Osaka: Modern Maze Minus the Minotaur
The weekend of the 16th and 17th was a long weekend because the 18th was a national holiday...“Respect for the Elders” day. In light of the long weekend Katie and I planned a trip to Osaka, which is about 2 ½ hours away by trian. After I finished teaching my Saturday morning class, we hopped on a train bound for Osaka and in a matter of hours we found ourselves smack dab in the middle of the bustling metropolitan. It was quite different from little old Toba. The streets were flooded with restaurants, neon lights, shops, hotels, and tonnes of people!
The station that Katie and I stopped at had about 80 exits...seriously...so we guessed which one was the right one based on the map that I had printed out and headed in the direction that the hotel “should” have been in (I write “should” because I was assuming that my map bore some relation to reality...but it didn't). After wandering for a while, we stopped to ask for directions. The phenomenal part about Japan is that even when you put your ego aside and ask for directions...from a person who speaks english...and shows you a map...you still have to make checkpoint stops to make sure that your're still heading in the right direction. Our first set of directions ended up getting us lost because the new map that we were given did not have some of the streets printed on it AND the ones that were on it weren't labelled. The map showed the street that we were on and then were were supposed to turn left at the NEXT street north of where we were. However, in REALITY there were three streets before the one that we were supposed to turn at...they just decided not to put them on the map for some odd reason. I speculate that the lack geographical accuracy is REALLY why Osaka is such a big city. People can find the city, but once they're in they get lost. Then they ask directions from other people who are stuck in Osaka because they're lost too...it's a gigantic urban labyrinthe.
When we finally found our hotel we ditched our luggage and headed out to explore the city. We began with Dotombori street, which is famous for it's many restaurants and wide variety of entertainment establishments (anything from nightclubs to strip clubs, arcades, movie theatres, live shows, etc., all on one street).
We had dinner at a great okinamiyaki restaurant. We were seated at the okinamiyaki bar, so our food was prepared for us, unlike most okinamiyaki restaurants where you prepared the food for yourself on a grill that is built into your table. Here's a short clip of our okinamiyaki being made.
After dinner we wandered through the arcades and gift shops in search of entertainment and souveniers. At one point we ended up in the SEGA Joypolis, where we did “purintu club” or something like that. I think it's supposed to be a translation of “print club.” Basically you go into a photo booth and have your picture taken in front of various digitally imposed backgrounds. After you've selected which poses you would like to use, you enter another room and use a photo editing program to add captions, or objects to the scene. “Purintu Club” is phenomenally popular in Japan. We walked through another SEGA arcade later in the trip and there were huge lineups for the print club booths.
Before heading back to the hotel we stumbled across a department store with a ferris wheel (of sorts) on top of it and decided to give it a try. The ride gave an incredible view of the city, check out the video below!
The next morning we had an awesome buffet breakfast at the hotel and then packed up all of our things and grabbed some Starbucks while we planned out our day.
The plan was to find our second hotel, visit the Osaka zoo, go to the Osaka aquarium and then come back to Dotombori street around dinnertime. Note...that was the PLAN. Instead, we walked for about an hour in search of the second hotel. Then when we got to the hotel and attempted to check-in we were informed that we were at the wrong Dormy Inn. The Dormy Inn that we had reserved at was about two blocks away from the hotel that we had just checked out from. Greeeeeeeeaaaat. So we headed back towards the original hotel with detailed directions from the hotel clerk. This meant that we only had to stop three times to ask for directions. It turned out that he had actually given us wrong directions...basically at this point we realized that we would have to ask for directions every block or so. I'm presently planning to revolutionize Japanese tourism by “inventing” street signs and maps with all the streets on them. My gift from the west.
After finally arriving at our second hotel, we dropped off our bags and decided to cancel our visit to the zoo and head straight to the aquarium. Aside from being packed tighter than a can of sardines, the Osaka aquarium was really cool. I was really impressed by some of the larger tanks that they had in the aquarium, especially the tank with the whale shark and the giant rays. Here are some pictures and a video from the aquarium.
The tunnel entrance to the aquarium
A few photos from the largest tank at the aquarium. It housed many species of fish, giant rays and a whale shark.
Here are a few pics of Katie and I posing with some Osaka Aquarium celebrities:
The sea turtle tank, one of my favourites.
