Osaka

I heart Osaka.  This place knows how to have a good time.  We stayed in a very reasonable hostel, 'Go Osaka!', ate shabu-shabu and drank Asahi beers every night. 

We made a trip to Fandango, a nightclub in Yodogawa-ku to check out some Japanese bands.  But, alas, it was closed when we got there.  Although, we didn't realise at the time and just walked in like some idiot tourists.  The bouncer quickly ushered us out, crossing his arms into an 'X' to signify that we couldn't come in.  For any Westerner visiting Japan, this gesture is important to remember! 

A little disappointed, I went to a nearby Mister Donut shop and stuffed my face with crispy donuts.  Then we went to a little bar where we had to pay 1000 yen just to sit down, but this at least covered our first drink.  The walls of the bar were covered in music paraphenalia and photographs of pissed patrons.  I quite liked the atmosphere, and they had a mini statue of Freddy Mercury behind the bar.  Wish I could remember the name of the place!  Too many Asahi beers, perhaps...

Osaka has loads of subterreanean shopping arcades, a little like Sydney.  I loved it.  I indulged and hurt my credit card and picked up some unique Japanese fashion.  Also, we visited the Umeda Sky Building, which has a glass elevator that goes about three quarters of the way up the building.  To get to the top, however, you need to take an elevator in a see-through plastic tube.  I had a panic attack and cried. No joke.  I am petrified of heights.  It took me about half an hour to work up the courage to get to the top, but I closed my eyes the whole way and then bought lots of touristy souveniers to make myself feel better.  

Underneath the building is the Takimi-koji alley.  The alley is a recreation of a traditional Japanese alleyway, circa early 20th century.  Very cute and quaint, but it does feel slightly like a theme-park.  Still worth checking it out, as there are some nice little shops and restaurants there (if you could afford it, that is...).

Just outside our hostel was a little "shot bar".  It was tiny, but the booze was fairly cheap.  And the owner let us put on our choice of music and even invited Steve to have a jam on his guitar.  It was great, like sitting in a tiny shack in the middle of the big city, safe from the hustle and bustle outside.  Osaka is a place of contrasts - here we were sitting in this run-down little shack, while Hummers and Lamborghinis filled up the streets outside. 


Anyone planning a trip to Japan must check out Osaka.  It's a bit hustle and bustle like Tokyo, but it has something else to it.  The food was fantastic.  The shopping was great.  Maybe it's a little less touristy and more gritty than Tokyo?  I'm not sure, but I will definitely return there one day.