While in Osaka the other month for a gem and mineral show I visited some spots I'd never ventured to before. I usually stick around Dotonburi, the famous river front, but fate took me somewhere else this time. The first spot was a taco shop called Machete Tacos
I knew nothing about this place, just looked for Mexican food on Google maps and it came up. It had 4.5 stars so I felt safe heading over. Honestly, I've never had bad Mexican food in Japan so maybe it wasn't such a big risk.
The decor definitely had a unique vibe going on, with a BBQ out front and a mish mash of interior design. Very typical of smaller, Japanese restaurants.
Mexican beers were available, Tecate & Dos Equis so I sat down and ordered one while I searched the menu.
I started out with a nachos appetizer before the tacos. Simple, but delicious.
For the tacos I ordered spicy chicken and carne asada.
They were pretty damn good. One of the reasons is everything is homemade, from the corn tortillas to the meats. I sat and watched the owner make everything from scratch.
You can really taste his own recipe in each dish.
Everything was so good I decided to try another item, a quesadilla.
This hit the spot, especially when I asked him for the Chipotle Tabasco sauce. Toasted to perfection, it was the end of a delicious night.
Four days later, after the show had finished, I made it over to the second spot, Umeda Sky. Umeda Sky is actually two skyscrapers with the Kuchu Teien Observatory connecting the two on the 39th & 40th floors. Here are pictures to help you better understand my lackluster description.
Looking up.
When entering you go to the 3rd floor, which then takes you on a glass elevator to the 35th floor. From there you take an escalator up to the 39th floor to the entrance. This journey may not be for those with vertigo.
The 39th floor hosts a gift shop, two restaurants and a staircase to the 40th floor.
The 40th floor has this neat portal window and the staircase that leads up and out onto the roof with spectacular views of greater Osaka.
Once outside the real fun begins.
Looking South, Osaka station is on the left.
The east view isn't that great..
The view north east towards Kyoto.
North.
West towards Kobe.
And one more look to the south.
Now, a look at the key hole from above.
The sky deck was a bit of an engineering feat during it's time. A portion of it was raised using hydraulics, rather than assembling it in place like you would a normal building. The architect, Hiroshi Hara, is a famous architect and professor in Japan. One of the concepts he had for it was a ufo taking off into the air. This, as well as more information about the design and building of it are located on the 40th floor, but I am only recalling from memory so forgive me for not having more details.
It's an interesting building that is easily recognizable due to it's design. Located just west of Osaka station in the Umeda district a short 10 minute walk will take you right to it.
The entrance fee to go up to the sky deck is 1500yen or about $10. For me it was well worth the cost just to get to look out at the sprawling metropolis and try to pick out landmarks in Kobe 31 kilometers to the west. I arrived at 9am and there was aleady a line of about 40 people so keep in mind it is a tourist attraction and there is only 1 elevator to go up to the top floors.
I read there is an interesting retro Showa Era tourist town in the basement floors of Umeda Sky too. I completely missed it so now I have a reason to go back next time I'm in town.
I hope you found these two Osaka attractions useful and I would encourage you to visit either if you happen to be in town.
This is my first post to Worldmappin since the change over from Pinmapple and I am looking forward to contributing to the best project on HIVE. Thank you @detlev for carrying the torch.
Thanks for reading!
