I "Kansai" I'm In Love (Part 5): Osaka's Hidden Alleys and Amazing Food!

- Nov. 22, 2023, Wednesday.

- Osaka is a chill city, though highly urbanized, with so many different pockets of experience for people to enjoy. Although I experienced the city's highlights the day prior, I wanted to get a better feel of Osaka.

- That morning, I had a quick visit to the Glico Man sign, as I wanted to take a photo of it during daytime. It feel unusual to not see people flocking to the sign. Thankfully, my hostel was just across the street from the sign, so it was convenient for me to take some snaps before having breakfast and getting things going.

Run run run run.

Dotonbori morning.

It will never look this peaceful during normal times of the day.

- My main agenda for the morning was to visit Shitenno-ji (Tennoji metro station). This Buddhist temple was built in the 6th century AD during Prince Shotoku's reign. Despite being one of the oldest temples in Japan, most of the currently-standing buildings were rebuilt in the 1960s. Still, it appears to keep its original design without looking too modern. Most of the interior parts of the temple do not allow photography, so I was only able to take photos of the building's facades. 

Shitenno-ji gate.

It reminds me a bit of Korea, and unsurprisingly it's because the first carpenters who built this temple were from Korea.

I'm glad I went a bit early, at least I avoided the crowd.

Lanterns.

Behind these doors is the exhibit hall, but photography isn't allowed. It had Buddhist artifacts, such as those from the Silk Road trade.

One of the shrines in the temple.

Another shrine.

- I spent a good while going around the flea market on the temple grounds. Apparently, the temple has a flea market on the 21st and 22nd of every month, which I didn't know about prior. Good thing I was there at the right time, because I was able to buy a couple of things that I needed for my kimono. The stalls range from food, furniture, second-hand goods, handicrafts, kimonos and kimono accessories (mostly second-hand), toys, bags, you name it. I heard that the 21st often has more stalls, but I thought there were already a lot when I went (as you can see on the date above, I went on the 22nd.)

- From the temple, I had a brief walk to Shinsekai (closer to Dobutsu-en Mae Station, but walkable if coming from Tennoji), which looks a bit different but just as quirky, during the day. As I mentioned in the previous blog, the neighborhood was designed in 1912 as a reimagination of Western inspirations, such as New York and Paris. The execution, however, made it look even more Japanese, because of the playful nature of the stores and restaurants around the area. Before leaving the Shinsekai area, I had a brief stop at the Mega Don Quijote store near the Dobutsu-en Mae Station.

Tsutenkaku in the morning.

Mural underneath the Tsutenkaku.

As real as it gets - it still looks like it's from a manga or anime.

There is a small alley in Shinsekai called Janjan Yokocho. It mostly had restaurants. It also has a distinct retro vibe.

- Dotonbori seemed like a good option for lunch, since there are endless options to choose from. I thought of going to another sushi restaurant, but this time it's a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant. If you've never been to a conveyor-belt restaurant, you literally just get whatever you like. Each plate will have a price (usually based on color), and the total bill will be based on the plates that you ate.

I ate here: Genrokuzushi Dotombori. Quality sushi for really affordable prices (even by Philippine price standards - and that says a lot.) This is also the FIRST conveyor belt restaurant in the world! Tip: COME DURING LUNCH when lines are a lot shorter (or no lines). In the evening, good luck trying to eat here!

 

I ate so much.

The restaurant was across the river from a big Don Quijote with its own uniquely-shaped ferris wheel! 

I saw this display. I love it, but am also creeped out. But I still love it because giant crab.

The Dotonbori mascot himself (the official puppet that is), Kuidaore Taro! 

- I spent some time walking around Dotonbori as well, even hopping over to Hozenji Yokocho, an alley with a temple and restored houses. The temple itself, Hozenji, was built in the 1600s, and was a bustling alley. It reminds me of the small alleys of Kyoto as well.

Entrance to Hozenji.

Hozenji.

Streets in the area.

Another entrance to the Hozenji area.

- After walking for some time, I went to the Sennichimae Shopping Street (perpendicular to Dotonbori), and visited a peculiar restaurant named "American." Yes, just "American." And it is exactly what you think: it is one of the restaurants that serve a Japanese imagination of western culture (and sometimes, it's even better!) This kind of cuisine is called "yoshoku" ("western food"). Some popular yoshoku include omurice, and the "naporitan" pasta (Japanese-style ketchup spaghetti; name based on "Napolitan" which means "from Naples"). But like what I normally see in anime, I really wanted to try their colorful and creative desserts!

LOOK AT THIS AESTHETIC!!!! I LOVE IT. It is exactly what I see in manga or anime.

For the life of me, I cannot remember what this was exactly, but all I knew was that it was good. It was some sort of fruit sundae?

Yes. American.

Of course, such a restaurant in Japan will not be complete without its realistic food art enticing everyone to try! The best part is that the food looks exactly like the display. (So it's not false advertising!)

- Finally, it was time for me to prepare my departure from the Land of the Rising Sun. I walked from my hostel to Namba Nankai Station and rode the limited express train to the airport. In true Japanese style, the train looks like something you'd see in a Super Sentai series (and it also has its own superhero character!!)

I thought my train looked like a superhero or something.

My view from the train. The setting sun, from the Land of the Rising Sun.

THE TRAIN DID NOT DISAPPOINT. IT HAD ITS OWN SUPERHERO CHARACTER I CANNOT!! I love love love love it!!

- Japan has been wonderful to me and I somehow maximized what little time I had to explore the two cities I went to. I hope I would have more chances to visit Japan in the near future, especially since I was granted a multiple-entry visa. My short time in Japan just made me want to go back and see what more it has in store!!

** Check out the other legs of my Kansai trip!

Part 1 (Kyoto): here 

Part 2 (Kyoto): here

Part 3 (Kyoto): here

Part 4 (Osaka): here