Osaka - Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル Umeda Sukai Biru)

Umeda Sky Tower in Osaka

Like I mentioned on my previous post talking about Inside the Osaka Castle, there are many places in Osaka where you can have a great panoramic view of the whole city. However, let me correct myself, there might be many but that are accessible to the public are only two as far as I know.

Last day in Osaka and First day ( and dinner) in Kyoto

My last day in Ōsaka was also my first day in Kyoto and it was also going to be the first time I was meeting my dear friend after almost 10 years. She was very kind and helped me booking a room at a hotel very close to the Kyoto imperial palace.

I know- not the best picture - but I was in a rush

Who says trains in Japan are always punctual? Well I used to be one of those until that day when I took the train from Ōsaka to Kyoto - and yes, it was delayed. But nothing to be worried about the journey was quite pleasant and all I was doing was looking at the new things.

3 Days in Osaka are not enough

Only 4 days had passed since I had landed in Japan and I have to say it had been brilliant! I do not regret about anything. It is a long flight, indeed it is but it worth the time and money. I was surprised because I didn't come across too many foreigners, even though that’s good to me, that’s not good to the country’s tourism economy. Of course, there's a reason behind it - Fukushima..

Sadly today, I'm saying "じゃあ、また！" (see you very soon) to Osaka because today I'm going to go to Kyoto to meet a very good friend after almost 10 years. On other hand, I'm going to jump on the Shinkansen - Hikari (apparently the fastest and newest one すごい！).

But first breakfast and I know many of you will think that I don't want to try anything else apart from this but I just simply love onigiri. I could seriously have onigiri every day of my life. By then I had realised that my favourite onigiri was the one filled with わかめ (one of the many types of seaweed) because it is simply delicious - I'm actually missing it right now - 

Different kind of Onigiri in Osaka

Kaiyukan Osaka Aquarium

Who doesn't Aquariums? It doesn't matter big or small we love it. This was my last day in Osaka so I decided to sleep a bit more because I hadn't had a proper sleep since I landed. People at the hostel told me that if I like marine life I had to go so I went there. From Nishinagahori it’s not that far – roughly 15 mins with the metro or a bit more if you miss the station like I did (getting lost is part of the fun ^_^).

Osaka Delicacies Takoyaki & Okonomiyaki

I’d been walking all day and on the time I stopped to have a look at the watch I was not only hungry but also knackered. Hence, I rushed to the first local food shop I could find to eat some Kansai food (here’s the map in case you want to try it).

Arcades in Osaka

Arcades are quite common in Japan, ok I guess we all know that by now. However, the kind of arcades that can be found in Japan are way longer than I expected.

My first encounter with it was on my way to the Osaka Castle when I first saw lots of people getting inside this long street(arcade). I couldn’t go in the first time because I’d had a plan already but I checked it on the way back and this is what I saw.

It doesn’t matter how many words and how detailed my description can be, an arcade it’s one of those places that you have to experience first-hand. Looking at all the people walking, lots of bicycles – to my surprise not crashing into someone (I’m not saying it doesn’t happen but I didn’t see any accident), nobody looking at anything or anybody but looking at everything at the same time. 

Outside the Osaka Castle 大阪城

So like I said on my previous post I decided to walk all the way from Nishinagahori where I was staying to the Osaka Castle. That’s almost 5km according to Google Map. I honestly didn’t mind since I quite hate the tube. First, you smell everyone’s odour, everyone has an arse face and you miss a good part of the whole experience. Hence, I decided to walk and it’s a very enjoyable walk, if you don’t mind walking that is.



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On the way to the Osaka Castle 大坂城

Yesterday I spent all day wandering Osaka, and boy you've got lots of places to go and visit. I took so many photos that I had to come back to the hostel and save all pictures on my laptop and go out again. That was only around 1300 but I can't complain - actually I don't - I'm loving it.


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Today, I decided to head towards the Osaka Castle - from where I'm staying it's a nice walk - people at the hostel looked at me with funny (manga) eyes [no offence]- The walk was approximately an hour and 30 mins but I stopped many times, more than I can't remember.

Breakfast in Osaka

Konbini Onigiri (rice balls)

Second day in Japan and I didn't feel like having a tea at the hostel so I decided to take a shower, dress up and hit to road. Luckily , Hostel 64, the place I'm staying is fairly close to a convenient shop called Family Mart.

My first thought was "how am I suppose to eat this?" well people I felt like a tarzan coming to the civilised world, because I couldn't open it and the whole nori fell apart. However, can you see the number 1 on the tip of the envelope......right.... you're suppose to pull it that down and then follow the instructions on the bottom of the onigiri. Seriously, it's not rocket science but it took me 20 minutes and a good piece of nori to understand the process...lesson learnt.

Kansai Airport - KIX and Osaka City

When I landed in KIX I didn't know what to expect. I was so excited about everything. It was my dream trip. I even thought I was going to have some problems at the airport since a German business man had some problems with the immigration officer at customs. However, he asked me once "Reason in Japan" to what I replied "holiday". He replied back saying "Welcome to Japan".

It's always convenient to do some research before going to any country and Japan is not the exception. Thanks to my research and some help from my Japanese friend I bought a Kansai Pass for 3 days, although you can buy it for 1 or 2 days too. Where to buy it? At the airport there's no other place you can buy it. Although if you have the J-Rail Pass you don't have to worry. By the way, remember to get your J Rail Pass at the airport as well. I made a big mistake not buying it in Malta and I reckon my transport expenses were 25% more expensive.

KIX - Kansai Airport - Osaka

I know what you're going to say. "But getting the J-Railpass is a no-brain". However, I didn't do it. Anyway, once you get your pass(es) and if you're in my situation were I had to be in constant communication with my Japanese friends. I highly recommend you to rent a mobile. Of course you can get a SIM card for your mobile - but trust me it's expensive.

If you don't believe me check SOFTBANK and you will understand what I am saying. Also if you can write in Japanese like me, then a foreigner mobile is a bit of a problem, unless you have an iphone (but it's quite expensive and a lot of paperwork to get the SIM card). I ended up renting one at the airport and after 3 weeks I had to pay €22.55. Not bad and not that different from what I pay in Malta for using my iphone. The company I rented from gave me this Au KDDI mobile.