Hijab Traveller- Osaka, Japan

ヒジャビトラヴェルー大阪

Osaka is Japan's second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo. It has been the economic powerhouse of the Kansai region. Osaka is nicknamed "Japan's kitchen" and is known amongst the Japanese people as the city of gastronomy. For us, as a muslim, is it safe enough for us to eat everything in "Japan's kitchen"? Or we better to keep off from food we don't really know well about the ingredients, etc. Unfortunately, it might be true because I can say most of the famous foods are contained pork,lard, mirin in the soup usually, or even the animals (beef or chicken) slaughtered without mentioning the Name of Allah upon them. 

But, don't worry! There are so many HALAL restaurant in Osaka. Furthermore Japan now has become more Muslim friendly country. There're so many ways to enjoy Osaka.. Let's check it out....

1. Osaka Castle　大阪城

You probably can find a brief history about Osaka Castle and every single detail about it from wikipedia or other site. So instead of explaining about that,  I'll tak about Osaka Castle just from my perspective  at the first place.

Osaka Castle is very crowded especially in the weekend. Sometimes even it's on weekdays, still there are so many tourists there. Osaka Castle is very easy to reach by train and if you just want to stroll around, take a picture with the big Castle just like what I did, you don't need to pay for anything. You're lucky if you go to Osaka Castle when there is a summer, new year, or any other festival. There will be so many stalls who sell traditional Japanese food, people do some attractions, beautiful fireworks and illumitation in the night, etc. However, once again...it's so much crowded...

The picture below was took around 7 a.m in the morning (Not so much people, right!). In addition, Osaka Castle area is a very big and nice park to do morning jog or excercise.

Osaka Castle is so beautiful (October 2016)

Osaka Castle on the early morning (October 2016)

REVISIT? Yes! Yes! Yes!

2. Tempozan Ferris Wheel 観覧車

The Tempozan Ferris Wheel is the Osaka's largest. It offers far-reaching, panoramic views of the bay area and the city's skyscrapers beyond from a height of 112.5 meters. It takes approximately 15 mins to finish one rotation inside the car. Basically there're 2 types of cars, the first is a transparant glass door car and the other just a normal car. Even though I rode the ferris wheel twice yet I never tried the glass-door once due to its high number of queue (I don't like waiting on the line).

First time going to Tempozan Ferris Wheel in the night (Dec, 2014)

The view of Osaka. 2nd time going to Tempozan Ferris Wheel (Sep, 2016)

REVISIT? Yes! Yes! Yes! I really love to ride the giant ferris wheel

3. Get on Santa Maria Cruise Ship

One of the most exciting trips I took in Osaka is on the Bay Cruise Osaka Santa Maria, which is a replica of the sailing ship in which Columbus discovered.  It is 45 minutes excursion cruise around the bay of Osaka, starting from Tempozan Harbour Village. The pirate style ship houses indoors restaurant and also an exhibition below.

The Cruise Ship

I remember the pirate ship in "One Piece" 

You can also enjoy the beautiful twilight from the top of the cruise ship

REVISIT? Yes! But it's little bit costly for one ride so it's better you have an Osaka's sightseeing One Day Pass Card (it will cost you no charge for both entering inside some designated tourism objects or riding trains/subways around Osaka. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

[To Be Continued]

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Meneladani Imam Syafi'i

Imam Syafi'i berkata, kehebatan seseorang terletak pada 3 perkara:

1. Kemampuan menyembunyikan kemelaratan, sehingga orang lain menyangkamu berkecukupan karena kamu tidak pernah meminta.

2. Kemampuan menyembunyikan amarah, sehingga orang mengiramu merasa ridha.

3. Kemampuan menyembunyikan kesusahan, sehingga orang lain mengiramu merasa senang.

Imam syafi’i adalah salah satu dari empat imam madzhab, nama aslinya adalah Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Idris As Syafi’i.

Lahir di gaza, palestina pada tahun 150 hijriah dan masih memiliki jalur nassab dengan Rasulullah salallahu alaihi wassallam. Ayah imam syafi’i memiliki jalur nassab yang bertemu dengan nassab Rasulullah salallahu alaihi wassallam di ‘Abdu Manaf bin Qushay (kakek ketiga rasulullah) dan ibunya masih merupakan cicit Ali bin Abi Thalib r.a.

Semenjak usia 9 tahun, beliau sudah bisa menghafal (hafidz) al-quran 30 juz. Setahun kemudian beliau menghafal 1.720 hadis karangan imam malik dalam kitab Al Muwatha’.

Imam syafi’i memiliki kecerdasan yang tinggi bahkan ketika beliau masih berumur 15 tahun beliau sudah dipercaya untuk bisa memberikan fatwa di kota mekah.

Semakin banyaknya ilmu yang dimiliki Imam Syafi’i tidak membuat ia lantas sombong. Namun sebaliknya, dia semakin merendah, semakin tawadhu, dan semakin kuat imanya karena semakin mengenal kebesaran Tuhannya.

Prilakunya pun semakin berwibawa, semakin bijaksana, semakin cerdas, dan semakin tawadhu atas dasar sifat inilah imam syafi’i tidak pernah putus untuk menuntut ilmu.

Perkataan-perkataan Imam Syafi’i tidak pernah mengandung kata-kata kebatilan. Melainkan sebaliknya, kata-kata yang keluar tersyirat banyak makna, kewibawaan, kebijaksaan, dan kebaikan untuk umat islam di dunia.

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