The fish in action!
Next to the aquarium is the Tempozan Giant (Ferris) Wheel. It's the largest ferris wheel in the world. Katie and I decided to take a ride and despite the poor weather (rain) the view of the city and the world's longest suspension bridge was quite impressive.
After riding the ferris wheel we decided to go back to the hotel to put our bags away and change our clothes for dinner. Once again we got lost. I'm not even kidding. It's that confusing. We got off at the SAME station that we had departed from when we were heading to the aquarium but we took a different exit and ended up getting lost. I think both Katie and I were pretty fed up at that point. No one likes to spend their whole vacation looking for where they want to go rather than being where they want to be.
After two different sets of directions we found our hotel and quickly changed for dinner. We headed back to Dotombori street in search of an interesting restaurant/bar to eat at. Careful debate led us to choose “Dusk” a hip little hole in the wall bar in a basement on Dotombori. It was a great choice. The server's English was really good, he was really friendly and the bar itself was really interesting.
We ordered dinner and drinks on the server's recommendations; beer and seafood linguine for me, Umesho and Mediterranean pizza for Katie. After dinner and a few more rounds, we decided to spice things up a little bit. We ordered the house special. We really had no idea what we were in for because...well...we don't read Japanese. The server rushed off to the other side of the bar where he took out about a dozen ingredients and tools. There were martini shakers, fruits, ice, knives, a slew of different liquers, milk, etc. After about 5 minutes of labour two white coloured drinks sat in brandy snifters on the opposite end of the bar from us. Then something strange happened. Instead of bringing us our drinks, the bartender simply walked away. In fact, he left the bar altogether. Every additional minute of his absence made me wonder what was going on and why he wouldn't just bring us our drinks. As Katie and I waited, we chatted and soaked in the bar's trendy decor. As my gaze returned to the drinks I noticed that the bartender had returned. He was doing something out of view underneath the bar ledge directly in front of our drinks. I watched for a while, trying to figure out what was going on, but then I resolved to just forget about the drinks until he decided that it was an appropriate time to deliver them.
The drinks arrived mid-conversation. They were amazing. It was like alcoholic art in both aesthetic and taste. Katie's drink came with a pink glow in the dark ice cube, freshly cut flowers, and fresh fruits carved into the shape of flowers. Mine came with a blue glow in the dark ice cube, freshly cut flowers and fresh fruits. Have a look at these masterpieces, they tasted as good as they look!
Once the drinks were no more, we settled up and headed back to the hotel. On the way, we stopped at a convenience store where I picked up three more drinks. I worked on one while we walked and I kept the reserves in my back pockets...
Back at the hotel I finished my drinks and then Katie and I decided to head to the onsen. As I've mentioned before, an onsen is a public bath that is divided into men's and women's baths. In the typical onsen there is a shower area and a shared hot bath (hot tub). However, in this particular onsen there was also a sauna! It was incredibly relaxing to rinse off, have a hot tub, a sauna and then a cool rinse....heavenly. If you ever get the chance to try it, do it! Katie and I met outside the onsen after we had both finished and decided to try out the massage chairs that were located near the onsen. Best idea ever. I was already relaxed and the massage chair relaxed me further. I went to bed feeling completely and utterly relaxed. The tension from the hours of being lost in Osaka had simply melted away and I slept peacefully.
The following morning we packed our things and left them at the hotel desk, while we walked got breakfast and some Starbucks. Over breakfast we decided that we would head to a place called HEP 5, a five story shopping complex aimed at the mid-twenties demographic. It was a pretty cool place. Upon entering, shoppers are confronted by two lifesize whale models that are suspended from the ceiling. One is an infant whale and the other is an adult. Both were red, and matched with the outer decor of the building. Past the whales was a shopping mecca that sucked at the souls and wallets of all those who entered. Katie and I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the shopping complex, but neither of us found what we were looking for. It was a fun afternoon all the same though.
After we departed from the mall we collected our things from the hotel and hopped on a train bound for Toba. The weekend was over and it was time to head back to the world of routine and responsibility.
