Osaka/Bay Area - bay in Japan

The Bay Area is the westernmost district of Osaka city. Largely built on reclaimed land, it has large-scale facilities for shopping and entertainment, and has become popular among young people in particular.

Get in

See

The Bay Area's top attraction, Universal Studios Japan, is covered in its own article.

• Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (海遊館), 1-1-10 Kaigan-dori Minato-ku (5 minutes walk from Osakako (Osaka Port) station on Osaka municipal subway Chuo Line or Techno Port Line.), 34.654472°, 135.428889°, +81 6-6576-5501, info-e@kaiyukan.com. 10:00-20:00 (last admission is 19:00). This is one of the world's largest aquariums, with 11,000 tons of water and plenty of sharks (including a whale shark), dolphins, otters, seals, and other sea creatures. The largest tank, representing the Pacific Ocean with 5,400 tons is nothing but overwhelming. On the weekend, musicians and street performers offer additional entertainment to people outside the aquarium. ¥2000 adults (16 and over, high school), ¥900 child (7-15, elementary school and junior high-school), infant (4-6) ¥400
• Maishima Sludge Center and Maishima Incineration Plant, 2 Chome-2-７ Hokukoshiratsu, Konohana Ward (from Nishikujo Station on the JR Loop Line, take the hourly #81 bus to the Amity Maishima bus stop (23 min) outside the Sports Centre for People with Disabilities; from there you can see the sludge centre and the incineration plant). Without a doubt, the best sludge center you've ever seen. The incineration plant makes other waste facilities look like dumps. These two buildings were designed by eccentric Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. They are fantastical works that have to be seen to be believed. There are display panels in the lobby of the sludge centre. Tours are available if you contact the facilities in advance, but Hundertwasser's work is on the outside: inside, these are functioning waste treatment facilities. When you arrive, make sure to check the bus schedule to find out when you can leave. 2019-03-13

Do

• Maishima Pottery Village (舞洲陶芸館), 2-2-98 Hokuko-Ryokuchi Konohana-ku. Maishima Pottery Village opened in Osaka’s manmade island in 1998 for the education and promotion of naniwazuyaki, made from the vast amounts of unwanted marine clay which resulted from the construction of Kansai International Airport. The main building has studios with electric and momentum potter’s wheels, rooms for preparing clay and glazes, a gallery, a noborigama climbing kiln and an anagama tunnel kiln. There are also studios for visitors to experience hand-building and painting. 1-day workshop for hand forming ¥500-¥3500. Additional charge for shipping your work. Booking required.
• Boat Race Suminoe (ボートレース住之江), 1-1-71 Izumi, Suminoe-ku (3 minute walk from Suminoekōen station on the Yotsubashi Subway line and Nankō Port Town Line). There's no "bettor" place to see one of Japan's unique gambling sports, hydroplane boat racing, than the race course that typically helps crown the sport's champion every December. If you're interested in placing a bet, you might want to do some research, as there is practically no English guidance available once you arrive. General admission ¥100, reserved seating for additional charge <gallery>

File:KYOTEI by MASA (9).jpg|Boat Race Suminoe </gallery>

Buy

Eat

• Osaka Takoyaki Museum, 6-2-61 Shimaya Konohana-ku (1 minutes walk from JR Universal City Sta.). Visitors can sample fare from five leading takoyaki shops that Osakans, famously particular about their takoyaki, unreservedly recommend. Admission free, Octopus dumpling ball available for sale at 5 stores
• If you are visiting Boat Race Suminoe for the boat races, you will find several cheap eats available throughout the facility. <gallery>

File:Universal CityWalk Osaka 8.JPG|Osaka Takoyaki Museum is in 4th floor of Universal CityWalk Osaka </gallery>

Drink

Sleep

Mid-range

• Cosmosquare Hotel and Congress, 1-7-50 Nankou Kita Suminoe-ku (10 minutes walk from Cosmosquare Station), +81 6-6614-8711. Single ¥9450, double ¥12600, twin ¥15750
• The Best Western Joytel Osaka, 1-2-1 Shinkitajima Suminoe-ku (1 minute walk from Suminoe-Koen Station), +81 6 6684 1231. Single ¥5500, double ¥6400, twin ¥7200
• Hotel Osaka Bay Tower, 1-2-1 Benten, Minato-ku, +81-6-6577-1111.

Splurge

• Hyatt Regency Osaka, 1-13-11 Nanko-Kita, Suminoe-Ku (in Osaka's new business district), +81 6-6612-1234, inquiry.hrosaka@hyattintl.com. A hotel opposite the World Trade Center and one of the higher end hotels in the area. This hotel is an official hotel for the Universal Studios Japan and one of the most expensive hotels in the city. A bit far away from the city center with no direct subway line. Houses a chapel on its grounds too. Some airline crews use this one.

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