If like me, you arrive into Osaka via the port the first thing to officially greet you (other than dozens of waving school children and a brass band) is the aquarium, more specifically the aquarium's whale shark.
Having just been to the amazing Taipei zoo three days earlier l tried to resist the pull in case I got animal overload, but who was I kidding? Perhaps I was a mermaid in another life because the lure of jelly fish and penguins is just too strong. There's no way l can fight it. I just love aquariums and if, in the very distant future, l ever settle down permanently the first thing l would buy for the house would be a fish tank (who needs a washing machine?) and perhaps this adorable anglerfish lamp to go with it.
Seeing any pretty fish in an aquarium will generally make me happy but Osaka aquarium is in a league of its own. The whole building is helter-skeltered around one giant tank (home of the world's largest fish and his hammerhead and ray friends) with lots of smaller exhibits surrounding it, including my favourite cuddly waddle birds, penguins. These two were posing for pictures so it was only right for me to take a selfie with them.
There are also dolphins, California sea lions and massive spider crabs. Beware, they are the stuff of nightmares.
The star of the show is obviously the whale shark. He is one enormous fishy. Whenever he swims past, you feel so ridiculously & insignificantly small. If I ever get the opportunity to swim with them I might just drown with sheer overwhelming awe.
The adorable manta rays that share his tank melt my heart every time I see their smiley faces.There's even a touch pool to stroke them (slimy) and the tiny leopard sharks (gravelly). As an added bonus there's a random land mammal section right at the end, complete with raucous otters and this beauty of a sloth.
If you're ever in the Tempozan area of Osaka don't skip the aquarium. It's huge, the animals are well cared for and there are so many different species. I promise you won’t regret it!
So does anyone else feel the irresistble siren pull to the aquarium? Just me then...