2009 March Grand Sumo Tournament

A special SUMO season in Osaka is coming soon !!
It's a good chance to watch matches of lower-division wrestlers.
The ring entering ceremony by top-division wrestlers starts 3:30pm.

Date : March 15th - 29th
Time : around 9 am (venue opens 8 am)
Place : Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka
Access : 5 min. walk from subway/JR Namba station
Admission : arena seats D (minimum) 3000JPN

*If you really want to watch it, you should be in a hurry to book a ticket !!
http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/ticket/index.html

FURIMA OKOKU (Big Flea Market)

One of the biggest indoor flea markets in OSAKA !

A huge variety of items are on offer, including brand new clothes, second-hand goods, furniture, lighting, jewellery, books and antiques.
Forget about the cold weather and enjoy finding good stuff and bargaining!!

Place : INTEX OSAKA
Access : New tram Nan-ko Port Town line, Nakahuto station
Time : March 7th & 8th, 10:00-17:00
Admission :500 JPN (advance ticket 400 JPN)

http://www.tv-osaka.co.jp/event/furimaoukoku2009/

Plum blossom in Osaka castle

Hurry! Go to Osaka castle to see plum blossom!

95 species and about 1,250 Japanese plum trees planted there become well known for early flowering from the end of January as usual. They are characteristically made low and wide by trimming, so that visitors can enjoy KANBAI easily without casting their eyes up.

It will be very very crowded with people in Cherry blossom season around the end of March, but it's not so many now and you will have beautiful flowers with peaceful atmosphere.

should go to now "SPA WORLD"!!

What is "SPA WORLD"?

It's an Onsen theme park with full resort facilities, and features natural hot springs from around the world. It's in Shinimamiya, Osaka and it's very easy to get there by JR loop line.
There are two types of Spa floors, "European zone" and "Asian zone".
Do you prefer Asian one? Sorry, you can not choose because they fix the schedule as below.

*European zone : Jan / Mar / May / Jul / Sep / Nov - WOMEN only
Feb / Apr / Jun / Aug / Oct / Dec - MEN only

"ATLANTIS"

*Asian zone : Jan / Mar / May / Jul / Sep / Nov - MEN only

Feb / Apr / Jun / Aug / Oct / Dec - WOMEN only

"渓流 Mountain stream in Japan"

Therefore you can not enjoy with your boy/girl friend in those two floors even if you wear a swim wear .. but it's worth to go even by yourself.
(There is "BADE zone" which you can enjoy with anyone with a swim wear if you really want to be with your lover, but there are only two kinds of baths and open 10:00-22:00)

They also have amusement pools,sport gyms,and a sauna etc.
The admission is 2400 yen for 3 hours, and 2700 yen for all day use.(10:00-24:00 weekday)
BUT!
It's only 1000 YEN for all day use until the 30th of April !!!!
It's because three TV entertainers produced special bath powder for one of TV show in Osaka, and you can try these baths,too.
If you are there between 24:00 - 5:00, need to pay plus 1000 yen for late-night use,but 2000 yen in total is still reasonable. (They open 24 hours)

spa world
http://www.spaworld.co.jp/english/index.html


Why don't you go there after your long walk?