Osaka

We arrived in Osaka late in the evening and immediately dumped our bags before heading out to the Dotonbori area in the Namba entertainment district of Osaka. I had been there the last time we came here but as others were visiting for the first time I got to play tour guide for the night.

The view from the hotel.

Of all the neon in the district, the Glico sign is the most famous. The runner has been in place for decades and is the most popular photospots in the city.

Last time here I got a late ride on the strange shaped big wheel. Not this time however, just as we got close we could see other club members looking dejected and leaving the Don Quixote building in which it resides.

With the wheel down we decided to go and get something to eat before the restaurants closed.

We decided tonight should be sushi night and found a restaurant that served some amazing pieces.

Close to the restaurant, missed by the majority of club members, but not missed by us was the Hip 5 drop tower. (Hurrah for pre-trip research). Despite the nice light show the tower drop, like the wheel, was down and when we asked when it would be open we were told "never". Somehow I don't think the translation was flawed either.

But they did kindly let us go out onto the station platform and get a couple of photos.

Inside the Hip5 complex we spent the remainder of the night playing the games. I've seen horse racing gambling games before but not one featuring a real track where the horses move around. You can see them here on their parade lap, they then moved out into the gates and then raced properly around the track. There must be some sophisticated magnet system under the baize.


Whilst not the exact same game you can get an idea of how it works here.

This video game plays like a House of the Dead shooting game but there are no guns. Instead you have to throw balls at the screen.


More footage carefully picked from the Youtube world :D

Back at the hotel and time to get some rest. Tomorrow will be Universal Studios.