Discover Osaka: Random Eats at Namba + Itinerary

Day 7

January 3, 2013

Namba (Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade, Amerikamura and Den Den Town)
Osaka, Japan


Finally, I am down to the last installment of my Japan vacation entry. Thank you for being patient with me.

On our last full day in Osaka, we spent it in one of Osaka's major city center, Minami (Namba). It is the city's most famous entertainment district with numerous shopping and dining choices. 

waffle characters at Namba District

We went around Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade, Amerikamura and Den Den Town. It was fun taking photos of Japanese pop culture and also trying out most of the food stalls that we passed by ; p

Warning photo overload after the break...

Discover Osaka: Umeda Sky Building (The Floating Garden Observatory)

Day 6

January 2, 2013

The Floating Garden Obsevatory
Umeda Sky Building
1-1-88 Oyodonaka,
Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan

Admission fee: JPY 700 (PhP 350)

Transportation: 8 minutes walk from JR Osaka Station, Subway Umeda Station and Hankyu Umeda Station

After visiting Osaka Castle in the morning and eating at Nipponichi late in the afternoon, we took the subway to Umeda Sky Building where the Floating Garden Observatory is located on the 39th floor. Umeda Sky Building is 173 meters high. It is "a pair of skyscraper connected in midair".  The Floating Garden Observatory is where visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Osaka.

inside Umeda Sky Building

Facts about Umeda Sky Building:

• 12th tallest building in Osaka, Japan
• The building was designed by Hiroshi Hara
• It was constructed by Takenaka Corporation and was completed in 1993

More photos right after the break...

Discover Osaka: Nipponichi A Revolving Sushi Restaurant

Day 6

January 2, 2013

Nipponichi
Osaka, Japan

Finally on Day 6, DH and I were able to dine sushi-style! We had a really late lunch *think 4:30 pm* at Nipponichi - a revolving sushi restaurant. I love the concept when it was introduced here in the Philippines a few years back. I told DH that we should try it in Japan.

Fried Prawn Roll (green with gold plate) JPY 263 PhP (131.50)

Since I only eat a select few raw food like Mackerel, this Fried Prawn Roll filled my hungry tummy. There are other selections right after the break...

Discover Osaka: Namba District

Day 5

January 1, 2013

Namba District
Osaka, Japan

After breakfast at Shinonomesu ryokan, we packed our bag and traveled back by train to our hotel in Shin-Osaka. Our plan is to spend the rest of the afternoon in Rinku Premium Outlets.

boarding the subway train for the first time

To get to Rinku town, we had to passed by Namba, regarded as the center of the so-called Minami (South) area of Osaka. It is most famous for Glico Man and of course, the Kani Doraku Crab. Both of which are located in Dotonbori canal.

More on Namba after the break...

Shin-Osaka Station: Juicer Bar & Gourmet Street (Ajino Kouji)

Day 2

December 29, 2012

Shin-Osaka Station

After touring Kyoto, we boarded the train (JR Kyoto Line for Osaka/Sannomiya) back to Shin-Osaka Station. It's a 30-minute train ride. It was already 8pm when we finally reached our destination and we were hungry. Right after we exit, we discovered that there is an underground street full of restaurants. It is aptly called Gourmet Street.

Gindara Bento Meal JPY 1,360

After scouring through the restaurants one by one, we went back to a restaurant that we found at the back. It does not have an English name so I will just post a photo of the restaurant after the break.

Unboxing: Canon EOS M + Price

January 3, 2013

Day 7

Yodobashi-Umeda
Umeda Station
Osaka, Japan

I'm so excited I could not wait until Day 7 (the day I bought my camera ; p) to share with you my newest baby, Canon EOS M.

 Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS M JPY 10,800 (PhP 5,400)

Mount Adapter EF-EOS M feature:

• Allow Canon EF and EF-S lenses to be mounted on the Canon EOS M digital camera
• Fully compatible with all lens functions including image stabilization and auto-focus
• Detachable tripos adapter provides support for longer Canon lenses

To view what's inside the box of Canon EOS M, read after the break...

Kyo-Chabana & Our First Night in Osaka

December 28, 2012

Day 1

Kyo-Chabana
2nd floor Shin-Osaka Station
Osaka, Japan
06-6152-8751

Hello peeps! I just got back yesterday from my vacation in Osaka, Japan. I was tired from all the walking we did in and around Osaka but we had fun during our 8-day stay.

 Kyo-Chabana facade

We arrived at around seven in the evening. From the airport, we bought 2 Kansai Wide Area Passes then rode Kansai-airport Express Haruka to Shin-Osaka station. After checking in Remm Shin-Osaka, the only decent restaurant that was still open at 10:30 in the evening (last order) aside from McDonald's was Kyo-Chabana. Little did we know that Kyo-Chabana is famous in Kyoto and Osaka for its okonomiyaki. The restaurant is located one floor down from where we stayed.

Find out what we ordered after the break...

Remm Shin-Osaka Hotel Review

December 28, 2012 to January 4, 2013

Remm Shin-Osaka 
1-1-1 Miyahara, Yodogawa-ku,
Osaka
+81-6-6398-4123
+81-6-7668-0606

Room Type: Non-Smoking Room Single
Rate Per Night: JPY 7,000 (PhP3,500)
                          *JPY 9,200 (PhP 4,600)

*December 32, 2012 and January 1, 2013

Rate includes service charge and tax

Remm Shin-Osaka is the most convenient hotel that we have ever booked. It's location is right smack in the middle of a bustling train (JR Shin-Osaka) and subway station (Shin-Osaka) in Osaka. Even though this is also the smallest room that DH has booked so far, I can't complain because we are on a tight budget. Yes, our room is even smaller than the hotel rooms we have booked in Hong Kong. I would rather spend money on sight-seeing tours and shopping than spend it on accommodation ; p Of course, that's just me!

 bedroom with glass bathroom wall partition

The room is so tiny. There is no space in between the bathroom wall and the bed ; p  The wall is not even a wall per se, it is a glass partition. Anyway, don't fret! You can always pull down the two blinds inside the bathroom for privacy.

Just to give you an idea on how small this room is, I was standing near the door when the photo above was taken. There was really no place else for our luggage. The good thing is, the guest rooms have most of the amenities that a 5 star hotel provide.

To view more photos of Remm Shin-Osaka, read after the break...