Day 3 in Japan - Nara Park, Isui-en Garden, Italian food and Yakitori

On my third day in Japan, I left Osaka to visit Nara, 奈良 (nara).  Although the public transport in Japan is a bit expensive, the good thing about it is that the railways are connected to many places, and Nara is accessible directly from Osaka using the trains. Outside Kintetsu Nara station, there’s a tourism office that you can get maps and brochures about Nara in many different languages for free.

My first destination is Nara Park, 奈良公園 (narakouen).  To reach there, I have to first walk through Higashimuki Shopping Street, 東向商店街 (higashimukishoutengai).  At the end of the street, there is an Italian restaurant, Trattoria Piano, where I decided to have lunch at.  At Trattoria Piano, pizza is made with a stone oven heated up by burning firewoods and it tasted quite good.  The spaghetti is nice too.

Trattoria Piano, Italian Restaurant at Nara

The Stone oven to make pizza

Spaghetti for lunch

Pizza from the stone oven

The end of Higashimuki Shopping Street is connected to Sanjō-dōri Avenue, 三条通り (sanjoudoori), another shopping avenue.  There’s many souvenir shop at this street.  Nara Park is only 5 minutes’ walk away from this area.  When I see many people and sika deer, I know I have reached my destination.  Deer crackers can be purchase to feed the deers, but be careful of "deer attack".

The deer is very easy to approach

These deer are relaxed even when there are many people

They will get near you freely

Since I will be in Nara for only a day, I had to choose where to go and what to see.  Not being a temple person, I decided to visit Isui-en Garden, 依水園 (isuien).  Isui-en is a small but pleasant and well-maintained garden.

Colorful scenery in Isui-en

Calm and peaceful

Nice weather

Mossy garden, step on the stone steps

A bamboo water tap

A little stream

On the way back to the train station, I take the opportunity to walk around Sanjō-dōri Avenue, which I only pass through earlier.  Also connected is another covered shopping arcade known as Mochiidono Shopping Street, もちいどの商店街 (mochiidonoshoutengai).  There’s even more restaurant, souvenir shops, and bars here.

Sarusawa Pond, 猿沢の池 (sarusawanoike), a pond near the end of Sanjō-dōri Avenue

Manhole at Mochiidono Shopping Street

After returning to Osaka, I had yakitori, 焼き鳥 (yakitori), for dinner at Dotonbori.  Yakitori means grilled chicken literally, but there’s a variety of skewered food served usually.  I ordered a set consisting ten different types of yakitori.

Asupara bekon, アスパラベーコン (asuparabekon) and Negima, ねぎま (negima).  Asupara bekon is Grilled Asparagus Wrapped with Bacon and Negima is pieces of chicken meat skewered with leeks between it.

Enoki Maki, エノキ巻き (enokimaki) is Enoki mushrooms wrapped by pork slices.

After dinner and some walking around, I went back and rest as another day awaits.  Read about the first and second day at Day 1 and Day 2.  Day 4 will be written soon!

Day 2 in Japan - Osaka Castle, Kaiyukan, and Tempozan Ferris Wheel

On the second day, I decided to visit Osaka Castle, 大阪城 (oosakajou).  There is more than one entrance to access the castle, but I choose to get down at Tanimachi 4-chome Station, 谷町四丁目駅 (tanimachiyonchoomeeki) and walk towards Osaka Castle Park’s Southwestern Otemon Gate, 大手門 (ootemon), which is the main gate.  

The Castle grounds are surrounded by water

The Castle’s main tower is located at the inner part of the castle grounds.  There are other gates, turrets, and attractions inside the castle grounds.  A ticket is needed in order to enter the main tower of Osaka Castle.  The inside of the Castle is clean and modern, not lacking any necessary facilities.

Main Tower of Osaka Castle

Inside the castle is actually a museum, telling the history and story of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, 豊臣 秀吉 (toyotomihideyoshi), an ally of Oda Nobunaga, 織田 信長 (odanobunaga).  At the top floor of the castle, there’s a small souvenir shop.  Visitors can enjoy the scenery around the area from the balcony.

The square in front of the Main Tower

The Castle surrounded by waters

After Osaka Castle, my destination is Osaka Aquarium or Kaiyukan, 海遊館 (kaiyuukan).  It is a short walk from Osakako Station, 大阪港駅 (oosakakoueki).  Before crossing the road to the Aquarium, I noticed an elegant and nice place, La Centifolia.  It is actually a shop that serves dessert, while the adjoining part of the building has a chapel-like interior that can be rented for wedding ceremonies.

