Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Osaka Holiday - To Do (Doguyashuji Shopping Street, Kuromon Market, Shinsekai, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Tempozan Marketplace , Dotonbori, Hozenji Yokocho, Osaka Nipponbashi Denden town, Kyoto Day Trip, Nara Day Trip, Dotonburi Ferris Wheel, Reptile Cafe)

Japan Osaka - To Stay
 Japan Osaka - To Do
 Japan Osaka - To Eat 
Osaka - To Do
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 Day1
 28thMarch2018
Departs 0125 Arrival 0905
Getting to Namba From the KIX Kansai International Airport.
Take the Nankai line (with options of express or normal line) to Namba Station.
It does accept Suica (Their version of EZ Link (SG)/Octopus (HKG) /Oyster Card (LHR)
Total Travel time is about 45mins  vs 37min with not much difference in time over the express but a huge difference in pricing.
One Way regular was 920Yenn Vs Express 1430Yenn
First time staying at AirBnb
Hosted by: Urara(うらら) Haruki(春木) https://www.airbnb.com.sg/rooms/15728138
High Speed Internet with Wifi Hotspot and
Battery Pack provided for. Bring own charging wire!- Portable wifi last almost the whole day and connection also available in Nara and Kyoto
 - 2mins down the road is Life Supermarket which opens till 1am. 
- Huge Fridge with Freezer
- Can do Basic Cooking
- Microwave and Toaster
- Washing Machine Available.
 - Entire Apartment floor to yourself. (Lift opens directly to apartment
- Can Sleep 5pax or more
 $694.56SGD for 6Days5Nights for 2Pax
(Price Varies with more pax and note this is the Sakura Season.)
Location wise its about a 12min (1km) walk from Namba main station. 6min walk from any other subway line and requires either some form of transportation to and fro. Note that this was booked during Sakura Season as well.
The place is well taken care off and having the super market just around the corner makes snacks super market eats and drinks convenient.

There's not much by way of variety of dining option around, but a short 7min walk or so gets you to Nipponbashi (Anime/manga district), Kuromon Market (closes at 6pm) and Shinsekai (Opens at night) for your eats. Dotonburi is about a 17min walk away.
 Doguyasuji shopping street
(Kitchenware Street)

14-5 Nanbasennichimae, Chuo, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0075, JapanSennichimae Doguyasuji Shotengai, also known as "Kitchenware Street," is a short street which we visited and re-visited later whilst en-route to our Air BNB location. Dogyuasuji street is located right outside of Namba's Station's East Exit.

The kitchenware street is about a 150m stretch from North to South featuring all things cutlery related. Their ceramic bowl and especially knife shops were hugely impressive which will warrant another revisit with less luggage.
*Check out the range of polishing blocks they have for their knives*
Their fake food art, though had a large variety, but honestly lacked in quality as seen in Tokyo's Kappabashi-Dori Kitchen Street.
Did you know that the ever popular ceramic cats that the raising Left Hand is for inviting visitors whilst the raising right hand cat is for inviting money. 
 
Kuromon Market
(Kitchen of Osaka)
Eats from morning to about 6pm.
"Kuromon market is a shopping district loved by the locals as the “Kitchen of Osaka,” and has recently become a popular destination for foreign tourists. You can walk around the market and taste a whole variety of ingredients and foods, such as tuna, tempura, sweets and fruits. Some stores will even offer to cut the fresh fish you buy into sashimi for you to eat on the spot." - https://www.tsunagujapan.com/50-things-to-do-in-osaka/
 
 
 
Look, see, eat. Its that simple. Surely there were some shops which were more popular than others but its most likely due to the whole song and dance they put into preparing the food. Its really fun to mingle and see the huge variety of amazing produce Osaka has to offer. Prices of seafood and meats were pretty consistent throughout the stalls with very little variance in pricing. I can't assure the same for quality though.
Tokyo's Tsukiji outer ring markets provides a similar experience though more spread out.
Ordered On
28March2018
A5 Kobe 2500Yenn
*So so only. Don't bother with the 1000Yen one either. Tried it on another day, its just pure fat on a tough piece of meat that's over salted. Skip this stall if coming in from the southern entrance. Don't be pulled in by the large pool of people. Felt cheated actually. One can also buy steak from the various 'butchers' there and they cook table  side for you. *
Super Toro Bowl 1800Yenn
 *Having it the first time*

*This was really good. Beautiful toro/chutoro and otoro in its various fattiness and forms served atop a warm rice bowl. Simple but very effective. Beautiful.
So good we had it twice.*
Super Oyster 900Yenn and Uni 600Yenn

*Thing of beauty. They top up the fresh cut uni for you as well before serving it up.*
BBQ Scallop at 880Yenn

BBQ Cuttlefish Leg 600Yenn
 And other small things which didn't make the photos!
Its a simple food alley to navigate through. With most of the main eats down the middle and a sprinkling of other stall to the sides. A great place for a variety of eats similar to Seoul's Gwangjang Market.
Click here for Kuromon Ichiba Market 14-5 Nanbasennichimae, Chūō-ku, Ōsaka-shi, Ōsaka-fu 542-0075

