OSAKA -- About 40 people gathered at an outdoor cafe over the Tosabori River early Saturday to watch the sunrise at a seasonal event called Goraiko Cafe 2020. As the sun rose, the water in that section of the river in Osaka shone like gold.
These sunrise events started in 2006 to promote the beauty of Osaka's waterfronts. They take place at a time of year when the sun rises almost due east of the city. The venue is at the Yodoyabashi Pier for Osaka Suijo Bus cruise boats.
On Saturday, the sky was still somewhat cloudy from an early morning rain shortly before 6 a.m., but when the sun peeked through, the event participants shouted for joy: "Wow, beautiful," and "Wonderful."
Beniko Ishihama, 56, a writer who is a regular to these events, said, "Osaka is open to the sea in the west, so the sunsets are beautiful, but I noticed there are also some beautiful scenes in the mornings."
The next Goraiko Cafe events will take from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 1 to 7. Participants are limited to 41 groups on a first-come, first-served basis, and they need only to pay ￥500 each for drinks. If it's rainy on the day, the event will be canceled.
Naoki Iwata, 55, the head of a committee that plans and manages the events, said, "I want people to enjoy this scenery, which people can only see on certain days of the year."
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