Japan in Autumn - Osaka

We arrived in Osaka around lunch time and with only half a day, we focused on two areas unique to Osaka - Shinsekai and Dotonbori with their bustling, quirky atmosphere.  Shinsekai (New World), a vibrant, retro entertainment district,was a blaring blur of colours for the senses even during the day, I can well imagine what it would be like at night.   

I was in Dotonbori last year but in the day time so reserved this revisit for the evening to catch the neon.  As expected, it was dazzling at night, vibrant with sounds and sights both on the streets and along the canal.   It was an immersive experience hard to reproduce on paper but take a look at the images and use your imagination.  

We had dinner at the Douraku restaurant known for the big crab at its front.  I had expected it to be loud and touristy, but it was a nice surprise that it turned out to be low key with many locals at the tables.  The set menus included crab sashimi but also crab cooked in different ways.  While I still prefer my crab plain boiled, it was a novelty experience nevertheless.

Shinsekai (translates as "New World") main intersection

We noticed a big building with "Maruhan" on it and went inside just to see what it was.  Turns out to be a casino (with a snazzy ceiling)!  We were quickly shooed out when they saw my camera.

Pedestrian-friendly streets

Sumo wrestling themed restaurant?

Tsutenkaku Tower

Eateries advertising their specialties in 3D

A Shooting range

Looking up and down the Dotonbori canal

The famous Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel, the first oval ferris wheel in the world, also the first to have a 4 seater cabin that rotates horizontally.  The ride is 15 minutes but there are long lineups for it.  You see here, the entrance to the Don Quixote Store, a famous discount store.

Everyone here has to take a picture with the Glico running man - Osaka culture

Entrance to a covered shopping street

The main intersection in Dotonbori

The shop front of the Douraku restaurant

I've lost count of the multitude of ways crab was served but here is a sampling.

We were told not to touch the mystery pot for 30 minutes - turns out it was rice

One of many street corners in Dotonbori - this one seems to be promoting a wrestler?

Japan in the Spring - Kobe & Osaka

We were docked in Kobe for two days but we never got out to see Kobe as Kyoto and Osaka seemed more interesting.  However we were treated to a performance of Japanese drums while we were in Kobe.  These young Taiko drummers were so energetic with such a great rhythmic sense, it was a totally immersive experience.  The intense pulse of the beats reverberates through our senses - a memorable encounter with a 12,000 year old art form.

The following morning we set out on an adventure to Osaka, testing our wits with the Japanese train system. It turned out to be not a big deal because of the amazingly connected transit system and the helpfulness (once again) of the Japanese locals.  There was a port liner train that stopped right by the Kobe port terminal.  We stepped off the boat into the terminal and onto the train that took us to the train station in Kobe from where we took a train to Osaka.  After hearing me ask another passenger whether we were headed in the right direction to Osaka, a very helpful lady came up to me and shared her screen with me - she had a list of all the stations that we would be passing through before we get to Osaka.  

Commuter fashion...?       

My interest in Osaka was strictly seeing the Dotombori area with its vibrant street life. We didn't have a lot of time as it was an early port departure so we kept an eye on the time to make sure we don't miss the boat.  The area was an eye-opener for us, coming from the staid North American cities we are used to.  Take a look at the images to get a sense of the flamboyant billboards and signage all vying for your attention.

Note the famous crab with moving claws!

An octopus and a dragon...

The noodles in this place must be good - customers slurp their noodles standing up

Long lineups in front of this octopus

The canal runs through the district

Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel

The must-see must-pose-in-front-of Glico running man sign!  It's been there since 1935 and one of the most well-known landmarks in Osaka.

The designer shopping street

After two weeks in Japan we had our first bowl of soba noodles in this restaurant - I just needed to know that the soba I tasted at home are close to the real thing...it didn't disappoint.

The return trip was smooth - we just did everything in reverse and made it back to port! 

The lit up low building on the left is the terminal for the port liner that took us to the train station.  The deck of the ship is in the foreground - that's how close it was.

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