Whale Shark - Osaka Aquarium
Submitted by Fozz on Mon, 2012-09-10 14:36
I'm off to Japan on Friday, flying into Osaka and will have some spare time on Sunday, so planning to visit Osaka Aquarium (one of the world's largest). Looking on their website, they have a whale shark in their largest tank. Not sure how I'll feel seeing a whale shark in captivity after seeing them in the wild of Exxy. I put them up there with dolphins, whales etc and belong in the ocean with room to move. Any thoughts on this or anyone been there themselves?
Fozz
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hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Not sure on the whale shark
Not sure on the whale shark (didnt get a chance to go), but go get some takoyaki on dontombori, do at least a day trip to Kyoto, and for some freaking awesome sushi, go to Endo's sushi at the fish market. The guy who owns it is a quirky guy, but really cool and friendly. Unless you speak japanese, they'll just assume you want the omakase option (taste of everything). See how many plates you can pile up! Also, you can get tourist passes for the subway for around about $8 that gives you unlimited rides if you're going all over the place on the subway (often you can get them bundled, say in a KIX transfer). Though if only one or two trips a day, its cheaper to go individual rides.
Fozz
Posts: 224
Date Joined: 01/08/08
Cheers Hlokk
Will be trying to get down to the fish markets early Sunday morning, 320,000m2 of floor space, its one of the largest markets in Japan, then off to the Aquarium. Unfortunately won't have for anything else, as its off to Himeji to visit a LNG ship berthing later that day then onto Tokyo. How the hell do I find Endo's sushi in a place this size?
Thanks Fozz
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
http://maps.google.com/maps?q
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=endo+sushi+osaka&hl=en&ll=34.684181,135.479536&spn=0.002245,0.005295&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.410182,86.748047&hq=endo+sushi&hnear=Osaka,+Osaka+Prefecture,+Japan&t=m&z=18
Oh man, I really lived the term kuidaore that day (the Osaka eat til you explode thing).
I walked across the bridge from one of the subway stations in the south, but I think theres a line north of the markets as well, but you're looking at a 15-20min walk from any station it seems (as opposed to tsukiji in tokyo which is like 100m walk from the exit). Endo's will be open later than the best time for the markets. I think I went mid morning. They dont really do tips in Japan, but if you really want to impress them, take a little gift/souveneir. Only needs to be a token, but often very much appreciated (they like aussie stuff too). They're often impressed if you learn any Japanese but some just find it funny. Remember the Kon-nichiwa pause if you want tor really impress, haha.
Fozz
Posts: 224
Date Joined: 01/08/08
Found It
Found Endo's rest. on the web, will try it out. Thanks for the tip Hlokk
Cheers Fozz