Impressions of Osaka

I took in an hour cruise in the rivers and canals surrounding the Osakajo Castle.

A yakata-bune (literally a house boat). You can have dinner on board cruising.

        The water was very calm and beautiful reflecting the blue sky.

It is hard to imagine that this entire area

use to be wetlands.

Osaka is a city with an extensive network of waterways such as rivers and canals.  They were the foundations of Osaka's status as the Japan's center of commerce until about 100 years ago.  Most of the downtown area of Osaka used to be swamps and wetlands that had spread along the rivers as the Yodo and the Neya, where there are many high-rise buildings now.

Impressions of Osaka

           One of the exits of Osaka Station

   The roof of the station,very high and airy.

Underground paths connecting several railway lines.

Sunset behind a railroad crossing.  It was about 17:30 and was still over 30℃.

I went to Osaka from Sept 16 to 20 to attend a meeting.  My first impression of the city was that it was a very big city like Tokyo, crowded and outrageously hot.  The highest temperatures during my 4 and 1/2 days of stay were between 30 and 34℃.  It was unbelievable. This hot in the latter half of September?