大阪・堺観光：万博公園、大阪、堺（2025年）
Spring 2025, let’s head to Osaka Expo! It’s only 49 minutes from Haneda to Itami! First, we head to Expo Commemoration Park, the former site of the 1970 Osaka Expo. The Tower of the Sun is larger than we imagined, and its two faces are impressive! Designer Taro Okamoto’s idea notes. Hotel memo paper…! We had reserved a tour of the Tower of the Sun’s interior! The concept of the Tree of Life, which runs through the Tower of the Sun, evolves as we ascend. It’s fascinating, as the surrounding creatures evolve. At the end, we see chimpanzees evolving into humans… I had no idea that both arms of the tower were escalator exits to the 1970 Expo’s roof top floor. “Art is Magic” by the artist Taro Okamoto. Taro Okamoto’s imagination is incredible! Next, we headed to the Expo 70′ Pavilion. This memorial museum, housed in the former “Steel Pavilion” at the 1970 Expo, displays materials from the Expo. There was also an Expo-stamp rally event back then! And I realized that it was truly the era of paper back then. And the skirts on the costumes were all so short…! Seeing the Tower of the Sun’s face up close, it’s quite big and amazing! It’s surprising to learn that conveyor belt sushi (“Kaiten-sushi”), canned coffee, and Bulgarian yogurt (it’s now quite famous in Japan) all originated from this Expo! It was early April. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom at Expo Park. We returned to Osaka city and took our usual sightseeing route, sampling takoyaki while walking around Amemura and Dotonbori! Dotonbori with the Statue of Liberty atop a building and a Glico (a Food company)’s well-known advertisement! We tasted “Meoto Zenzai” (sweet beans soup) in Hozenji Yokocho! Its refined sweetness was delicious. Namba Grand Kagetsu, the mecca of comedy! We arrived at Tennoji Station and enjoyed the Osaka scenery from the observation deck of a skyscraper building named “Abeno Harukas”. View of the north area of Osaka. The zoo and Shinsekai area are within walking distance from the building, in the north-west area from the skyscraper. And to the west are Osaka Bay and the Seto Inland Sea! We could also see the 2025 Expo site. The circular building with a white edge is the Great Ring Roof! Enjoy Osaka cuisine at Shinsekai, at the foot of Tsutenkaku-tower! Akashi Yaki (a type of Tako-yaki), Kasu Udon, Omelet Yakisoba, and a luxurious skewer course at Kushinobo! The skewers were a bit unusual, but they were made with high-quality ingredients and were very luxurious. The ochazuke (rice with green tea) and dessert were also delicious! Osaka truly is “the kitchen of the world”! Next up was the Osaka Museum of History! This history museum is packed with Osaka’s history, from the ancient Naniwa Palace to modern times! The ruins of Naniwa-Palace remain in the center of Osaka. I particularly enjoyed the recreation of the vibrant streets of Osaka Senba during the Edo period and the large-scale diorama! There were little dramas in each diorama, so I never got bored even if I looked at it for a long time! Finally, I went to the modern and contemporary section. I’m sure the World Expo had a big presence in Osaka’s history. Next, I went to Sumiyoshi Taisha, the head shrine of all the Sumiyoshi shrines in Japan! Next time, I’d like to do the Naniwa Seven Good Deeds Tour! This is the place where the Japanese envoys to Tang China set sail! Sumiyoshi Taisha is famous as the god of navigation! The bright red bridge just before the shrine grounds is a sorihashi (soribashi) bridge, which is steeper than it looks! I’m glad I went in sneakers. There are a row of magnificent shrines, and the god’s messenger is a rabbit! So cute! We offered a heartfelt prayer to the god of navigation for our upcoming cruise! Many of the countless stone lanterns were offerings from Edo-period shipping merchants! They’re so old (more than 200-years old)! We arrived at the Mozu Kofun Group, a World Heritage Site. Each of the small hills scattered throughout the town is a kofun (kofun is an old tomb in Japanese)! We stopped by the visitor center in front of Emperor Nintoku’s tomb. Apparently, its low surface area is larger than the pyramids and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. Amazing! The small hill opposite the visitor center is also a kofun (“baicho”: a subordinate tomb). Finally, we approached Emperor Nintoku’s tomb . This is what it looks like from above. Beyond the moat and the torii gate, there is the tomb of Emperor Nintoku We can only go as far as the torii gate. The Imperial Household Agency strictly manages it as the imperial ancestral tomb. The scene where a nightingale jumped out of a deer (?!) is the origin of the place’s name. We had lunch near the visitor center! The kofun burger was adorable, and the “obanzai” set lunch named “Every Day is a Good Day” was delicious! Daisen Park is spacious, relaxing, and a wonderful park. If it were closer to home, I’d definitely visit every day. Behind the statues of founders of the tea ceremony (Sen no Rikyu and Takeno Jōō)… I arrived at the Sakai City Museum. there’s also a special exhibition on Sakai firearms was held! Or so I thought… I saw a familiar face… here too! They must be Sento-kun’s friends…XD It’s a truly magnificent museum! By chance, I was able to join a guided tour led by a museum staff member, and we were able to see artifacts excavated from various ancient tombs, Sakai’s development as a port city and a free moated city, various products and tea utensils collected from around the world, and everything from the Edo firearms industry to the modern cutlery industry. