【Osaka Duck Tour】 Enjoying Water Metropolis Osaka · Osaka sightseeing tour with amphibious tour bus

This year, I left Osaka which I used to living for many years, moved to Okinawa, but recently I feel a bit homesick. So, the other day, I went to Osaka to meet my old friend and charge my energy.

I wanted to enjoy Osaka sightseeing to the full this time, and on the last day I had the vacant time until the flight and tried to get on the “amphibious tour bus” that I had heard about when I was in Osaka .

Under the guidance of the attendant with the Kansai dialect full of energy, I enjoyed the scenery with cherry blossoms and the sightseeing of the cityscape of Osaka from land and water.

1.Osaka raised in the water corridor

Osaka which flourished as “the capital of water” in the Meiji Period is a rare city surrounded by rivers on every side. The proportion of the area occupied by rivers in the Osaka city area is about 10%, which means that it is a city blessed with water even compared with 5% in Tokyo and 3% in Hiroshima. Besides, Osaka is the city which has been lived with water, and has festivals and traditional events are held on board.

At one time, the quality of water declined dramatically but it improved with various countermeasures, and now it has been reborn to allow various living things to live.

The water corridor of Osaka where various efforts and events are held to make use of this corridor of water to lead to renovation and revitalization of Osaka, is an attractive place now.

2.River station “Hachikenya”

There are several corridor areas in Osaka, such as the Nakanoshima area and the Dotonbori area, but this time, I boarded the ship of “Amphibious Tourism Bus / Osaka Duck Tour” departing from “River Station Hachikenya” in the Temmabashi / Osaka Castle Area.

This Area has grown as a gateway to the river in Osaka from long time ago, it was said that it was called the” Hachi-ken-Ya-hama” because there were eight shipping wholesalers. This “river station Hachikenya” opened in 2009 and was the first river station in Kansai area.

This area is also famous for the wonderful views of the cherry blossoms along the river. Especially during the cherry blossom season, a lot of people visit.

3.I gathered at River station “Hachikenya”

I took the subway Temmabashi station and walked about 5 minutes west along the Okawa (former Yodo River), there is a meeting place “River station Hachikenya”. There were 5 Osaka Duck Tours services per day.
Although I participated in the 9:15 morning flight, when I started accepting the reception 30 minutes before departure, a large number of people gathered despite the early morning time.

4.The departure of duck tour

When we finish the acceptance, we all got to the upper floor. There is a big and tall bus outside. This bus has a height of 3.7 m, a length of 12 m, a weight of 10 t, and a screw is mounted behind the car body.

The capacity of the bus is 40 people, and like ordinary buses, there are two seats on the left and right. It seems to be a free seat if the number of participants is small, but seats are allocated in advance by many participants this time, luckily, I sat a window seat.

They have a nice service to take a commemorative photo before getting in, and as soon as we get on the bus, the journey of 30 minutes On the ground and 60 minutes on the water, started.

Because it is a “bus” on land, it goes on the road. The colorful bus runs beside the  walk of people on the weekday’s commute.

There is only one amphibious bus in Osaka, people walking in the city curiously watching this bus and waving their hands. A strange feeling that we are “watched” on the contrary though we came to see sightseeing.

First of all, I went through the city of Osaka and sightsee from the car window, but one of the real pleasures of this tour is the female attendant with the Kansai dialect. She guided the city of Osaka with the microphone, but the talk is wonderful. She told us various deep and rare information about Osaka such as the origin of the name for Midosuji and the joke of Glyco Caramel.

5.Please take measures against cold (as well as hot weather in summer )

This tour of this sightseeing on amphibious bus is held throughout the year, but the recommended season are spring and autumn. However, in the early April 2017 when I participated in, the lowest temperature was 5 degrees and the maximum temperature was 16 degrees. It was very cold compared to the normal year! Although I got dressed, this bus had no windows and received the wind directly, so it was colder than I expected.

There is a roof on the bus, but it looks like a foggy glass, so if summer sunshine glows …. The guide said that summer is the most tough season.

6.We “Splashed in” finally!

We drove around and reached Sakuranomiya Park. There is a big slope in one corner of the park and it connects with the river. Now we can enjoy the splashing into the Okawa river here. Everyone had the camera and waits for that time.

Along with the voice of the attendant, the bus raised a big splash and got into the water. From here it would be a cruise of the ship.

We could have enjoyed the scenery of cherry blossoms in full bloom if the temperature had been high enough. But this year it was still cold and it was a bit disappointing that they had no bloomed yet.  It would be a really wonderful scenery if both sides had been filled with cherry blossoms.

This is a mint where the “cherry blossoms pass through” is held every year. 2017 is scheduled to be held from 11th to 17th April. The flowering situation of cherry blossoms as still a little bit way off. This cherry blossom walk through is beautiful in the daytime, but the lighted up scenery is also very nice, so please go and enjoy.

A lot of sightseeing boats was going around on Okawa river, and the passengers on different ships waved their hands and we enjoyed a wonderful boat trip.

I saw Osaka Castle between the buildings, watched the underside of the bridge which I always used. I was impressed by seeing the bus that we are riding in the mirror reflected in it, was excited at every single usual sight. I thought once again that Osaka I love has still a lot of nice charms.

I enjoy the scenery on the water enough. And it went up to the land. It crossed the river that I had just visited by a bridge and went back to the road station Hachikenya and our tour ended. Thank you for the guide.

At the booth next to the reception of the Duck tour seems to be hosting a tour that allows you to walk the Osaka river with SUP (Stand Up Paddle Boat) under the auspices of the Japan City SUP Association. If you have the opportunity, please join this tour as well.

7.Summery

Osaka Duck Tour has a flight in the early morning, so it is nice to be able to participate using the spare time until the flight on the last day of sightseeing.
After sightseeing Osaka and looking at the city of Osaka from the water, you can find a different scenery and enjoy it. It is also recommended for people coming by sightseeing, as well as those living in Kansai. You may discover the different Osaka from usual by enjoying sightseeing from the river.

8.Details

Osaka Duck Tour

Collection · Reception place:
Kitahama-Higashi 1-2, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka-fu, (basement 1st floor)

Reservation · Inquiries:
06-6941-0008 (Osaka Duck Tour / 9: 30 ~ 18: 00)

Price:
March 20 – November 30 · · Adult 3,700 yen, Elementary school student 2,300 yen, Infant (under 2 years old) 600 yen
December 1 – March 19 · ·Adult 3,400 yen, Elementary school student 2,200 yen, Infants (under 2 years old) 500 yen

Departure time:
March 20 – November 30 · · ① 9: 15 ② 11: 15 ③ 13: 15 ④ 15: 15 ⑤ 17: 15
December 1 – March 19 · · ① 10: 00 ② 11: 45 ③ 13: 30 ④ 15: 15

※ Let’s finish reception 15 minutes before departure time

Facility Equipment: Washing room and vending machine

9.Access

River Station Hachikenya

【Train】 About 5 minutes on foot from Tenmabashi Subway Tanimachi Line
About 2 minutes on foot from the Keihan Train “Keihan Tenmabashi Station”
【Car】 About 5 minutes from Hanshin Express Loop “Honmachi” Exit
Car parking: None (please use a nearby toll parking lot)