When I had arrived in Osaka (and before things acctually turned) I was rather depressed. I had no friends and my weekdays were passed going to class and then spend the evening in my room. So on my weekends I really wanted to get out and do stuff. Osaka University is close the the Expocity and the Bampaku-kinen park, an area built during the 70s for the Japan World Exposition. The Expocity is obviously built later, and is a big mall including various shops from 100yen Daiso to Ghibli and Uniqlo.I spent, easily, a whole day in this area. I started off with the Japanese Garden. The entrance to the whole garden area is accessible through any entrance, and the fee is as low as 250yen, which is fairly low considering the huge area.
Perhaps it's because I'm not used to Osaka, but my impression is that Tokyo has a lot more gardens so I missed that alot and was very happy to find this Japanese garden!
Unfortunately my Pictures doesn't make the garden justice. I really need to get a better camera...
The garden is very big, and I just really wanted to have a seat and enjoy the view as well so plan your visit carefully so that you will have enough time!
I went in late October and by that time there aren't much blossoming unfortunately. Outside of the Japanese garden are enormous areas made for various flowers, and I did get a glimpse of the roses, but much of the autumn plants had began withering.
Even so I did have a nice walk around the different areas, ending with the famous Tower of the Sun, a 70 meter tall building made for the 70 expo by Japanese artist Okamoto Taro. I saw the tower every day on my way to school and I have to admit, I hate it. The first thing which came to mind was the angels from Neon Genesis Evangelion. It looks creepy, sorry.
I was about done by the time the park closed so I then went for the Expo City to see what kind of shops were available. And like mentioned before, most things could be found. I'm not much of a shopper so didn't spend that much time there, but went to my final stop; the biggest ferris Wheel in Japan with a height of 123 meters!
I love ferris wheels, and I ride most I can find, so I've also been on the Tempozan which is 112 meters also located in Osaka (my favorite one has to be the Daikanransha on Odaiba, Tokyo though). One of the charms with riding a ferris Wheel to me is the night view, I just love seeing the city lit up, so I waited until it was all dark and then I bought my ticket! The line was pretty long, and the worst part was when I realised I was the only one riding alone. All around me were couples and some families, the worst part came when I had to pass the photographer. Yes, they have one of those memory photographies, where you can have your picture taken and buy it later. The staff looked like young university students, and I kindly rejected his offer, then he tells me something in the line of "it can be a nice memory :)" I felt like shaking him, bursting into tears "the memory of being f** alone?!!", fortunate for him I did not...
Anyway, the biggest disapointment was not that I could see all the couples sitting in their carts, but the view! There was almost nothing! The park is in a kind of isolated area, so not many buildings surrounding as in Yokohama, Odaiba etc. the only thing you got to see was the cars on the streets below and that damn Tower of the Sun, now with lit up eyes to really add to the creepyness.
It would probably have been better to go during the afternoon, I bet the view over the park is really nice.
Visiting the Bampaku-kinen kouen and expocity is highly recomended for those visiting Osaka, you can easily spend a whole day here. Plus, you get to experience the monorail, the view is amazing!
