Tsurumi Ryokuchi
A slow start: coffee at the Starbucks in Tsurumi Ryokuchi, the big park on the east side of Osaka (¥1,051).
The park was built for the 1990 flower expo. In early February it’s mostly bare, but the first plum blossoms were out.
The plum blossoms, the first sign of spring:
There’s even a Dutch windmill.
Shinsekai
Then the train to Shinsekai, Osaka’s old-school neighbourhood: kushikatsu shops, giant signs and Tsutenkaku tower in the middle.
The Tower Slider
Tsutenkaku has a tube slide down its side, the Tower Slider: 60 metres from the third floor to the basement, in about 10 seconds. ¥1,000 each. Helmets on.
It’s fast and loud and over before you know it. We bought the medal to prove we did it (¥530).
And the octopus again on the way out.
Onward to lunch, and a lot of crab!
Information About Tsutenkaku
The tower in the middle of Shinsekai, Osaka's retro neighbourhood. The Tower Slider is a tube slide from the third floor down to the basement, about 60 metres long and 10 seconds fast.
PS: The slide is ¥1,000 per go. It's separate from the observation deck ticket.