Shinsekai(Later night eats)
*Shinsekai is an old neighborhood located next to south Osaka City's downtown "Minami" area. The neighbourhood was created in 1912 with New York as a model for its southern half and Paris for its northern half.* - Wiki
Shinsekai is reminiscent of the 1990s/1980s.  A snapshot of this vibrant section which offers eats on all corners. Having a walk through, the alley, we gathered they are primarily known for their sumo hot pot meals and deep fried skewers.
Meat Hot Pot for Two 1300yenn plus/pax
*A truly Sumo meal. A lovely serving of medley of aromatic and flavorful vegetables which develops the soup even further. The meat accompaniments just worked so well today and perfect on a chilly night. It may look daunting, but there's a base to raise everything up.*
x1 Beef Skewer 480 
 *So-so only. Go for the PORK!*
x1 Korubuto Pork 480
*This was AMaaazzzzingggg. A must order. Super juicy, tender and sweet. Wow. Just wow! The beef skewer really not so much. Go for the PORK! Remember, no Double Dipping. You need to use the cabbage to get more sauce.*
1 Draft Beer
Approximately 4000Yenn fed 2.
This small quarter still living in the past, does draw its inspiration from Paris's Eiffel Tower and throws in that old town Japanese flare and charm! A great visual treat and joy to explore.
 
*Cheap sushi at 300Yenn or so for three pieces. Okay but not great. Sushi joint of Giant mascot as seen in video at back alley of Shinsekai.*
 
Take the time out especially to explore the back alleys which are an even greater throw back to past with retro arcades, carnival games and small work man eating joints.

A nice piece of nostalgia, vibrant and interesting place to get some eats.

Day 2
 29thMarch2018
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
 (Cater half a day would be more than sufficient)
Click here for ABBA location of Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
 The Osaka Aquarium's star attraction really are the two beautiful Whale Sharks. 
The aquarium has a very interesting layout in that the feature tank goes right down the middle, and the rest of the exhibits are built around that. Surprisingly the place also features mammals which was a pleasant surprise.
video
Another unique selling point of the exhibits is their depth. Many of the large exhibits extend about 3stories deep, allowing for the happy fish/seals/dolphins space to swim and utilize the space made available to them. Also it allows for a full spectrum perspective to the visitors to enjoy the various species at different depths.
By way of aquarium design, the Osaka Aquarium is not as well dressed as other places, but some exhibit areas like the central tank and jelly fishes were pretty well executed. It also does not have many small tanks and a large variety of fish species, but large enclosures compensates for it.
You might be interested in Tokyo sea life park (with their iconic Tuna tank) or best aquarium layout by far at Monterey Bay Aquarium, California.
Click here for ABBA location of Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Tempozan Marketplace
(You can time travel to Osaka in 1960s located in Mall beside Osaka Aquarium)
 It sounded more interesting (when searching for off the beaten path things to do in Osaka) than it looks. Think Marche with a number of eateries in the alleyways of sorts.Okay but not great. It is however better than eating in the small cafeteria beside Osaka Aquarium.
Ordered On:
29March2018
Sukiyaki
 *Simple and very enjoyable with a size portion just nice for one.*
Grill Pork Cutlet
 *Pretty decent and a nice char on the Grilled pork.*
Fed 2 about 2300Yenn total.
Worth a look if in the shopping mall for shopping, Lego land and a ride on the Ferris wheel, but definitely not to come all the way out here just to explore this place.

 Dotonbori
Dotonobori is predominately the eating mecca of Osaka. Huge attractive bill boards line every nook and cranny trying their best to grab your attention and patronage. By way of shopping, its mostly snacks and cosmetics. 
*Like at Haurjuku in Tokyo, catch a picture of yourself on the big screen!*
 Some shots towards the night
Their are some popular sure hit staples like Gyu Kaku (Beef Yakiniku), Ichiran Ramen, Sushi Zanmai, but there are loads of great eats that need some effort to be found. Click here for Osaka eats. 
Hozenji Yokocho
 (Slice of Old Japan)
While the Dotonbori area of Osaka is especially popular with tourists, the hordes seem to concentrate themselves by the canal near the Glico man advertisement. Located just a few blocks away to the east, the Hozenji Yokocho Alley is a slice of old Japan right in the middle of bustling Osaka. Within this short stretch, you will find a temple, traditional houses as well as plenty of shops and restaurants. The Meotozenzai shop is particularly famous. It is said that eating the zenzai dessert as a couple brings luck. - From web source.
We didn't try the zenzai dessert as red bean wasn't really my thing.