The station that Katie and I stopped at had about 80 exits...seriously...so we guessed which one was the right one based on the map that I had printed out and headed in the direction that the hotel “should” have been in (I write “should” because I was assuming that my map bore some relation to reality...but it didn't). After wandering for a while, we stopped to ask for directions. The phenomenal part about Japan is that even when you put your ego aside and ask for directions...from a person who speaks english...and shows you a map...you still have to make checkpoint stops to make sure that your're still heading in the right direction. Our first set of directions ended up getting us lost because the new map that we were given did not have some of the streets printed on it AND the ones that were on it weren't labelled. The map showed the street that we were on and then were were supposed to turn left at the NEXT street north of where we were. However, in REALITY there were three streets before the one that we were supposed to turn at...they just decided not to put them on the map for some odd reason. I speculate that the lack geographical accuracy is REALLY why Osaka is such a big city. People can find the city, but once they're in they get lost. Then they ask directions from other people who are stuck in Osaka because they're lost too...it's a gigantic urban labyrinthe.
When we finally found our hotel we ditched our luggage and headed out to explore the city. We began with Dotombori street, which is famous for it's many restaurants and wide variety of entertainment establishments (anything from nightclubs to strip clubs, arcades, movie theatres, live shows, etc., all on one street).
We had dinner at a great okinamiyaki restaurant. We were seated at the okinamiyaki bar, so our food was prepared for us, unlike most okinamiyaki restaurants where you prepared the food for yourself on a grill that is built into your table. Here's a short clip of our okinamiyaki being made.
After dinner we wandered through the arcades and gift shops in search of entertainment and souveniers. At one point we ended up in the SEGA Joypolis, where we did “purintu club” or something like that. I think it's supposed to be a translation of “print club.” Basically you go into a photo booth and have your picture taken in front of various digitally imposed backgrounds. After you've selected which poses you would like to use, you enter another room and use a photo editing program to add captions, or objects to the scene. “Purintu Club” is phenomenally popular in Japan. We walked through another SEGA arcade later in the trip and there were huge lineups for the print club booths.
Before heading back to the hotel we stumbled across a department store with a ferris wheel (of sorts) on top of it and decided to give it a try. The ride gave an incredible view of the city, check out the video below!
The next morning we had an awesome buffet breakfast at the hotel and then packed up all of our things and grabbed some Starbucks while we planned out our day.
The plan was to find our second hotel, visit the Osaka zoo, go to the Osaka aquarium and then come back to Dotombori street around dinnertime. Note...that was the PLAN. Instead, we walked for about an hour in search of the second hotel. Then when we got to the hotel and attempted to check-in we were informed that we were at the wrong Dormy Inn. The Dormy Inn that we had reserved at was about two blocks away from the hotel that we had just checked out from. Greeeeeeeeaaaat. So we headed back towards the original hotel with detailed directions from the hotel clerk. This meant that we only had to stop three times to ask for directions. It turned out that he had actually given us wrong directions...basically at this point we realized that we would have to ask for directions every block or so. I'm presently planning to revolutionize Japanese tourism by “inventing” street signs and maps with all the streets on them. My gift from the west.
After finally arriving at our second hotel, we dropped off our bags and decided to cancel our visit to the zoo and head straight to the aquarium. Aside from being packed tighter than a can of sardines, the Osaka aquarium was really cool. I was really impressed by some of the larger tanks that they had in the aquarium, especially the tank with the whale shark and the giant rays. Here are some pictures and a video from the aquarium.
The tunnel entrance to the aquarium
A few photos from the largest tank at the aquarium. It housed many species of fish, giant rays and a whale shark.
Here are a few pics of Katie and I posing with some Osaka Aquarium celebrities:
The sea turtle tank, one of my favourites.
The fish in action!
Next to the aquarium is the Tempozan Giant (Ferris) Wheel. It's the largest ferris wheel in the world. Katie and I decided to take a ride and despite the poor weather (rain) the view of the city and the world's longest suspension bridge was quite impressive.
After riding the ferris wheel we decided to go back to the hotel to put our bags away and change our clothes for dinner. Once again we got lost. I'm not even kidding. It's that confusing. We got off at the SAME station that we had departed from when we were heading to the aquarium but we took a different exit and ended up getting lost. I think both Katie and I were pretty fed up at that point. No one likes to spend their whole vacation looking for where they want to go rather than being where they want to be.
