Written by Elizabeth Grieve (Lewis & Clark College), Student Correspondent for CET Japan, Fall 2023
On the way to the orientation week dinner, a view of the station, as well as the building in which the restaurant was located right image). It was my first time seeing the impressive sight of Umeda. Here are CET students and their OGU housemates, milling about Osaka Station after the orientation week dinner. The night was still hot and humid, but the view from the upscale station in Umeda was beautifully impressive, to say the least.
My housemates and I were given the Osaka Amazing Pass for one day by the CET program, which gives unlimited bus and train rides, discounts, and free admission to more than 40 sightseeing spots in Osaka. This allowed us to see as many sights in a day as possible and complete a specific list of challenges around the city made for us by CET.
We weren’t expected to complete all the challenges, but me and my OGU housemate (Kamome) completed one of them by taking a picture with one of the many Expo 2025 posters around the city!
For a day of sightseeing, our apartment floor’s OGU housemates took us to the market areas around Tsutenkaku Tower (left image). It was full of great shopping and food, lots of people, and an energetic atmosphere. Unfortunately, the wait time was too long to actually go up to the observation deck, but seeing it up close was a treat.
Our apartment floor’s OGU housemates also took us to Dotonbori, the most iconic location in all of Osaka (right image). It was super busy, and I took pictures alongside many other people of the famous Glico sign, an advertisement depicting a running athlete.
My housemates, Kamome and Charlotte, riding the red Hep Five Ferris Wheel that helps to color Osaka’s skyline. I thought being up so high was a bit scary, but these two weren’t scared at all. I was a bit terrified to get on the 75-meter diameter wheel.
A fake scene of the destruction that follows an earthquake at the Osaka City Abeno Life Safety Learning Center. This room was so detailed and realistic that I was reminded of Disneyland-level theming and set building while learning about natural disaster preparedness. CET students learned to use fire hydrants at the Osaka City Abeno Life Safety Learning Center (right image). The fire hydrants aren’t real but are used in a simulator game that represents putting out a fire with one.