La Centifolia

Delicious dessert at a pleasant atmosphere

The Aquarium is just across the road, and the Tempozan Ferris Wheel also comes into view.  That area is known as Tempozan Harbor Village.  A shopping center, the Tempozan Marketplace is adjacent to the Ferris wheel.

Kaiyukan has a unique design

Tempozan Ferris Wheel and Shopping center

The Aquarium is actually one of the best in the world.  It houses marine life from around the world.  The main attraction will be the largest tank that holds a whale shark, manta rays, other species of sharks, and schools of other fishes.  Penguins, dolphins, and otters are also exhibited at the aquarium.

The Tunnel at the beginning

Penguins

The famous whale shark

Japanese Spider Crab

Visiting the aquarium is definitely worth it.  At the end of it, we can actually touch manta rays and fishes.  I take a quick walk in the shopping center and one interesting part of it is the Naniwa Food Theme Park, where Osaka’s variety of food are exhibited.  Then, I took a ride on the Tempozan Ferris Wheel.

Osaka Bay can be seen 

The Places I visited just now

View of the city

The Ferris wheel changes color at night

After the ride on the Ferris wheel, I ate dinner at a restaurant nearby.  After having Gyudon, 牛丼 (gyuudon) and Udon, うどん (udon) for dinner, it’s time to go back for a rest ahead of more travels the next day.  

Gyudon, 牛丼 (gyuudon) and Udon, うどん (udon) for dinner

Read about the first day's travel and please stay tuned for the following days' travels.

Day 1 in Japan - Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori, and lots of Takoyaki

I had the privilege to visit Japan for 6 days and 5 nights, visited some places in the Kansai region, 関西地方 (kansaichihou), which is located at the Southern-central region of Japan’s main island.  I visited three areas in the Kansai region, namely Osaka, 大阪 (oosaka), Kyoto京都 (kyouto), and Nara, 奈良 (nara).

Japan is easily accessible since I am studying in South Korea.  My flight from Busan's Gimhae International Airport to Kansai International Airport only takes 1 hour and 20 minutes.  At Kansai Airport, I purchased a Prepaid LTE Sim Card with 1GB data valid for a period of 30 days and the ICOCA Prepaid Card which is really convenient when using the trains, subways, and buses.

Kansai Airport

Prepaid LTE Sim Card & ICOCA Prepaid Card

My lodging will be an apartment in a residential area very close to Namba, 難波 (nanba), which is one of Osaka’s major city centers.  

The clean and pleasant basement of Namba Station

Subway Map

From the map, we can see that there are many places to visit around Namba.  The most famous places would be Shinsaibashi, 心斎橋 (shinsaibashi) and Dōtonbori, 道頓堀 (dootombori).  Shinsaibashi is a shopping arcade with many retail stores, boutiques, and department stores, while Dōtonbori is a heaven for food lovers. 

Shinsaibashi

Impressive building with Zara and other shops

Uniqlo and H&M

At Shinsaibashi, I ate Ramen, 拉麵 or ラーメン (ramen) for my late lunch.  As I walked around, I noticed many shops that sell Matcha Ice-cream, 抹茶アイスクリーム (matcha aisukuriimu), something that I ate a lot in Japan.

Ramen at Shinsaibashi

Macha Ice-cream

Shinsaibashi and Dōtonbori are connected.  Once reaching an area with a massive crowd, I can see Ebisu Bridge, 戎橋 (ebisubashi), which let me get across the Dōtonbori canal.  Here, there are many restaurants and shops, as well as the famous Glico Man sign and neon lights.

The famous Glico Man and Neon light at Dōtonbori

The view from Ebisu Bridge

For Dinner, I walked around at Dōtonbori and ate anything I find interesting and looks delicious.  I ate Takoyaki, たこ焼き (takoyaki), a famous food in Japan and even more famous in Osaka.  

Takoyaki shop recommended by tripadvisor

While walking around Dōtonbori, I luckily came by a restaurant called Akaoni, 赤鬼 or あかおに (akaoni), a Takoyaki restaurant honored by Michelin.  This shop uses raw octopus, unlike most of other Takoyaki shops, which uses boiled octopus.  The shop is a pleasant small shop, with just a few tables.  The atmosphere and food are nice, the price is reasonable as well.  After walking around abit more, I return to rest for another long day.  

Takoyaki restaurant, Akaoni

Honored by Michelin

Takoyaki with cheese and Yakisoba

Okonomiyaki

Please wait for the post on the second day.