Bear does Osaka 2014: Post #18 (13.05.14) >> Osaka Aquarium & Universal Studios Japan

After Endo Sushi we headed over to the Aquarium by train.

The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is one of the largest and best aquariums in the world.

It is constructed using 103 acrylic glass panes weighing 314 tonnes that holds 10,941 tonnes of water.

It's home to about 30,000 fish covering 630 species and other sea creatures.

On the outside, the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is a butterfly shaped building decorated with a giant fish mosaic.

Inside, the Aquarium is constructed so that you begin exploring from the 8th floor and continue down a spiral walk floor by floor.

There are fourteen tanks, each with their own environment.

The main focus is the 9 metre deep central tank which houses 5,400 tonnes of water through 30cm thick acrylic glass.

It represents the Pacific Ocean, home to a number of whale sharks, manta rays and other big fish.

Admission was 2300Yen/A$25

I, someone with very short attention span, got over it pretty quickly.

At first, the sight of the little school kids was cute.
Some were so small, tiny even, looking as if they were only 50cm tall.
Inside the Aquarium however ... they all got excited and went crazy !
Screaming, shouting and running around.
The noise and smell from all these kids drove me insane.

It also wouldn't hurt if both sides of the glass were cleaned a little more often.

GAHHH !!!

After the aquarium we headed to USJ but first a stop into 7 Eleven.

Universal Studios Japan is set on 140 acres of Osaka's western waterfront.
https://www.usj.co.jp/e/

Admission was 11,690Y/A$125 including the Universal Express Pass Booklet 7.
The express pass booklet claims to shorten the waiting time from the usual 2 hour queue to a 10-15 minute wait for the seven main attractions.

The express pass gave us access to the following:
1) The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - The Ride 4K3D
2) Hollywood Dream - The Ride
3) Backdraft
4) Back to the Future - The Ride
5) Jurassic Park - The Ride
6) Jaws
7) Terminator 2: 3D

Universal Studios Japan is similar to Universal Orlando Resort, containing many of the same rides.
There are eight sections: Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Jurassic Park, Lagoon, Waterworld, Amity Village and Universal Wonderland.

Visitors are able to enjoy many amusement rides, ranging from child-friendly carousels to thrilling roller coasters and simulators, based on popular movies.

Like all amusement theme parks there were opportunities for kids and adults alike to take pictures with popular characters & mascots.

There are also various shows put on every day, including a night parade whereby illuminated floats are paraded through the streets.

The Spiderman 3D/4K motorised simulator ride got my nod of approval

Another motorised simulator ride done .. this one old and crappy.
Next ...

We got wet on the Jurassic Park ride because we sat in the front row of the boat.

Turkey leg ... or was it ham ?

It was time to ride the big rollercoaster !
With a name like "Backdrop" I started to worry a bit.
Then i saw and heard the screams of people who were riding the rollercoaster in the reverse direction.
uh-oh.

Our express pass ticket for this particular ride really paid off.
I think we bypassed like something like 300 people.

It seemed that no one had forked out extra for the express pass tickets today because we had no wait at all !.

There were warnings not to ride this ride if not feeling well, pregnant, prone to motion sickness etc.
Uh-oh ! *panic*

Fortunately, our ride was in the standard front forward facing direction only. MEH !

Yet again, my attention span diminished soon after so we did the noble thing and gave two Japanese teenage girls the remainder of our express pass tickets.

They were ecstatic and extremely greatful. *_-