The natural moss covered statues was a slice of tranquility and nature which was incredibly welcomed. Located just parallel to Dotonburi Street.
1 Chome-6-7 Nanba, Chuo, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0076, Japan
Osaka Nipponbashi Denden Town
(For all things anime/toys/pop culture)
 *Original game consoles and their games for sale!!!*
Osaka Nipponbashi Denden town This place is pretty much similar to Tokyo's Akihabara. All things anime/popculture and gaming. A short walk down form Dotonburi and Doguyashi Shopping Street is this haven of collectibles and all things anime. 
 15000 Yen each
 
Day3 
 30thMarch2018

 Universal Studios Japan
 
ABBATip:
- Only Hogwarts (Harry Potter Land) has a timed entry! So when you get in, remember to go get a timed ticket to book a prefered time slot.
- Get the express pass (Limited supply at the ticket booths or online) at a relatively hefty charge in my opinion. Everything there is pretty much a minimum 100min wait. We did not go for this option as prices were about 70% of the basic adult entry ticket price and up. That also depends on the selected rides you'd want to rides available from an al-la-carte picking.
- Opt for Single Rider options which maybe cut the wait time by half or more.
- Save huge people mover shows for later to better maximize your day (Usually the 4D shows a stage productions.) 
 170Min queue lines at Harry Potter Ride! Its insaneeeeee.
USS Japan was alright but not that great. That's probably because of the language barrier. A lot of the stage shows, pre-show warmups and in-show are literally lost in translation. The huge queue times aren't really justified even with the additional cost.

Preference is still for Disney theme parks with their fast past system. With albeit higher entry price, but one gets to experience all the rides with a full day there with minimal wait times. You might be interested in Tokyo Disney Sea.

Day 4 
 31thMarch2018
Trip Out to Kyoto
 Click here for full day trip write up in Kyoto
Kyoto Main Train Station
- An Architectural marvel
Ginkakuji Temple
- World Heritage site.
 Click here for full day trip write up in Kyoto
Philosopher's Walk -
A must and one of the most scenic spots to view Sakura.
 Click here for full day trip write up in Kyoto
Honen-In temple
- Okay but not great.
 Click here for full day trip write up in Kyoto
Maruyama Park
- A great way to end of the evening.
 Click here for full day trip write up in Kyoto
Nishiki Market - Nothing special. Better off to go to Kuromon Market
 Click here for full day trip write up in Kyoto
Click here for full day trip write up in Kyoto
Day 5
01April2018
Day Trip out To Nara from Osaka
Click here for Full Nara Day Trip out Write Up 
*Nara is known for this sort of pickled sushi
 Nakatanidou
*Worth for the 2min Mochi famous mochi making show*
Nara Deer park
 *Deer feeding, Sakura beauty, what's not to love*
 *Deer running together*
*Man does he love his deer*
Todaiji  
 *Well worth the 600Yen entry fee. A piece of construction beauty.*

Harushika Sake Brewery
*Sake Tasting and appreciation for 500Yen. Why not?*
 
Return to Osaka for
Dotonburi Ferris Wheel

This Iconic Ferris wheel of Osaka has been closed for over 9years and is reopened as of 19thJan2018. 
Dotonburi Ferris Wheel, 7-13 Souemonchō, Chūō-ku, Ōsaka-shi, Ōsaka-fu 542-0084, Japan
Ride charges are 600yen for a 15min ride on this iconic Ferris Wheel.
 *You can see Nipponbashi(Anime/manga district) and Shinsekai towers in the distance*

Day 6
02April2018
Departure 2330hrs Return 03April
 Return day. Eat, Shop and Reptile Cafe
 Hands Free (10am-8pm)
Due to early checkout, there are several options available for safe luggage storage all over. The train station have sized lockers, kuromon marlet has a tourist centre (Last collection by 6pm). We left our luggage with Namba hands free center lvl4 at a nominal fee of ¥500 regardless of luggage size. (Last collection by 8pm). Charges of baggage storage are around that range or dependent on size.
Rockstar reptile cafe
We spent 2.5hrs there. There's no time limit on how long you can stay after entry.
¥1000 cover to get in and you must order something from the menu. Drinks we ordered were ¥800 each.
*Coconut juice and Matcha shake something. Nothing to scream about.*
The charge for eats and drinks really are cursory for the interaction with loads and loads of reptiles, a pair of owls and even arachnids.

The reptiles here are very well cared for and they rotate the animals so they don’t get harassed daily.
*Note that some of the reptiles are free ranging and go where ever they please and most of them are very interactive.*
Just ask any attentive staff member if an animal/arachnid/owl strikes your interest and they will let you know if its the animal’s off day or not. There doesn’t seem to be a time limit on handling the animals.

Staff are incredibly attentive to collecting and exchanging reptiles you have on hand. Feel free to take as many pictures as you want.
Rockstar cafe is a chain, but this is one of the rare ones featuring reptiles. For a unique experience, give rock star reptile cafe a try. Bonus is you get to play with owls as well so its kinda two birds with one stone. Its definitely more interactive than a zoo any time and well worth the time to see the animals up-close and their personalities.
 Reptiles Cafe Rock Star Japan, 〒556-0011 Ōsaka-fu, Ōsaka-shi, Naniwa-ku, Nanbanaka, 2 Chome−7−7, ナンバＦＫビル
6D5N Osaka
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