Last of the series! Won't be posting the Taiwan part of our Grad Trip!
Osaka 4 Days 3 Nights! Enjoy!
Day 1 : 15 December 2014 (Kyoto - Osaka)
Shin-Osaka! Before transfer train to Namba
Cute shop in Namba station
Up the Station.
We stayed in an apartment in Namba (booked through airbnb). The owner gave us the password to our apartment in advanced so that it would be less of a hassle when we reached.
Our Kitchen
Our room
There are two rooms, one bathroom, one toilet and a kitchen in our apartment,
Drawing lots to see who sleeps where
Japanese snacks! The peanut mochi cubes are SO GOOD.
Left the apartment after settling down.
CHEAPEST VENDING MACHINE WE'VE SEEN IN JAPAN.
And of course, piping hot milk tea as heat packs
Sennichimae
Hello INDONESIA! *Indo pride*
Sennichimae is a 20 minutes walk from our apartment and the famous Dotonburi is located in the southeast of Sennichimae.
Dotonburi
Down Dotonburi
You can find Japanese Kit Kats here! They don't have all the flavours but they do have tax refund if you spend over 8000yen (they have Kobe pudding, Hojicha, Uji Matcha Kit Kats!).
The well-known Osaka Ohsho
Takoyaki from the stall with the Giant Octopus as it's sign board. Good but a little watery.
Canal down Dotonburi
The iconic Glico man!
The place around here is basically a shopping district. There are two H&Ms within walking distance and many other famous shopping brands and high-end brands. Spent a few hours here to shop!
Glico Man at night
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Shinsaibashi-suji
Shinsaibashi-suji is a NEVER ENDING shopping district! Might take around 3 hours to fully explore the whole street.
DAISO IS A MUST GO HERE. The items in Daiso costs only 100yen each (105 yen plus tax), converting to only S$1.2! The Daiso here is around 3 - 4 storeys high and sells many interesting items you won't find in Singapore and Indonesia!
Revolving Sushi at Dotonburi for dinner!
My top three picks below!
Beef sushi! Never had this before but it's satisfyingly tender!
Explored the vast area of Dotonburi, Shinsaibashi and Sennichimae, and went home pretty late.
Day 2 : 16 December 2014 (Osaka Castle, Mido-suji illumination)
551 Horai Bun for breakfast! This one is popular in Osaka!
Any food piping hot is basically the best during winter
Off to Osaka Jio area
Entrance ticket is 600 yen
Exhibition Floor (Total of 8 floors)
This place is worth coming by! Although it might be a little boring for some people who doesn't like history, but I myself find it fascinating. Yes, not all the floors are worth exploring in my opinion, but I spent most time at the exhibition floor which exhibited armours. Read through every little detail on the history behind each weapon, shield and armour, describing the cause of damage on every metal pieces!
Left the place after 2 hours
Pokemon Center beside Osaka station!
Famous Gozasoro
赤あん(赤 means Red, for Red bean filling)
白あん(白 means white, for White bean filling)
Personally, I like the White bean filling while RY likes the Red bean filling better. However, I find the pancakes too sweet. I scooped out most of the filling and threw it away because the sweetness was overwhelming. Jacqueline ADORES the pancakes!
Mc' Donalds! Tried the Ebi Fillet-O only found in Japan
Went to the Tenjimbashi-suji Shopping Street near the Kita/North Area, and walked around Hankyu department store.
Hankyu Department store (阪急百貨店)
There was this atrium where we could sit and enjoy the soothing music and sparkly chandeliers. We left after a while to the mall opposite to the Hankyu Department Store - Hep Five Shopping Mall
Ferris Wheel ride at the top most floor of Hep Five (Entrance fee 500 yen).
Up the Ferris Wheel!
Umeda view
Tried Okonomiyaki at the store called Tengu Nishiumeda for dinner! This place is quite hard to find. One landmark near it is the "Breeze breeze" mall.
"DIY" Okonomiyaki. Add sauce, bonito flakes and Mayo to own liking.
The taste is not bad, but I heard there are other better Okonomiyaki stores in Osaka. You can read online reviews of it here (translate the page to English).
Walked to the city hall area after dinner.
Osaka Hikari renaissance
Light festival in Black and White
Day 3: 17 December 2014 (Shinesekai, Namba, Shinsaibashi)
Walked to Shinsekai (新世界) in Tennoji area early in the morning.
Tsutenkaku Tower
Shinsekai
Okonomiyaki
Kushikatsu
Dipping Sauce
Only 100 yen per stick! RY ordered 9! :O
Mine noms
We splitted into few groups again after our kushikatsu (I was with RY and Jacq). Saw snow on our way back to Namba area!!! Actually more like sleet because it melted once it touched the ground.
Jacq was extremely determined to eat her Gozasoro one last time before we left. She bought 6. And also, we got lost for an hour finding the store because google map was failing us.
One more round
The queue though!
Ate "revolving" sushi once more for lunch and explored Shinsaibashi one more time. Met up with the others for our last dinner in Japan before heading to Taiwan!
Cream puff from Shinsaibashi!
Tried "vending machine" food for our dinner
We ordered and paid through the vending machine, and have our meal prepared and served inside the stall.
Something like this
Day 4 : 18 December 2014 (Osaka - Taipei)
My hands were very dry and had frost bites on them by the end of the Japan trip. So remember to bring your lotion along when going during winter! Heat packs are saving grace as well!
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Osaka Airport. SNOW!!!
And with that, I end the last of my Grad trip to Japan series here! :) Hope you enjoyed it!
I have plan to enjoy the cherry blossom tours. But my friend told me that Osaka city is the best to enjoy the Cherry Blossom city. i am keen to visit this city next time.
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