Osaka, Japan
In order to get from Kyoto to Osaka there were two train options: one of course being the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) and the other, a more local train. We opted to take the longer duration, lower cost local train. During the 45-minute trip, we sat with our bags scrunched tight against our bodies, trying not to disturb the local residents on their commute. After settling into our new accommodation, we went for a walk to get our bearings and explore some of Osaka at night. Our first stop was to find some dinner in “Japan’s Kitchen” (Osaka’s nickname).
Dotonbori Street & Canal:
Our first stop in Osaka was Dotonbori Street - specifically at night to see the bright lights and find some new foods to try! This lively entertainment area of Osaka is known for both its walking street filled with vendors offering popular street foods, as well as its canal, which you can tour via boat. Here we are pictured standing on the Ebisubashi Bridge, the best place to take a photo with the famous Glico running man. We aren’t exactly sure how this became such a popular spot, but the lights were mesmerizing, as well as the sheer size of the Glico advertisement. After walking around and taking some pictures of the canal area, it was time to try Takoyaki for the first time. This snack is made of wheat-flour batter, mixed with diced octopus and green onion, then served with mayo and a sprinkle of dried bonito (fish) flakes. For us, the verdict was that we are glad we tried this famous street food, but it isn’t anything that we would miss or want to try again.
Osaka Castle:
The following day we went on a long walk to see the Osaka Castle and surrounding park area. It was a beautiful, clear sunny day which absolutely added to the beauty of this place. We decided against waiting in line for the tour of a few rooms inside the castle and instead took in the sights outside which included: many viewpoints of the city, the castle itself, and the plum garden on the castle grounds. Throughout history, the Osaka Castle played a big part in the unification of Japan and has been destroyed and rebuilt on three separate occasions, the latest rebuild being fully funded by the people of Osaka.
Pictured below is the moat surrounding the castle grounds, which we found to be almost as impressive as the castle itself!
Korumon Market:
On our last day in Osaka (and in Japan), we checked off one of our favorite activities and walked through another local market full of street food and souvenirs. The Korumon Market is in central Osaka and is perfect to visit in any season, any time of day, as it is fully covered in case of any bad weather. We walked through some of the souvenir shops and browsed the abundant food options. It was here that we tried our first ever taste of Kobe beef (brought to this market from Kobe, a neighboring town), as well as traditional dango (pictured) which was matcha, vanilla, and strawberry flavored. Visiting local markets is one of our favorite parts of traveling around the world. It’s always a great example of how everyday life is lived in the city that we’re visiting. We love seeing native people line up for a meal from their favorite shop or picking up ingredients and produce to cook at home.
teamLab Botanical Garden Exhibit:
After our phenomenal experience at the immersive teamLab Planets Exhibit in Tokyo a week prior, we wanted to see the sister exhibit in Osaka’s well-known botanical garden park. We spent our last evening in Japan wandering through Nagai Park and Botanical Gardens taking in the teamLabs exhibit. The goal of this display was to show how nature can become art. This exhibit was much different from the one in Tokyo, but just as interesting. We enjoyed reading about each display, taking photos, and trying to figure out what the artist was portraying in the creation. Plus, it was great to be outside enjoying some fresh air before our seven-hour flight to Kuala Lumpur the next morning!
Our time in Osaka, Japan was spent trying multiple different kinds of famous street foods, as well as seeing the major sights that the city has to offer. We greatly enjoyed the foodie vibe here!
-Ivy&Drew