[Speed Challenge] Osaka 4-Hour Lightning Tour Guide

⚠️ Original plans disrupted? Rainy day backup plans can still be exciting!
Due to heavy rain shortening the itinerary, but each selected spot has its highlights. Follow this plan and you’re good to go!

🚇 Efficient route:
Tsutenkaku → Yasaka Shrine → Dotonbori → Ebisu Bridge
(+ Umeda Sky Building the night before)

⏰ Time management master plan:
12:00 Tsutenkaku → 13:00 Yasaka Shrine → 14:00 Dotonbori → 15:00 Ebisu Bridge → 16:00 Head to the airport

📍 Highlights of each spot:
1️⃣ Tsutenkaku
✔️ Highlight: Shinsekai shopping street’s extravagant signboards
✔️ Pro tip: Must take a photo with the "Kuidaore Taro" doll in front of the tower
✖️ Note: Observation deck requires separate ticket (900 yen for adults)

2️⃣ Yasaka Shrine
✔️ Viral reason: 3-meter tall "Yakuyoke Lion Hall" with open mouth to absorb bad luck
✔️ Photo tip: Stand directly in front of the lion using a wide-angle lens
✖️ Reality: The main hall is quite ordinary, 15 minutes is enough

3️⃣ Ebisu Bridge
✔️ Classic trio:
① Glico Running Man billboard (6th generation)
② Dotonbori river cruise
③ Don Quijote Ferris wheel
✔️ Hidden photo spot: Stair-step railing on the south side of the bridge

4️⃣ Umeda Sky Building (night before)
✔️ Advantages:
・Sky escalator "Floating Garden Observatory" night view is beautiful
・40th-floor starry sky observatory free ticket included
✖️ Drawbacks:
・Steel frame seriously blocks the view
・Restaurant service lacks international standards

💡 Hard-earned advice:
・Takeaway kushikatsu shops around Tsutenkaku let you eat while walking
・Avoid shooting Ebisu Bridge at noon to prevent backlight
・Better to swap Umeda Sky Building for "Abeno Harukas 300" observatory
・Allow 2.5 hours at Kansai Airport (security checks often have long lines)

📸 Must-shoot list:
① Shinsekai street + Tsutenkaku panorama
② Creative shot of Lion Hall swallowing bad luck
③ Ebisu Bridge with Running Man billboard
④ Dotonbori neon street scene

🚫 Osaka vs Tokyo shopping truth:
・Daimaru department store has a high tax refund threshold (minimum 5,000 yen)
・Luxury goods discounts are indeed not as good as Isetan
・Recommend switching to "Hankyu Umeda Main Store" for better shopping