I've been living in Osaka for just over two weeks, and have had some time to find my way around a little, and even be comfortable being the navigator for visitors.
Speaking of visitors - this was a three-day weekend for most folks, and Brian took the opportunity to come check out my diggs in Osaka. He came up on Friday night and stayed until Monday evening - and it was really great to have the company, and have someone to explore all the bars and restaurants with.
Every year in the past, this long weekend in particular would always find us at a beach somewhere, especially as the holiday - umi-no-hi - translates as Marine Day. But this year, we ate and drank, and drank in the city.
Friday
I met Brian at Nanba station at 8:30 p.m., and we walked back to my place before striking out again in search of dinner. Everything in this district is open super late, so when we rocked up at a yaki-nikku (Korean BBQ restaurant) at 9:45, we were some of the earlier arriving guests!
After the restaurant, even though exhausted, Brian joined me for a beer at my local bar where I've started hanging out.
Saturday
We got started on Saturday morning, when we woke up lazily in my small and dark apartment. We started watching TV and were reminded that it was the Gion Matsuri this day, so as Kyoto - which is where Gion is - is not all that far from Osaka, we made our way by local train to the ancient capital to see some of the festival.
Brian had been to the festival before, but it was my first time. I love Kyoto, so I enjoyed being there, but the festival itself was, well, a little bit of a let down. The streets were too crowded to allow much of a view for someone as vertically challenged as me, and we'd already walked so much that Brian's foot began to burn in pain.
However, we did get a few photos and then had a cold beer and hot lunch at a nearby Indian restaurant!
[caption id="attachment_1755" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Gion Matsuri"]
[/caption]Before making our way back to Osaka, Brian introduced me to the Kyoto market, which I have never been to and didn't even know existed. They had lots of things on offer, including these octopuses.
[caption id="attachment_1756" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Octopus on a stick in the Kyoto market"]
[/caption]Back in Osaka, we did a little shopping in Shinsaibashi, in the Nanba area of the city, before stopping for margaritas and tacos at a Mexican restaurant!
[caption id="attachment_1757" align="alignnone" width="199" caption="The very famous 'Glico Man' billboard at Shinsaibashi"]
[/caption]After this full-on day, we were not done yet. We headed back out at about 9:30 p.m. to find dinner. Now, remember, in days past, B and I would be asleep by 9:30 quite often! However, life here is just getting started. So, out we went, searching for more Mexican food, and found ourselves at a hostess bar! I was thrilled, since I'd never been to one, and that's not the kind of place a girl goes alone, and also not the kind of place a guy willingly goes to with a girl. So - I was stoked!
It was very clean and nice. The very young, cute waitresses were wearing cowboy-style clothes in cut-off short shorts and totally cropped tops.
And they were SO nice!
Of course, when I said this to Brian (who, I actually think, was uncomfortable!), he reminded me that that was their job. So what, I said. They were still very nice!
Anyway, I loved the hostess bar, and can see the attraction if you're a guy. Most of the people there were men without women in tow, and the waitresses each took a table, and stood there chatting to the men. I think I'm gonna see if there are any host bars out there...
Sunday
We didn't have much of a plan for Sunday, but the day went by quickly as we explored the Kuromon Ichiba (market), explored the knife shops of Doguyasuji street, and then went shopping in Den Den Town (electronics and other toys). Of course, we also stopped for lunch, and for that we found a Japanese BBQ restaurant near Nanba station.
[caption id="attachment_1758" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Check out the price of this watermelon in Kuromon Market - 30,000 yen!"]
[/caption]We finished off the day with a 20 minute boat tour along the Dotonbori river!
[caption id="attachment_1759" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Sailing the Dotonbori"]
[/caption]Monday
In an effort to try to reduce walking and the pressure on Brian's ever-more damaged foot, we thought a trip to the Osaka Aquarium - Kaiyukan - would be restful and pleasant. Pleasant - yes, extremely. But not so restful and it became another day with lots of walking! However, we both agree that it was worth it. The aquarium, though crowded on this national holiday, was soothing and beautiful.
[caption id="attachment_1760" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Swimming Tortoise"]
[/caption]The Jellyfish exhibit was especially breathtaking.
[caption id="attachment_1761" align="alignnone" width="225" caption=".."]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_1762" align="alignnone" width="300" caption=".."]
[/caption]After the aquarium, we took the Santa Maria cruise around Osaka bay, and then it was time for our weekend to come to a close and resume business as usual on Tuesday morning...
[caption id="attachment_1763" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Kaiyukan aquarium and Tempozan Harbor Village as seen from the Santa Maria in Osaka bay"]
[/caption]Here's a little map. The blue dots show the general areas around Osaka that we visited (excluding the aquarium...). We did all of this on foot - which helps explain the flare-up of pain in B's foot!
View Around Nanba, Osaka in a larger map
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