Osaka Sept 2019 : Janjan Yokocho

Shinsekai area also hides some more local alley that is super worth a visit if you have the time. I knew about this place when I was doing my research on Youtube and Rion Ishida-san recommended this place call Janjan Yokocho. And just like the secret shrine we found in Dotonbori, I knew what I was looking for, and managed to find this hidden eating place just off Shinsekai.

There are some tell tale sign from the main Shinsekai area. Like maps leading you to restaurants or shops in Janjan Yokocho.

When you step inside, it's the usual design of a shopping street of a typical Japanese town, but the alley was so much smaller. And one thing interesting about this place was, it was a food alley! So most of the shops here well selling food! And some were like small hole in the wall type of establishment. Some shops, you just stand at the counter and eat and drink while the owner serves you from behind the counter. It was a very local, community kinda place. This is what the real Japan is like. Not Dotonbori!

The most popular food here is either Takoyaki, matcha ice cream, or Kushikatsu! Everywhere, every shop was selling their version of Kushikatsu. Some have queue so long there was a policemen there maintaining order. The queue was partly because some shops were so small they can only serve maybe 20 people at a time. 

There were some game stalls there too. It's so pasar madam like, and it feels really retro and, I dunno. Comforting. Kinda like returning to your childhood era. There is an era or time period that I like especially in Japan, and I think it's the 60s or 70s period. I don't know why, I love going into places that are stuck in time at that error. With their deco, their music, the ambiance. Everything about it, is just so wonderful to me. Like a forgotten era, stuck in time. That was how it felt like when I was in Katsura Wakayama. That town felt exactly like this. It had a feel of everyone knows everyone, and everyone lives here, and people were just friendly and living a simply life....

There was a chess parlour in the alley where all the aged man gather. Don't you love places like this? Any place where people sit and play chess together is my kinda place!

And of course, there is the lucky mascot of Osaka. This is call a Billiken. And apparently, he is a God. And he can be found in almost every shop here in Shinsekai. “The God of Things As They Ought To Be”

Ref: Billiken

Osaka Sept 2019 : Shinsekai

This photo above is extra large cause I simply love it! It's so colourful and retro and crazy all at once! This place is call Shinsekai, or New World in English. It's at a rougher side of Osaka, and I've always wanted to come here just to take this shot! Unfortunately, this photo was taken by  my hubby who has a better camera than me. 

So after visiting Osaka Castle and the park, we took a train to another town, and walked towards this retro place. Initially I wanted to try some cheap sushi here, but I kinda chicken out. The plan was to have a late lunch here, and wait for night fall to see the lights before headed back to the hotel for free drinks. 

This place was like a mini version of Dotonbori, but more intimate, and less crowded. The shops were beautiful, and it was just a cross section where everything is. At first I thought it might not be worth coming all the way here to see this. But because I researched before coming, I kinda knew where are some of the places I wanted to explore here. 

All the famous Osaka food chain stores can be found here. But with a lot less queue than Dotonbori. It also has a more local feel to this place. 

The sign board or deco of the shops were really exaggerated. It feels like all the food were extra large and gonna fall down on top of you! It's a very surreal kinda place, especially for someone who love food as much as I do!

You will know you are out of Shinsekai area if you walk straight and hit the zoo at the end of it. Just turn back and explore more! Zoos are boring anyway...

Here's another retro shot of the famous tower here. You can go up to the observatory deck, but, NAH.

Souvenir shot of us.

Osaka Sept 2019 : Osaka Castle Park Starbucks

After the castle exploration, we walked through the park in order to get to the train station. There was a cycling event happening, a concert, and a lot of family and friends just chilling at the park. It was getting kinda warm, and we spotted a Starbuck in the park which looks cool inside. The thought of a cold drink was rather tempting too, and it wasn't too crowded inside. So we decided to go in.

The day before, we have seen  long queues outside Starbuck in Dotonbori as they have recently launched a new autumn flavoured drink : Sweet Potato Frappucchino! I love sweet potatoes. Especially Japanese baked sweet potatoes. Here was the chance to actually try it! So I decided to go queue up for it. This is rare for me, as I don't really frequent Starbucks when I am travelling. It is just so cliche! But this was different, this was Starbuck Japan! And it has sweet potato!

As expected, it was so much cooler inside. So while my husband went to find a seat for us, I lined up to order our drinks. 

