new!
Another fun aspect of Osaka is its mascots. While I was there, there were two main characters that were never far from my sight. Myaku Myaku was the first one, it being a representative of the continuity of life, and Billiken, which represents good luck. These special characters are little reminders of small lessons that add to the charm of Osaka.
Despite the 95-degree days and long lines, the experience was unforgettable. The sights, heights and memories turned the trip from a hot, ordinary road trip to something I now find myself reminiscing about. Though Osaka is part of Japan, it is so different in so many ways to everywhere else, from the massive train stations to standing on the right side of escalators. Osaka was truly special, so if you’re looking for somewhere new to explore, add it to your list.
Tips for road tripping to Osaka
Enjoy the rest stops! They are part of the journey, don’t rush through them, make sure to stop, eat, stretch, explore and maybe even shop.
Consider purchasing a city pass or bringing along your Pasmo or Suica card. Getting to the various landmarks around Osaka is made so much faster and easier when you’re not worrying about tickets and train fares.
Stay on top of the weather, especially if you’re going in the summer. Carrying a fan, water, UV umbrella or handkerchief are all good ways to beat the heat because the weather is INTENSE.
Get out early. The foot traffic in places like the castle and Universal Studios can keep you outside for a while, so try to get out before the crowds.
(Photo by Maame Akua Sarpong)
Maame Akua Sarpong is a senior at Zama Middle High School on Camp Zama. Sarpong has a love for creativity and exploring and enjoys reading, crocheting and travel. She likes to capture moments through photography and to volunteer in her community.
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