To be honest, Ferris wheels aren’t really our thing.
Even though the Singapore Flyer, one of the tallest in the world, is just a short train ride away, we still haven’t taken it. So, it was ironic that we were even thinking about riding the Tempozan Ferris wheel.
We had completed one circuit at the Osaka Kaiyukan, and just finished lunch at the Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho food hall next door.
There was still some time to spare before heading back in for a second round, in order to catch the whale shark feeding session at 3:00pm.
The shops at the Tempozan Marketplace weren’t particularly interesting, and after browsing for a while, we ended up at the foot of the Ferris wheel.
It didn’t seem especially tall when we used it as a landmark to find the Kaiyukan. But looking up from the base of the structure, it did seem quite impressive.
According to Bing Copilot, it stands at 112 metres and is equivalent to 42 stories of a typical HDB flat. Putting it into perspective, it’s almost double the height of the building we live in.
Taking it all the way up in a small glass-enclosed box did sound kinda scary.
Since we were already there, I figured “why not?” and bought two tickets for ¥1,800. They weren’t cheap, but making sure that a huge mechanical structure runs safely and smoothly has to be quite costly.
One full revolution was estimated to take 20 to 25 minutes, and there were two queues to board the cabins. One for cabins with a transparent bottom, and the other for cabins with a regular floor.
As long time members of the Scooby Doo club, we joined the line for non-thrill seekers. To be precise, we didn’t need to line up, because everyone else was waiting to get into the more exciting cabins.
A sticker on the wall outlined the various landmarks that would be visible once sufficient height was attained.
Including Universal Studios Japan, Tempozan Ohashi Bridge, Kyocera Dome and even the Abeno Harukas skyscraper more than 7 kilometres away.
The beginning part of the ride was innocent enough, with a bird’s eye view of the Kaiyukan building and the port infrastructure across the water.
As we started ascending, Abeno Harukas was indeed visible. Though I had to squint a little to make it out from the far horizon.
When we were staying there on the 55th floor of the Marriott Miyako many years ago, I don’t recall being able to see the Tempozan Ferris wheel. Perhaps our room wasn’t facing in the direction of the Osaka harbour.
As we approached the apex, it started drizzling. And for some reason, the Ferris wheel stopped moving for quite some time. We would have been concerned if we hadn’t read the warning earlier.
The cabin started swaying from the wind, freaking out The Wife slightly. I was still able to tentatively snap photos of the scenery, but she was busy clutching the handrails on the bench with both hands.
Her gaze was mostly fixed downwards, further reinforcing our wise decision not to choose a cabin with a transparent floor.
Thankfully, it didn’t last too long and the wheel started turning again. The closer we got to the end of the ride, the more relaxed The Wife’s body language became.
Around the 22 minute mark, we returned to where we started, and disembarked safely.
My original plan was to also check out the famous red Ferris wheel on top of the HEP FIVE shopping mall in Umeda. It’s about the same height, and I had penciled it in for the next day.
As you can already guess, that idea was quickly dismissed. Together with any thoughts about taking the Singapore Flyer back home.
Like I mentioned earlier, Ferris wheels aren’t our thing. And this short ride only served to confirm it.
Kansai Winter 2024
Gion to Ginkakuji via the Philosopher’s Path
The 5.7-kilometre walk was quite an achievement for us, and easily one of the longest we’ve ever completed while on vacation.
Elegant tofu kaiseki at Rengetsujaya in Higashiyama
Tofu may seem like a humble ingredient but centuries — no, millennia — of refinement in Kyoto has elevated it to a delicacy.
There’s no such thing as too much yuzu at Yuzugen Pontocho
Yuzu sake, yuzu daikon, yuzu kosho, yuzu gyoza, yuzu nabe, yuzu ramen. When you’re a yuzu addict, it’s never enough.
Relaxing day trip to Uji from Kyoto
Uji feels like the kind of place that’s best enjoyed on a slower pace, and that’s exactly what we did. Here are the places we visited during the six hours that we were there.
You can never have too much matcha in Uji
As they say in Japan: “When in Uji, drink matcha.” So we travelled to the mecca of matcha, to see if it was possible to overdose on the magical green powder.
The Wife walked into Ousu no Sato and almost didn’t make it out
I could tell that she was very pleased with her purchases, and I was pleased that she was pleased.
A peaceful stroll in the Byōdō-in temple grounds
There are two main reasons why tourists travel to Uji. The first is for matcha, and the second is to see the temple stamped on all Japanese ¥10 coins.
Heartwarming matcha soba by the old folks of Torikiku
The broth had a clear citrusy note of sudachi that shone through, plus something else that we couldn’t quite identify. Whatever it was, it made the dashi taste extra special.
Katsukura: Sometimes, all you need is some deep-fried pork
Whenever we find ourselves in Japan, our number one pick for crispy and juicy tonkatsu is invariably Katsukura from Kyoto.
Kawaii temari sushi for breakfast at OMO5 Kyoto Gion
Apparently, its petite size and easy-to-bite form factor makes it the ideal choice for geishas who don’t want to smudge their makeup.
Waking up to the smell of freshly-baked bread
The next morning, as dawn approached and sunlight started peeking through the blinds, we were awoken by an enticing and unmistakable scent.
OMO5 Kyoto Gion is great, but not so good on the knees
It’s right in the heart of the historic geisha district and offers a good combination of price, location and size. But if you have bad knees, stay clear of the Double Zashiki Tatami Room.
Catching the Kyo-train Garaku from Osaka to Kyoto
There are many ways to travel between the two cities by train, but the most beautiful and elegant one must surely be the Kyo-train Garaku rapid limited express.
Nihonshu bingo at Yamanaka Sake Ekimaru in Umeda
We were only halfway through our Japan trip, and I had already managed to move my progress bar from 36% to 53%. Crossing the halfway mark felt like a significant milestone.
The complete Club Level experience at Ritz Carlton Osaka
When travelling to a foreign land, hotels are usually just places to spend the night. But sometimes, they can be destinations in their own right.
Ritz Carlton Osaka: Camping out at the Club Lounge for all our meals
I had booked one night in a club level room, which included access to the legendary club lounge. And for the next 24 hours, all our meals were sorted.
Fancy champagne high tea at Ritz Carlton Osaka
Checking into a hotel is typically a mundane affair, except when you book a room with Club Lounge access at the Ritz Carlton in Osaka.
Sushi Sakaba Sashisu was so good, we had to go twice
Whenever hippos get hungry, they sneak off to the nearest izakaya and scarf down some nigiri sushi, together with copious amounts of sake.
The oishii asagohan at Yawaragi in Shinsaibashi
At night, Yawaragi is your typical salaryman izakaya. But at the break of dawn, it transforms into an atypical breakfast spot, famous for tamago dashimaki prepared à la minute.
Going down the gachapon rabbit hole at #C-pla+
I sumimasen-ed my way inside and found a sea of gachapon machines. Wall-to-wall and three storeys high, there must have been hundreds of them packed into that small space.
