For those of you who haven’t been to the Osaka Aquarium, locally known as the Kaiyuukan ( 大阪 海遊館 )you are definitely missing out. Not only is this building an architectural masterpiece in its own right, but also a world-class aquarium facility housing dozens of North Pacific marine ecosystems. The star attraction is a main tank measuring roughly 10 meters deep and 15 meters across sporting nearly a hundred species including an adult whale shark and a couple of manta rays. Progressing through the building, you walk completely around the tank from its water surface to the bottom, taking in all the other exhibits along the way.
The aquarium has an important theme for science buffs like me and is a significant research facility as well as an extraordinary public attraction. The Ring of Fire displays the complex ways in which a geographic circle of different North Pacific marine habitats are intimately connected. The plumbing in the building is yet another masterpiece of engineering design and function. If you have the chance to sneek a peak at the extensive indoor water management hardware hidden behind a door here and there, you will definitely be amazed! Guests actually see a bit less than half of the internal volume of the building, which in itself is pretty hard to imagine when you’re inside.
I strongly recommend to go in the morning to give yourself lots of time to enjoy its peaceful ambience. If you can go on a rainy weekday, even better! It’s a really therapeutic stress relief! Get there well before the afternoon bus loads of elementary school kids arrive because of course then, the atmosphere is somewhat different!
The Kaiyuukan is located at Tempozan 天保山 which is a great place to spend a day relaxing, eating and shopping. Take the Chuo Subway Line which shares track with Kintetsu and get off at Osakako Station. Also there is the Suntory Museum which regulary hosts art displays from some of the world’s greatest artists. Still not enough? There is also the IMAX Theater ( 海遊館 / IMAX シアター ) for those into 3D science programs and one of world’s largest Ferris Wheels is there to give you sweeping views of the city. It’s all very cool and not even expensive. Looking for a first-date place? Budget or no budget this is it!
Enjoy!
Martin W Zander
マーティン・ワーナー・ザンダー
Smith’s School of English Fukushima Osaka Umeda
月謝制 の スミス 英会話 福島 校 大阪 市 梅田 校
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/fukushima.shtml
Smith’s School of English Kotoen Nigawa Nishinomiya
月謝制 の スミス 英会話 甲東園 校 仁川 校 西宮 市
http://www.smithweb.co.jp/school/kotoen.shtml
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