Batting Center
Among other things at Kirin Gardens in Amagasaki, (20 seconds walk from the JR
Amagasaki station), is a decent batting center. You get 20 balls for 400 yen. Hours: 11 am - 9pm Monday, Wednesday thru Fridays, closed Tuesdays, 10 am - 9 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.
Ice Skating
Osaka Pool Skate Rink, 06-6571-2010, 9am - 9pm, adults 1400 yen, kids, 800 yen, take the chuo subway to Asashiobashi.
Namihaya Dome, 0720-81-3715, 12.30pm - 5pm, adults 1400 yen, kids 850 yen,
take the Nagahori Tsurumiryokuchi subway to the Kadoma minami station.
Takatsuki- Meiji 02 Plaza, 0726-84-0211, 10am - 5pm, adults 1200 yen, kids 700, take the JR line to
the Setsutomita station, walk towards Route 171. When you see the McDonald's on the left, turn
right. You'll see the skating center on your right.
Kashihara - AguaApia Ice Arena, 0729-79-0777, 10am - 7pm, adults 1900 yen, kids 1600, take the JR train to the Kawachikatachi station
Port Island Sports Center, 078-302-1031, 10am - 8pm, adults 1300 yen, kids 700 yen, take the port liner
to Shiminhiroba
Takarazuka Family Land, 0797-85-6210, 10am - 7pm, adults 2000 yen, kids 1300 yen, take the Hankyu line to
Takarazuka.
Curling/Skating
You know curling, right? The olympic sport where someone slides that rock and those other guys use brooms and sweep a lot. Wanna try?
In Kyoto Shifushiniki, near the JR Rokujizu station, they got a skating rink and a place to try
curling. It's open daily 11.30 am - 9pm, till midnight on Saturdays. They have 2 rinks for figure skating, speed skating,
hockey and curling. Call for details 075-622-5013
Billiards
There are a bunch of places to shoot pool, but my favorite is Balabushka in Shinsaibashi. You buy a drink, pay an extra
100 yen for pool and put your name on the board. Winner stays and plays the next person.
Disco Bowling
Bowling is basically the same everywhere in the world. But disco bowling......you know, black lights,
a spinning disco ball, maybe a DJ, you get the idea. They call it Cosmic bowling in a lot of places. It'd be best to call to confirm
the details.
Osaka Dome - Bowl 123, 06-6586-1656, 9pm - 3am, from 550 yen a game, near the Osaka Dome, take the subway to teh Taisho station.
Bentencho - Bowlings, 06-6572-5557, from 450 yen a game, across the street from the JR Bentencho station.
Kyoto - Kyogeki Dream Bowl, 075-2241-6969, from 500 yen a game, it's near Sanjo Kawaramachi, one street south of Sanjo, not far from
Bar Isn't It Kyoto.
Copyright (c) 1999 - 2000 by
Mark McCracken, All Rights Reserved
