Welcome back, friends! I want to share another fun activity I did while on Adventures of Seleana’s trip abroad. The Osaka River cruise was a nice break from all the walking we did over the past couple of days.
Osaka River Cruise with Aqua Liner
The Aqua Liner Riverboat has a glass roof and runs cruises on the Okawa River. It offers views of the areas beautiful greenery (including cherry blossoms when in season), as well as iconic bridges and buildings. The audio guides are in many languages, including English, which was good for me. My Japanese was definitely not on that level yet. Drinks and snacks are also available for purchase, so if you get hungry or thirsty on your (almost) hour long ride, you’re covered.
This info is from my experiences and the website for the Osaka Station Transportation Guide. Credit where credit is due.
Accessibility of the Osaka River Cruise
Parking
The docks we used were walk up only. There were no parking spots nearby.
Bathrooms
There were no bathrooms on the boat, from what I saw, however, there are some public ones nearby. I definitely utilized those. There was a larger stall, so I’d assume it had grab bars.
My Experience on the Osaka River Cruise
The river cruise was an interesting experience and one I would recommend, if you have extra time. Like I said above, it was a nice break from all the walking and you can see all kinds of scenery and sights without having to walk or take a taxi. It reminded me of the riverboat my hiking buddy did on the St. Croix River.
The boat was nice, I loved the fun colors it is painted. It is large, but narrow, as you can see in the picture above. I think it would be large enough for mobility devices, but wheels might be a tight squeeze. I didn’t see an entrance or designated seating for those with wheels and looked into it more when I got home.
The Kansai Guide said that barrier-free access isn’t available, however, the staff will hang on to your wheels and help with your boarding and disembarking. That being said, the seats are large, bench style and do have a handle on the aisle end, which is helpful. You’ll have to assess your specific needs and make the decision that works for you.
Getting there from the castle had the same changes in elevation that the castle grounds had. Granted, it was downhill on the way there, but they were steep. If you missed that one, you can catch up here. The dock is a ramp, however, there are steps going down when you step onto the boat. Be sure to keep that in mind if two stairs isn’t something you navigate well.
I would also caution you from this if motion sickness is a big thing for you. It isn’t for me, but as you know from earlier posts it was a thing. Granted, by the time I got here it was residual, it still made me feel off kilter.
My rating
If I had to throw a rating on this activity, I would say it was easy, but the walk to the dock was hard. The boat has chairs, so we sat the entire time. However, the path to the dock (and the reverse) was difficult, mostly do to the inclines and declines. My friend gave me a power boost here too (❁´◡`❁) so that helped.
If you take other routes or board in other areas, the commute rating could be different.
Unfortunately, Cardybear did not come on the Japan adventures. I wanted to bring him, but he takes up my whole backpack. He was definitely there in spirit though.
Be safe out there and remember your passport! Seeyalaterbye <3
Also, if you feel called to help a sista out with her travels, check this out!
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