They were also selling autumn Starbuck merchandise. As usual, they were overpriced. I toyed with the idea of getting some, maybe as a gift or something. But the pricing really puts me off. 13SGD for a small mug? Sure it's limited edition. But then again, almost everything in Japan is limited edition!

Still queueing to get my drinks....

And tadah! My super yummy sweet potato frappe! It taste kinda oat-ty, like nestum. It was super delicious! Probably cost me around 7SGD? But I was on holiday, so it was ok!

Here's a close up of it! Believe it or not, this wasn't the only time I went to Starbuck on our trip here! Stay tune to find out more!

Osaka Sept 2019 : Osaka Castle

On our second day in Osaka, we walked to the nearby Osaka castle from our hotel after breakfast. It was a leisure walk, and the weather was lovely. Above photo is for my pot hole collection. I love take photos of beautifully crafted pot holes. And Japan has many lovely ones all over the place!

Japanase castles usually have a moat outside and a large palace ground to walk to before you actually reach the garden. The entrance was free, except to go up the castle, which we skipped. It was still early, so there wasn't many people around yet. Above photo shows the beautiful moat outside the castle. 

As we make our way in, we can see beautiful trees and traditional buildings in the palace ground.

Just before reaching the castle, there was a small temple to the right. We decided to explore the temple first as there was a wedding ceremony held there. We were not allowed to go inside due to the ceremony, but we managed to walk all around it, and it has a small rock garden just behind it which is sadly walled up. 

There was a traditional trishaw outside too, more as a props for photo taking for the wedding ceremony perhaps. I thought it make quite a nice photo opportunity for me. 

After exploring the quiet temple, we headed to the main castle. As you can see, it has started to get quite crowded. We just took a front photo of it, and didn't really want to go fight with the crowd further. There was a grand building next to it that host some restaurant and shops which we went to take a look. And just as we were about to leave the castle area, we saw some stone steps leading towards the wall of the castle. 

So we decided to climb up, and to be honest, this was my favourite part of the whole Osaka Castle visit. There were path all over the wall which you can walk, although some part has high grass around it cause nobody really walk here I guess. But I love it. And all around, you can see the view out towards the city. It was kinda whimsical to me. 

This is one of my favourite shot which my husband took of me. Just at one corner of the wall, there was a stone chair just below some trees. So I sat there and ate the snacks I have bought, a houjicha pancake. What a perfectly captured moment. 

Here's us again out side the castle wall. 

And this is just be acting cute at the wall. As you can see behind us are high rise buildings where the city is. Best place to go for some greeneries and quietness, away from the crowded tourist area! Bring some snacks and have a picnic here!

Osaka Sept 2019 : Donki Quijote, Shopping and Dinner

What? Still no photo of Glico man? Are you sure you're in Osaka? Lol. Here's me with Donki Quijote shop! Isn't it amazing how crazy the whole shop looks? What with the ferris wheel and all. 

One thing interesting about the Donki Quijote there is, they have a Adult Only section! I don't think we have that in Singapore, do we? I was curious to see a curtain that says "Adult only" like the photo above. I went in out of curiosity, after all, I am an adult!

Inside that section, you can find sex toys! Yes! Sex toys! I wonder if it's legal to buy them to Singapore? I mean, they look kinda affordable right? I wanted to browse around, but was kinda embarrass to do so, especially when there are other male customers around....

Denki Quijote is also a great place to stock up on snacks and beer beer beer! Or high ball in cans, whichever is your fancy. I don't think I got any. It's kinda heavy to bring it around. But I think we did get a few chilled beer to drink along the river. 

After wondering around town, went and explore the underground mall and found a nice quiet restaurant for an early dinner. It was a yakitori kinda place, cause I've been missing Sapporo style yakitori since I had it last. 

We pick the counter seat where you can see the staff cooking your meal, and also all the chilled meat just right in front of you.

It was an affordable place to eat. Around 10sgd+ per meal 

My husband ordered the teriyaki chicken set bento and a beer. 

I ordered a mixed of yakitori and kushikatsu set bento.

This is my first encounter with kushikatsu! Look how pretty it is! And it was delicious and juicy too!

Here are all the stuff my husband managed to buy, and this is like, only the first day we were in Osaka? I didn't buy much as we needed to travel to Kyoto after this and I didn't fancy carrying around a heavy luggage.