Note: This is a snippet from my Japan 1-week itinerary which you can find in its entirety here
Getting from Kansai International Airport to Osaka was very easy, as most things are the Japanese way. We bought a ticket to Namba station (in central Osaka) from the bus ticket office outside the airport, and friendly Japanese staff directed us to the right bus stand (you’ll find everything makes sense once you get the hang of it). The journey took about 40 minutes. Namba itself is a behemoth of a station, so have Google maps loaded on your phone with your destination. Minamikorie road is a good location to stay as it is right next to Orange Street, home to many trendy shops and cafes in Osaka. Following internet recommendations, we went to busy Dotonburi for a ramen dinner at the place with the golden dragons (you’ll know it when you see it). I can’t say I was particularly blown away – the broth was average and tasted like the seasoning packets you get in Korean instant noodles (the brand Nong Shim is delicious by the way). It was cheap, however, and satisfying enough.
We went round this area for a little wander and found an ice cream shop tucked under a building, with entrances on two different parallel streets. We were enticed outside by a large group of middle-aged men, excitedly forming on our side of the narrow river, jumping around and taking photos. The cause of the commotion was a group of five young women dressed in 90s rave type gear (think fluorescent tutus, rainbow wrist-warmers and strappy tops), complete with furry thigh-high boots, performing on the other bank of the river. The mostly male audience varied in age, some were probably even 70 or 80, but their flawless knowledge of every dance move in the routine united them. They were also incredibly familiar with the cues to sing or shout on time. It was quite unlike anything I’d ever seen before. At the end of the songs, an assistant began walking amongst the crowd, holding up a sign saying ‘Free High-5s!’. Everyone began queuing up orderly, a helpful superfan came up to us to make sure we knew we could receive free high-5s from the girl band, in case we missed out on the golden opportunity. Another assistant began pumping out hand sanitiser and we watched, amused, as each man received their high-5 from their favourite girlband members in turn, walking away looking as if they’d been touched by Jesus.
In the morning, we went to Kuromon market (a market for fresh food, specialising in seafood). We had some scallops with butter and soy sauce and a bowl of udon each at this little shop within the market itself, owned by an elderly lady. Very tasty.
The Airbnb we had booked into in Osaka was so incredibly nice. Everything had been thought of, in the Japanese way, from the complimentary food and equipment in the room to the nice bed, comfy sheets and impeccable cleanliness. The location was perfect too, near Kuromon market and only a few minutes away from major transport hubs.
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