The canal ride in the Dotonbori area of Osaka in Japan is an experience of a lifetime.
I had previously taken joy boat rides in lakes, the open sea, and rivers but this one is a canal boat ride in the middle of a bustling metro.
The canal is lined on both sides with high-rise buildings all adorned with a bewildering number of colorful advertisements and graffiti.
The ticket is available right under the tall Ferris Wheel which can be spotted from any place in the Dotonbori canal area since it is the tallest structure around with an eye-catching yellow color.
The ticket is a steep 1200 Yen or 9 dollars for a 20-minute ride but every moment aboard the boat provides a lifetime memory.
The tour guide was a young person with a great sense of humor.
He made every effort to explain the rules and also provided information about the various bridges on the way.
As many as 18 bridges cross the canal and each one provides a unique experience and thrill as the boat passes underneath.
Here’s the mood above the bridge with people moving around aimlessly and lazily enjoying the casual vibes of the place.
The jolly good tour guide and also the people aboard the boat would wave at the people enjoying the river walk calling ‘Konnichiwa’ - meaning ‘Hello’, ‘Good day’, or ‘Good afternoon’ in Japanese.
Several buildings display interesting graffiti making the boat ride livelier.
Every bridge over the canal has a distinct shape, size, texture, and a bit of history attached to it.
For example, the Tazaemon bridge is round on the bottom and covered with synthetic tiles from all sides.
Several residential buildings and hotels are seen along the canal banks that are vividly painted providing a visual treat as the boat sails smoothly and gaily over the cool canal waters.
This is the Aiaubashi bridge on the canal ride and it is made of stone and concrete.
Finally, here’s the last bridge on the ride called the Nipponbashi bridge which is made with steel trusses and structural members.
The Dotonbori canal boat ride experience is heavenly and the variety of bridges, the cool waters, the richly decorated buildings on the canal banks, and the pleasant aqua-green water made the boat ride a memorable event for a long time to remember.
Accessibility
The entire Dotonbori Riverwalk is accessible by lavish ramps making it easy for the differently abled to enjoy the boat ride.
