Solaniwa Onsen
After the morning at Kiyomizu-dera our legs wanted an onsen, so we took the train out to Bentencho for Solaniwa Onsen, a hot spring theme park inside the Osaka Bay Tower.
You pick a yukata at the entrance and wear it the whole time. The main hall is full of lanterns, with a little red bridge in the middle.
We took a lot of photos on that bridge.
The garden
Outside there’s a Japanese garden with foot baths running through it, and a path of stepping stones through the warm water. It was drizzling, so umbrellas.
Then the baths themselves, so no photos. Strawberry milk after, as you do. Entry and the extras came to ¥6,430 for two.
Wagyu Idaten
Back in Namba for dinner at Wagyu Idaten. One of our better meals of the trip.
The wagyu comes laid over rice in a lacquer box, with a raw egg yolk on top, and condiments on the side. ¥4,560 for two.
There’s samurai armour standing in the corner, and a sword on the wall.
Dotonbori at night
Then Dotonbori again, now all lit up. The giant crab of Kani Doraku, the gyoza of Osaka Ohsho, and Kushikatsu Daruma’s angry chef.
The canal at night:
Our hotel room in Osaka was compact but comfortable. Onward to Shinsekai!
Information About Solaniwa Onsen
A big onsen complex in Osaka Bay Tower, right by Bentencho Station on the JR Loop Line. You get a yukata on entry and can wander between the baths, a lantern-lit hall and a garden with foot baths.