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical and cultural riches of Sakai, spanning ancient, medieval, early modern, and contemporary periods! The unchanged Sumiyoshi Taisha Bridge and the Sumiyoshi Festival Screen, depicting the vibrant town of Sakai, are also highly appealing. Matcha and Japanese gardens at Daisen Park’s Japanese Garden. A relaxing break during travel Nanshu-ji Temple, a temple associated with the Miyoshi Nagayoshi and his clan, and founders of the tea ceremony such ad Sen no Rikyu, and Takeno Jōō. There’s an admission fee and photography is prohibited within the temple grounds, but it’s definitely worth a visit! We enjoyed a tour of the beautiful dry landscape garden and the graves of the Sen family, accompanied by detailed explanations from a local volunteer guide. The Doi River, which flows south of the temple, is said to have originated from the moat that shaped Sakai’s moated city. Turtles and fish swim about, creating a natural environment. The Yamaguchi family residence is an old townhouse from the Edo period that still stands today. The kitchen is set in a spacious dirt floor space, and the Japanese-style rooms are lined with multiple rooms. The building’s height and depth are unimaginable from the entrance. It was also decorated for the Boys’ Day festival. Truly a Sakai village headman! It boasts a magnificent tea room, a veranda with a high floor made of a single plank, and a relaxing garden, even in the middle of town. The Inoue Sekiemon family residence is the only surviving Edo-period gunsmith residence, and the darkened beams of the dirt floor evoke the atmosphere of a blacksmith’s workshop. Gunsmithing, which developed through division of labor, is said to have laid the foundation for today’s local industries of blade and bicycle manufacturing. The exhibition featured the now-lost “Sakai Dantsu (mat/carpet),” which included famous samurai families as customers, and screws, which were introduced along with firearms. There were endless moments of “I see, I see.” It was great to see the magnificent helmet ornaments and beautiful Japanese gardens here, too! We came to the Sakai Plaza of Rikyu and Akiko. where you can learn about Sen no Rikyu and Yosano Akiko, both natives of Sakai. “Ryurei-teicha” (standing tea ceremony) is a wonderful experience, casually experiencing authentic tea ceremony culture, The Sen, Omotesenke, and Mushakojisenke schools rotate in charge of serving the tea. As you’d expect from Sakai! The first floor featured exhibits on Sen no Rikyu and the history of Sakai. It covered the concept of “mountain retreat in the city,” the tea ceremony at the time being similar to a dinner party for intellectuals, and Sen no Rikyu’s tragic end. The quizzes and audio commentary by Kataoka Ainosuke (Famous Kabuki actor) kept the exhibition entertaining, and it was truly as rich and tasteful as matcha. There were also tea rooms in the style of each of the three schools of tea ceremony, which was very educational! The adjacent former site of Sen no Rikyu’s residence was also a delightful experience, as I enjoyed chatting with the volunteer guide here as well! The fact that Sen no Rikyu’s childhood name was Yoshiro somehow feels familiar and down-to-earth The second floor of the Plaza features an exhibit about the quite famous woman poet Yosano Akiko. She created a folding screen of 100 poems by hand to earn money to follow her husband, Tekkan, to Paris. Perhaps her surprisingly free and innovative sensibility for a woman of that era was due to her birth in the free and prosperous city of Sakai? Travel lovers will surely find her works resonate. Akiko is truly impressive. Along the main street near Rikyu no Mori, there’s also a monument marking the site of her birthplace. Enjoy Sakai’s traditional industries, centered around cutlery, at the Denshokan (Sakai Traditional Industry Hall) . The first floor is a gift shop, and the second floor is a cutlery museum. The knife chandelier is impressive! I discovered many things, such as how beautiful cutlery can actually be and how many varieties there are. Sakai’s interesting feature is the division of labor in the cutlery industry, following on from the division of labor in gun manufacturing. The third floor is an exhibition space for other traditional industries. Japanese sweets, kelp processing, dyeing, incense, mats (dantsu), May carp streamers, etc. The old Sakai Lighthouse is the oldest wooden lighthouse in Japan, built in 1877. It now blends in with the surrounding buildings, but at the time, this height must have been sufficient for a lighthouse. On the way back to the station, I spotted the Miyakumiyaku, a ship that connected the Expo site with Sakai! A statue of Luzon Sukezaemon, a Sakai merchant who was active in Luzon in the 16th century, and a statue of a Nanbanjin affectionately known as Hashinoue Portonosuke (in English, Sir-Port on the Bridge). The old Sakai port area gives a sense of the history and romance of the port as a trading port. Sakai Station is surrounded by a harbor and a moat. Carp streamers flutter leisurely over the moat. For dinner, we enjoyed the famous tempura and sashimi set meal at Sakai Fish Market, which was about to close. An incredible price for the Reiwa era! It was a fond memory to be able to enjoy the disappearing Showa era scenery one last time in the historic city of Sakai. Sakai Sweets 1: Kanbukuro’s Kurumi-Mochi (covered mochi) Mochi wrapped/covered in a green, rich, sweet bean paste. The container is unique and makes a great souvenir! This time, I purchased the smallest container, conveniently with an airtight lid. Sakai Sweets 2: Kojimaya’s Poppy Mochi The granular texture of the mustard is irresistible! They were also available inside the Osaka Station Shinkansen ticket gates, so I think I’ll make it a staple Osaka souvenir! I’d also like to try the Poppy Mochi Roll someday.
2025年春、大阪・関西万博観光にあわせて、万博公園、大阪市内と、前々から気になっていた歴史ある堺市を観光！堺が想像以上に良くて、また行きたくなりました。
【訪れた場所】
・万博公園：太陽の塔、Expo 70’ パビリオン
・大阪市内中心部：アメ村、道頓堀、新世界など
・大阪歴史博物館
・住吉大社
・大仙陵古墳（仁徳天皇陵）
・大仙公園と日本庭園
・堺市博物館
・南宗寺
・山口家住宅
・鉄砲鍛冶屋敷
・さかい利晶の杜
・さかい伝匠館
・旧堺燈台
・堺魚市場