Sunday, June 23, 2024

Japan 2024 Day 7 Osaka : Kuromon Market

You are at - Jotaro's Blog / AhPek Biker-Footsteps / Cycling Japan / Japan 2024 / Day 7: Osaka-Kuromon     |     Go to D1/D2/D3/D4/D5/D6/D8-9
                                     AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures                                   
Japan 2024: Day 7 Osaka: Kuromon Market 

Kyoto, Takayama, Osaka, Japan Day 7: 3rd April (Wednesday)
Small Group (Non-cycling) This is part of a tour of the Kansai & Hida Regions, Japan:
Dotonbori Hotel>Sōemonchō Street>Shinsaibashi>Kuromon Ichiba Market>0101 Namba Marui>Dotonbori Hotel.

This is page 7 of an 8-page blog, Click Here To Go To Title Page.
< D6: Osaka-Dōtonbori           |          Go to Other Days             |            D8 & 9: Aquarium >

Route recommendations, here're some tips on travelling in and around Kyoto:
1. Traffic Directions!
    Traffic in Japan is right-hand drive, so drive/cycle on the left. The same thing applies when crossing the road, take note of the direction in which traffic is approaching!

2. Clearing Immigration & Customs
    To clear Immigration & Customs fast, foreign visitors can do an online registration at the "Visit Japan Web" page and register their details online. Those in the same family can register together in one form. Upon successful registration, a QR Code will be issued, share this QR Code to the phones of each member. Just show this QR Code at both Immigration & Customs, and one will be whisked through as long as one has nothing to declare.

3. Getting to and around Osaka.
    We drove a rented van to drive from Takayama to Kyoto. After returning the van at Kyoto we used our ICOCA Travel Passes to get from Kyoto to and around Osaka (by trains & buses). This travel pass can be bought online via Klook which will issue vouchers and be redeemed for the actual tickets at the vending machines JR ticket gate at Kansai Airport. OR they can bought & be topped up at station vending machines at the JR-WEST Ticket Offices.
    We navigated our way using Google Maps.

4. Weather
    In late March & early April 2024, daytime weather in Kyoto & Osaka ranged from 17°C to 22°C and night time ranged 4°C to 13°C. So bring warm clothing and practice layered clothing to keep warm and still allow for stripping during the hotter times of the day.

5. Communicating with Each Other
    When travelling in a group it's important to be able to communicate with each other, especially if one gets lost from the rest. We bought online 15-day 10Gb Japan Go! prepaid sim cards from Hello 1010. 20Gb cards are also available. The cards were delivered 5 days from the order. Alternatively, those using Maxis can opt for their Multi-country Roaming Pass.
    
6. Communicating with Locals
    Except for those involved in the tourist industry, most Japanese don't speak English. Install Google Translate or Naver Papago apps to communicate. It will be good to pick up some basic Japanese phrases.

7. Places & Things of Interest  
   Enroute were several places of interest, some of which we visited and others we did not for lack of time (Note: click on GPS coordinates for a directional map to respective places):
    - Dotonbori Street (道頓堀) (GPS: 34.66872, 135.50129).
    - Ebisubashi Bridge (戎橋（えびすばし）) (GPS: 34.66906, 135.5013).
    - Dotonbori Glico Running Man (道頓堀グリコサイン) (GPS: 34.66892, 135.50108).
    - Tombori River Walk (とんぼりリバーウォーク) (GPS: 34.66895, 135.50522).
    - Sōemonchō Street (宗右衛門町) (GPS: 34.66974, 135.50428).
    - Kuromon Ichiba Market (黒門市場) (GPS: 34.66535, 135.50622).
    - Namba Centre (a難波センター街商店街) (GPS: 34.66639, 135.50211).
    - 0101 Namba Marui (なんばマルイ) (GPS: 34.66555, 135.50101).
    - Shinsaibashi Shopping Street (心斎橋筋) (GPS: 34.67242, 135.50103).
    - Ebisu Bashi-Suji Shopping Street (戎橋筋商店街) (GPS: 34.66749, 135.50135).
    - Hozenji Yokocho Food Alley (法善寺横丁) (GPS: 34.66798, 135.5027).
    - Universal Studios Japan (ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン) (GPS: 34.66567, 135.43231).
  
8. Food
    a. Brunch:
        Ramen noodles at Kinryu Ramen Midosuji [金龍ラーメン 御堂筋店(金龍拉麵 御堂筋店)] (GPS: 34.66807, 135.50061).
    b. Former Ramen noodles location (now closed) at Satsumakko [薩摩っ子ラーメン 道頓堀店] (GPS: 34.66864, 135.50217).
    c. Lunch:
        Very Fresh Sushi including lots of Uni at Kuromon Sanpei Seafood Shop (黒門三平 黒門市場店) (GPS: 34.66603, 135.50709) in the Kuromon Ichiba Market.
    d. Tea time:
        Coffee & Ice-cream at Mirocotasu Cafe in 0101 Namba Marui (GPS: 34.66555, 135.50101).
    e. Dinner:
        Korean BBQ at Soyon Shinsaibashi (焼肉韓国料理瑞英~soyon~) (GPS: 34.67044, 135.50304) at Shinsaibashi Shopping Street.

