Harvey's Amazing Race: Osaka
- youthhaven
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
Stop # 2 in Harvey's Amazing Race is Osaka, Japan. Osaka is one of the largest cities in Japan, and it is always busy! Harvey and his friends have been enjoying some amazing food, sports, and Japanese culture in Osaka. Here are a few of their favorite things in Osaka:
Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle was built over 440 years ago! Construction started in 1583, after a new leader had taken control in Japan. There had been many years of war, and he wanted to unify Japan under his leadership. He built the castle as a symbol of Japan's new unity as a nation. But the peace in Japan did not last, and about 30 years later the castle was attacked and destroyed, then rebuilt. In 1665, the main castle tower was struck by lightning and burned down. It was not rebuilt until 1931. Now it is a major tourist attraction, surrounded by beautiful gardens and picnic areas. You can take elevators to the top of the tower and look out over the city!
Dotombori
Dotombori is the most popular place in Osaka for entertainment, shopping, and food. It's named after the Dotombori Canal, which runs right through the middle of it. Walking through Dombori, you'll see lots of huge signs, giant mechanical crabs, and other unique objects the resaurants and shop owners use to get your attention. There's also a bridge over the canal where you can stop and look at all the activity.
Harukas 300
Abeno Harukas is the second tallest building in Japan. It is also called Harukas 300, because it is 300 meters tall. That's almost 1000 feet! It's not quite as tall as the tallest skyscrapers in New York City or Chicago, but you can see how much taller it is than any of the other buildings in Osaka. You can buy tickets to go up to the observatory and get a great view of the city!
Umeda Sky Building
Another cool building in Osaka is the Umeda Sky Building, which is actually two towers that are connected by a section in the middle called the "Floating Garden Observatory." This building is 173 meters tall, just over half the height of Harukas 300. You can take a fancy escalator to the observatory, where you can look out over the city from the windows and an open deck.
Tempozan Ferris Wheel
One of the most popular things to do in Osaka is to ride the Tempozan Ferris Wheel. It’s 369 feet tall, one of the tallest ferris wheels in the world! It can hold up to 480 people at a time, and you can take a 17-minute ride for a great view of the city. At night it lights up for some amazing light displays. It also shows the next day’s weather forecast with color coded lights. Blue means it will rain, green means it will be cloudy, and orange means it will be sunny.
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