After two different sets of directions we found our hotel and quickly changed for dinner. We headed back to Dotombori street in search of an interesting restaurant/bar to eat at. Careful debate led us to choose “Dusk” a hip little hole in the wall bar in a basement on Dotombori. It was a great choice. The server's English was really good, he was really friendly and the bar itself was really interesting.
We ordered dinner and drinks on the server's recommendations; beer and seafood linguine for me, Umesho and Mediterranean pizza for Katie. After dinner and a few more rounds, we decided to spice things up a little bit. We ordered the house special. We really had no idea what we were in for because...well...we don't read Japanese. The server rushed off to the other side of the bar where he took out about a dozen ingredients and tools. There were martini shakers, fruits, ice, knives, a slew of different liquers, milk, etc. After about 5 minutes of labour two white coloured drinks sat in brandy snifters on the opposite end of the bar from us. Then something strange happened. Instead of bringing us our drinks, the bartender simply walked away. In fact, he left the bar altogether. Every additional minute of his absence made me wonder what was going on and why he wouldn't just bring us our drinks. As Katie and I waited, we chatted and soaked in the bar's trendy decor. As my gaze returned to the drinks I noticed that the bartender had returned. He was doing something out of view underneath the bar ledge directly in front of our drinks. I watched for a while, trying to figure out what was going on, but then I resolved to just forget about the drinks until he decided that it was an appropriate time to deliver them.
The drinks arrived mid-conversation. They were amazing. It was like alcoholic art in both aesthetic and taste. Katie's drink came with a pink glow in the dark ice cube, freshly cut flowers, and fresh fruits carved into the shape of flowers. Mine came with a blue glow in the dark ice cube, freshly cut flowers and fresh fruits. Have a look at these masterpieces, they tasted as good as they look!
Once the drinks were no more, we settled up and headed back to the hotel. On the way, we stopped at a convenience store where I picked up three more drinks. I worked on one while we walked and I kept the reserves in my back pockets...
Back at the hotel I finished my drinks and then Katie and I decided to head to the onsen. As I've mentioned before, an onsen is a public bath that is divided into men's and women's baths. In the typical onsen there is a shower area and a shared hot bath (hot tub). However, in this particular onsen there was also a sauna! It was incredibly relaxing to rinse off, have a hot tub, a sauna and then a cool rinse....heavenly. If you ever get the chance to try it, do it! Katie and I met outside the onsen after we had both finished and decided to try out the massage chairs that were located near the onsen. Best idea ever. I was already relaxed and the massage chair relaxed me further. I went to bed feeling completely and utterly relaxed. The tension from the hours of being lost in Osaka had simply melted away and I slept peacefully.
The following morning we packed our things and left them at the hotel desk, while we walked got breakfast and some Starbucks. Over breakfast we decided that we would head to a place called HEP 5, a five story shopping complex aimed at the mid-twenties demographic. It was a pretty cool place. Upon entering, shoppers are confronted by two lifesize whale models that are suspended from the ceiling. One is an infant whale and the other is an adult. Both were red, and matched with the outer decor of the building. Past the whales was a shopping mecca that sucked at the souls and wallets of all those who entered. Katie and I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the shopping complex, but neither of us found what we were looking for. It was a fun afternoon all the same though.
After we departed from the mall we collected our things from the hotel and hopped on a train bound for Toba. The weekend was over and it was time to head back to the world of routine and responsibility.
posted by Christopher Janca at 8:34 p.m.
4 Comments:
I really liked the pictures from the aquarium there were really clear.
Those drinks at the restaurant were pretty awesome how did they get them to light up?
From Mom
Your post made me simultaneously terrified to visit you in Japan (directions!), and really, really excited (at the concept of light-up drinks).
So this is my first actual attempt at reading this. Terrible friend, I'm aware. But omigod! I'm inspired. I want to get on a plane right now and come visit. Mostly, I just want to leave Thunder Bay, but the thought of leaving Thunder Bay to go to Japan is exhilerating. Take care!!! (for news of my boring life in cold snowy thunder bay, check out my webpage)
Sounds like you had a great weekend but I think you should invest in a GPS. Lastly the million dollar question ** How did the bartender make the drinks glow??? I'm like your Mom, we got to know...
Post a Comment
<< Home