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On the cigarette trails of a salaryman
Photo Essay written 18 June 2008
From the staggering heights of the Umeda Sky Building, to the smoky reaches of a late night hostess bar, see why Osaka is becoming the destination of choice for weekend jet setters.
On the Prowl
A snack bar man stakes out his prey on a popular street in Umeda. Suited men outside windowless buildings are a sure sign of the hostess and host bars that line the streets.
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Journey to the center of the station
Elaborate underground cities characterize the endless Osaka Subway system. It is not uncommon to walk for kilometers, searching out the next subway line. Shops, restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops make it easy to forget that you are 10's of meters below the earth.
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Stepping out
Showcasing the modern / traditional paradox that seems
to dominate most people`s thoughts on Japan, a sumo wrestler takes a break from festivities to stroll in Dotomburi. Visit Osaka during the Sumo matches in March to see wrestlers parading round the streets and wrestling in the stadium.
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Downward spiral
Jellyfish are the final and crowning attraction at the Osaka Kaiyukan. Grouped by species, jellies float gently through the color changing water, going from translucent to opaque and back again.
Next door to the Suntory Museum and IMAX complex, the trio offer a full day of amusement.
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Concrete light
The Suntory Museum and surrounding complex was designed by famed Japanese architect Ando Tadao. True to his style, the bare concrete mingles with its environment, playing with the natural light and surrounding water. Several other Ando buildings are in Osaka, and are worth a and are worth a look. For a complete list, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadao_Ando#Completed_projects
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Criss-cross
Countless wires crisscross the Osaka skys, threading from building to building. With three and a half million people calling the city their home, it is rare to see an empty intersection.
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On the breeze
In May, coy flags float on the breeze in celebration
of Children`s Day. These coy flaunt the bottom of the Umeda Sky Building.
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Digital debris
In Den Den Town, Osaka`s answer to Tokyo`s Akihabara, game shops and cosplay accessories pile up. (If
you time it right, you may see a seemingly impromptu cosplay parade.)
Disused electronics of all ages stack precariously in tiny shops. In a country where technology changes constantly, and only the newest and shiniest will do, there are baskets of cameras, musical
instruments and electronics.
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Stairway to heaven
Go up the endless escalator to the top floor of the Umeda Sky building. The building itself is an interesting piece of architecture, and the views from above are staggering.
Afterward, go to the basement for an old style Japanese meal in the
nostalgic complex that reigns below.
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Stephanie Boettcher has been a member since 26 May 2008 and goes by stephaniesays.
Currently in Japan.
I am traveling without an end in sight. I`m teaching / learning and trying to make it sing.
You can also find Stephanie at www.flickr.co...28906905@N00.
