15 October 2026
Starting lazy. Staying in bed until 9. First idea was to go to a beach and enjoy the day there, but the beaches aren’t that nice, or don’t have anywhere to get a bite to eat or a drink.
Plan B is going to the waterfront, station Osakako. We have to change trains at Bentencho, and find a breakfast place under the railway. Sandwiches with pork and egg salad. I couldn’t finish it. Too much.
At the waterfront, first things first, we have to climb a mountain. After Mount Inari in Kyoto, this will be a new challenge. They even had certificates once, and their own search and rescue team, important for mountaineering. It wasn’t easy, but in the end we made it and climbed Mount Tenpo. Since there’s no more certificate to get, I asked Gemini to make a commemoration certificate. And this is also a geocache. Perfect.
After we’re back at the foot of the mountain, we go up again. This time in the Tempozan Ferris Wheel, 103 meters high. The ride lasts 15 minutes, and compared with other Ferris wheels, a reasonable price: 1,000 yen (5.72 €).
Beside the Ferris wheel is Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, one of the largest aquariums in the world, built around a big shark and whale tank. We don’t just buy a ticket, we pay a little extra to go behind the scenes. They’re very strict here with their entry times. We’re sent away, to be allowed back 5 minutes later to get inside. Not that anybody entered before us.
Up to the eighth floor, and there’s the entrance to the backstage area. Again, we have to wait until a certain time to get inside. Looking at some cute sleeping otters.
Then we’re allowed in, queuing nicely, as we’ve learned in Japan. We have to leave everything in lockers, even what’s inside our pockets. No cameras. The backstage tour is the platform above the main tank, with two whale sharks, hammerhead sharks and stingrays, plus some other Pacific fish. This is amazing, even when I tune out the explanations a bit. Huge whale sharks, male and female. 9 meters deep, tank at 23 degrees. Fascinating. Standing there, I can’t help thinking this is the biggest sushi menu in the country. Just with the fish still swimming.
Now we can do the 990-meter exhibition walk, going around the Ring of Fire, which Japan is part of. Some of the animal exhibits seem small, so for the seals, sea lions, a type of dolphin and some penguins, it might not be the optimal space to be in. The exhibition leads down, always around the center tank that we saw from above backstage. Some parts are quite crowded, but it’s interesting anyway. Halfway down they’ve put a strategically placed café. Of course, it’s time for a snack: a 38 cm Wiener hot dog with jalapeños.
After more rounds around the tank, you don’t realize how big it is from here, compared to backstage, and as every good museum, it ends in a gift shop.
Outside, a break on a bench. Even inside a building we walked a lot. A sunny day, not too hot. The Japanese love their fake sailboats, like on Lake Ashi, you can take a harbour tour on the “Santa Maria”… No thank you. 😉
Walking back to the station, getting hydration supplies at 7-Eleven.
Dinner time. We haven’t had yakitori in a while, chicken skewers. On Tabelog is a small restaurant not far away, towards Dotonbori. We’re early, but it normally pays off for us. Some funny-tasting edamame for the cover charge. Then it’s ordering what we like. The vegetable Japanese yam is covered in bonito flakes. Why???? Fish flakes on vegetables. Some juicy chicken with green onions, meatballs, chicken wings, a Korean chicken with a spicy-sweet sauce, and some rice, all shared between Tim and me (minus the egg in dashi, read: fish soup). Small dishes over a longer time. You get quite full without eating too much.
Back towards Dotonbori. I want to check if I can get a santoku knife. Last chance here, since Hiroshima doesn’t have many knife shops, and we won’t have a lot of time.
And I find a nice one for a reasonable price. One more in my bag. Even saved 8 € from tax-free shopping.
Decision made, chilling at the hotel. A can of -196°C Strong Zero, and then watching some YouTube together. It’s also time to pack. Seems like I won’t have any problems with my two pieces of luggage. There’s still some room. Both will be sent to Narita tomorrow.
My backpack and alternative hand luggage (my AFAG Samsonite backpack) come with me to Hiroshima, partly packed for the flight home, plus some stuff for Hiroshima to change into. Time for bed. Checkout tomorrow is 10 am.
