Osaka, Kyoto trip 2015

Konnichiwa from Osaka.....

After spending 5 days in Tokyo, we boarded the early Shinkansen (bullet train) from Shinagawa station to Shin-Osaka station. It took nearly 3 hours from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka. Before we realized, we have already passed Kyoto and next was Shin Osaka. Upon arriving at Shin Osaka station, we changed to another subway line to our accommodation- Hotel Consort which is a door step away from Nishinakajimaminamigata station.OMG...the station name is so bloody long but it's easy to recognize if you board the main line in Osaka subway. 

We ventured to Namba station which is around 5 stops from our station. Namba is one of the most popular icon in Osaka with the crab restaurant serving delicious crab lunches or dinners but it's expensive. Osaka is famous for its cuttlefish balls (takoyaki) and okonomiyaki (Jap pancake). It everywhere you see on the streets selling them. If one is brave enough you can try the puffer fish (fugu) but eat at your own risk since it's dangerous. 

The Don Quijote building featuring its mascot Penguin has everything under one roof. It sells lots of food and sweets such as Kit Kat with various flavours, everything in green tea (matcha), Hello Kitty stuffs, costumes, electronics, toys, cosmetics, travel items and souvenirs. Pocky chocolate coated sticks manufactured under Glico is one junk food you will be tempted to buy. We were basically stuffing ourselves with food and snacks along the way at Shinsabashi Shopping Street (covered) from sun and rain. Good, eh? Love the shopping streets concept in Japan. You can find anything in this country. We were amazed to see the barber shops which was shiny, sparkly with the hair cutters dresses so professionally.

One thing, we loved the coupon vending machine that will dispense out the ticket when you buy food. Nobody touches the money so it's pretty convenient to use the vending machine.

From Osaka, one could easily reserve Shinkansen tickets for day trips to Kyoto. Kyoto is filled with historical castles, temples and UNESCO shrines. We were fascinated with the traditional houses and architecture in Kyoto. Though it was my 3rd time, I never get bored with Kyoto. 

We visited the famous Kiyomizudera Temple by boarding the 101 bus from JR Kyoto station. Kyoto is also famous with locals and tourists renting to wear the traditional outfit- Kimono. I reserved at one of the shops and went in for the earliest session 9.00am. It took a while for the Obasan to dress me up in the Kimono and had my hair styled up too. All for JPY50,000. You can rent the Kimono for the entire day and must return by 6.30pm. It was not that difficult to wear the geta sandals and walk to the temple in a Kimono though there were many layers underneath. 

Next stop was Fushimi Inari featuring thousands of orange torii gates donated by rich businessmen and people asking for blessings. Inari station is one you need to get off from JR Kyoto station. Fushimi Inari has been a shooting location for the movie Memoirs of Geisha. We spend a few hours climbing up the steps and seeing tons of huge torii gates. Love it! Don't worry there are plenty of shops again selling food and souvenirs to buy!

Another thing to take notice is one would see tons of manga or cartoon figures in Japan. The country has almost everything sketched in cartoon cute looking characters. I was so into the Miyazaki's creations- Totoro! Hayao Miyazaki is the creator for the famous anime movies Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo. 

 

The Pagodas in Japan are important structures in the temple- it represents past, present and future.