9. Stay
    Days 6 to 8: A 3-pax room & a 2-pax room at Dotonbori Hotel (道頓堀ホテル) (GPS: 34.66856, 135.4988); booked much earlier through Booking.com at ¥216,600
 (MYR6,600) total for 3 nights, ie at MYR440 per pax per night. Cost was higher as it was peak Sakura season.
    Other than free Wi-Fi, the hotel also provides free drinks & instant ramen at certain hours at the cosy lobby. The hotel has a coin-operated launderette. It is also near the Shinsaibashi and Ebisubashi shopping arcades & Hozenji Alley restaurant area.

10. Navigation
      Geo-tagging of places of interest was done via Google Maps and FaceBook. Alternatively one can use MapMe.com, (it's an offline app, but one will have to pre-download the maps of the relevant areas). Driving directions were guided with Google Maps.
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PRELUDE
The day before, we had a pleasant drive from Takayama to Kyoto to drop off the rental van near Kyoto Station. From there we took the train to Dōtonbori. In the evening, after dinner, we enjoyed walking along the Tombori River Walk and were still entranced by the bright lights of the area, even though we had been here several times before.
Today, the kids went their own way to visit Universal Studio Japan, while the missus and I walked around the Shinshaibashi locality and onwards to the Kuromon Ichiba Market.
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DAY 7: OSAKA - KUROMON MARKET

Small group self-tour of the Kansai & Hida Regions, Japan. Day 7 Around Osaka:
Dotonbori Hotel>Sōemonchō Street>Shinsaibashi>Kuromon Ichiba Market>0101 Namba Marui>Dotonbori Hotel.
A walk around the Dōtonbori &Shinshaibashi areas, before heading to the Kuromon Ichiba Market for lunch. Return was via the 0101 Namba Marui.
(Click here for the Osaka-Kuromon Route Map)


Started the day with high hopes of seeing some old, familiar faces at my favourite Ramen shop in Osaka - Satsumakko!
But instead of the old timber shop front, suddenly I say a shop with a big fish head as its signboard. Seems like Satsumakko was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and had closed down to be replaced by a Takoyaki shop!


Being no big fan of Takoyaki , I jogged my memory and recalled a nearby shop with a big green dragon for a signboard.
We ordered with extra Charsiu. The Ramen was almost as good as Satsumakko, but their Charsiu lost out - lacking some fat to give it stronger flavours. Their plus point was the free flow of sides like chopped garlic, kimchi cabbage and chives.
After this the kids headed for their fun-time at Universal Studios Japan; while the two of us did our own things.


We were ready to go walking around, but then the rain came! But it's a good thing that most hotels provide umbrellas for their patrons and soon we joined Osaka's umbrella brigade!


Heading towards Kuromon Ichiba Market, we walked past this shop with a red bulldog statue. Bulldogs always reminds me of  cousin Kat who has bulldogs as pets. And whenever I see statues of them will send over the pix to her, this is the first time I am sending her a red bulldog though.

Nishiki Market may be more popular with tourists, but I like Kuromon Market market more. Not as many foreign tourists around, so it's not super crowded. The stall operators are friendlier and warm up to their patrons easily, and giving out free samples too.


Although there are many stalls here selling all sorts of wares and foodstuff; it's the seafood stalls that attracts me. So many varieties like ....


Some of the seafood stalls even have a dining section. We had our lunch at Kuromon Sanpei Seafood Shop at a rear dining area.


It's a Sushi box set that includes tuna, salmon, white fish, prawn AND Uni! All this for an equivalent of MYR90. The Uni Shushi itself would probably cost about MYR50!.
A TIP HERE: It's cheaper to eat at the markets than at the restaurants. And this same meal would probably cost three times more back home.


Walking along the back alleys, we headed further into the Namba area, admiring many of the shops that open up to these back alleys. The Japanese don't waste space, the back alleys are very clean, and not so crowded with a quieter atmosphere. Many would rather walk here than at the main roads; so the eateries take advantage of this and have dining areas facing these alleys.
After circling around, we ended up at 0101 Namba Marui, I had a coffee and ice cream at the cozy Mirocotasu Cafe, while the Missus did some shopping.

Freebies at Dotonbori Hotel.
We like this hotel, daily from 3pm till 9pm, they provide free drinks and some food at their ground floor extended lobby. Drinks include beer, whiskey, sake, soju, plum wine (my fav), fizzy drinks, coffee, ice cream and sometimes Ramen too!


For a change, dinner was Korean fare at Soyon Shinsaibashi. It's Korean grilled meat, with Neeks & Phing expertly doing most of the grilling.


It had been a good day of varied destinations, but then this AhPek faced some difficulties later in the night ...... but that's a tale for another day!
素晴らしい一日でした！
(That's "Subarashī tsuitachideshita!", "What a Wonderful Day" in Japanese)

(For more photos of the Day 7, Click Here)
This is page 7 of an 8-page blog, Click Here To Go To Title Page.
< D6: Osaka-Dōtonbori           |          Go to Other Days             |            D8 & 9: Aquarium >
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