30 Dec 2009
Breakfast before heading to Shinsekai
on the train
arriving at Shin-Imamiya station for the Shinsekai district
the train tracks
exiting the station
waiting outside the toilet
a machine being repaired
recycling in Japan
the Festival Gate, a now bankrupt amusement park, awaiting sale as per Japan Guide.
Wandering around the Shinsekai area.
one of the lowest priced vending machine we came across
my favourite – hot lemon
the main attraction of Shinsekai – The Tsutenkaku Tower
cigarette vending machine
parking
towards the main tourist area
came across a lot of this statue in Osaka. It’s called Billiken.
a queue for takoyaki.
a barber opposite the takoyaki shop
children enjoying their takoyaki
our turn…
not a fan of takoyaki, but Osaka is home to the takoyaki so…
first attempt at the drums at an arcade
another queue for another takoyaki shop.
walking further away from the main tourist area, the atmosphere gets more localized.
the men were playing some sort of Japanese board game
a queue to get into a kushi katsu eatery, which we skipped
another Billiken
crossing underground is another option to get across a road. there were replica designer goods for sale at the stalls.
an Izakaya, a standing one. It takes a little getting used to eating, standing.
heading back towards the tourist area. It was good to get a glimpse of local, not so flashy Japan.
local past-time of the older male generation
Billiken
and more Billiken
i think these are the kushi katsu
the Tower
beef
a sitting Billiken
an old school cinema
an old school shop selling a variety of bags
underneath the tower
another queue for another takoyaki shop
shops on the other side of the tower
fresh meat for sale
queue to get onto the elevator that takes them to the top of the tower
heading back to the train station
local housing
old school newsagent/bookshop
A Uniqlo store, not far from the train station, where we did some shopping earlier, when we arrived. Prices are low and goods are quite decent.
Sunkus is one of the less popular convenience store. The main ones are Lawsons, 7-11 and AM-PM.
The ticket machine at the train station, with a choice of english or japanese menu. It’s really not that hard…
The JR local line trains are more sophisticated in Tokyo.
back in Umeda/Osaka station
the ferris wheel at Hep-Five, in the distance.
there is always people, everywhere, whether it’s a workday or the weekend, day or night…
some are moving, some are still
to Yodobashi, which sells lots of electrical, electronic, toys and miscellaneous goods
Mochicream on the 6th or 7th floor of Yodobashi-Umeda, the food level
at one of the cafe for a light meal. the prices were rather expensive so we shared a set meal
the basket for storing jackets and bags is such a good idea
salad
seafood gratin
tea
dessert, can’t remember what it was…some sort of chocolate pudding
dinner back at the soba shop near the hotel…cold soba with a raw egg
after mixing. it tasted quite delicious, even though it seemed a bit strange…
kare-don (curry rice)
Billiken
heading back to the hotel, the soba shop on the right in the undercover mall
Hearton Hotel was one of the cheapest considering the location and distance from the train station. And a semi-double room cost less than a double. We hardly spend anytime in the hotel anyway, just somewhere convenient to sleep the nights and store the lugagges. No complaints. Greatly recommended. Most of the budget hotels in the Japanese cities give toothbrushes, toothpaste and cottonbuds which are replaced daily by the housekeeping. They don’t have shower caps though, for some reason.
New Year decoration at the lobby
today’s purchases…
from Uniqlo
from Yodobashi
Haruhi
Konata from Lucky Star
chips from 7-11
from a store in the Yodobashi building
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