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AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures
Japan 2024: Day 8 & 9 Osaka : Aquarium
Kyoto, Takayama, Osaka, Japan Day 8 & 9: 4th & 5th April (Thursday & Friday)
This is page 8 of an 8-page blog, Click Here To Go To Title Page.
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.
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).
- 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).
- Osaka Aquarium (海遊館) (GPS: 34.65451, 135.42896).
- Nagai Park (長居公園) (GPS: 34.61261, 135.51999).
- TeamLab Botanical Garden (チームラボ ボタニカルガーデン 大阪) (GPS: 34.61102, 135.52061).
- Shinsaibashi Shopping Street (心斎橋筋) (GPS: 34.67242, 135.50103).
- Sōemonchō Street (宗右衛門町) (GPS: 34.66974, 135.50428).
- Kuromon Ichiba Market (黒門市場) (GPS: 34.66535, 135.50622).
- Osaka Aquarium (海遊館) (GPS: 34.65451, 135.42896).
- Nagai Park (長居公園) (GPS: 34.61261, 135.51999).
- TeamLab Botanical Garden (チームラボ ボタニカルガーデン 大阪) (GPS: 34.61102, 135.52061).
- 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).
- Hozenji Yokocho Food Alley (法善寺横丁) (GPS: 34.66798, 135.5027).
8. Food
Day 8:
a. 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.
b. Afternoon Tea:
Take-away omelette sandwiches from Lawson Dotonbori (ローソン 道頓堀店) (GPS: 34.66860, 135.49932).
c. Late Dinner:
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).
Day 9:
a. Brunch:
a. 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.
b. Afternoon Tea:
Take-away omelette sandwiches from Lawson Dotonbori (ローソン 道頓堀店) (GPS: 34.66860, 135.49932).
c. Late Dinner:
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).
Day 9:
a. Brunch:
Ramen noodles at Mensho Ramen (麺庄]) (GPS: 34.43467, 135.24578).
b. Tea:
Chicken Biryani - Meals-on-Board Air Asia flight.
b. Tea:
Chicken Biryani - Meals-on-Board Air Asia flight.
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.
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
A day earlier, while the kids visited Universal Studios Japan, the missus and I had a good outing coupled with Very Fresh Sushi at the Kuromon Ichiba Market. Ended the day with a family Korean BBQ dinner at Soyon Shinsaibashi. Seems a bit odd having Korean while in Japan, but the kids just wanted a change.
Today we look forward to a nice family outing to Osaka Aquarium, but something happened that spoiled our plans; read on to find out.....
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DAY 8 & 9: OSAKA - OSAKA AQUARIUM
Another nice lunch at Kuromon Ichiba Market and then onwards to an educational visit of the Osaka Aquarium. In the evening, we visited the light and sound show at TeamLab, with a surprising find at the Nagai Park.
(Click here for the Osaka-Osaka Aquarium Route Map)
Started off the day in the wee hours of the morning, with a bad case of diarrhoea. A few days ago we had bought a bottle of soju, drank about half and kept the balance in the room fridge. Not wanting to waste and thinking that the strong drink would help me have a sound sleep, yours truly drank the balance of it. Woke up in the middle of the night and made friends with the w.c. several times. Little did I know that an opened bottle of soju can get spoilt!
Anyway early the next morning, the missus went out to the pharmacy to get some Western diarrhoea tablets. However, the pharmacy recommended a Japanese remedy called
Seiromaru tablets.
Seiromaru is the Japanese equivalent of Po Chai pills. It is a traditional medication that has been around for more than a hundred years. I found that it was very effective, its only setback is that it looks & tastes..... like shit 😖😵.
(Click here for the Osaka-Osaka Aquarium Route Map)
Started off the day in the wee hours of the morning, with a bad case of diarrhoea. A few days ago we had bought a bottle of soju, drank about half and kept the balance in the room fridge. Not wanting to waste and thinking that the strong drink would help me have a sound sleep, yours truly drank the balance of it. Woke up in the middle of the night and made friends with the w.c. several times. Little did I know that an opened bottle of soju can get spoilt!
Anyway early the next morning, the missus went out to the pharmacy to get some Western diarrhoea tablets. However, the pharmacy recommended a Japanese remedy called
Seiromaru tablets.
Seiromaru is the Japanese equivalent of Po Chai pills. It is a traditional medication that has been around for more than a hundred years. I found that it was very effective, its only setback is that it looks & tastes..... like shit 😖😵.
Fortunately, one needs to take three of these small balls, every three to four hours (for two to three times)... phew!
Not to be a spoil-sport, I encouraged the wifey and kids to go ahead with their plans for the day! They proceeded to KIM and had a grand feast, one much better than what we had yesterday.
I could only look and drool as they shared photos of the huge prawn & crab, tons of sashimi and a whole box of uni!
Click on the above reel and you will know how I felt 😥🤐.
I could only stare out to the nearby lane, one with bare cherry trees.
I could only look and drool as they shared photos of the huge prawn & crab, tons of sashimi and a whole box of uni!
Click on the above reel and you will know how I felt 😥🤐.
I could only stare out to the nearby lane, one with bare cherry trees.
After the super-duper lunch, the family went on to visit the Osaka Aquarium.....
..... while I had a recovery meal of omelette sandwiches bought from the nearby Lawson.
Ok. Ok.... time to stop moping. The family came back, and I was sufficiently recovered to go out. So off we went to TeamLab Botanical Garden. It's a light and sound show, although set in a nice park, it was quite entertaining but I was rather disappointed as I was expecting more.
Our disappointment was made up by a short visit to the Nagai Park. It's the park that surrounds TeamLab. And we saw many Sakura trees in full bloom for the first time during our trip.
Ended the day with a simple supper at the dragon ramen place - Kinryu Ramen Midosuji.
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The following morning, it was time to say goodbye to Japan. With a tinge of sadness, we rolled our luggage out to the waiting van which we had pre-booked via our Malaysian tourist agency.
In less than 10 minutes we were on the Hanshin Expressway crossing the Minato Bridge and then onto the double-decked Sky Gate Bridge R. The latter is not a very long bridge (about 4km), but from it, we could see the planes parked at the airport hangars on the artificial island on which Kansai Airport sits.
Time to take advantage of our travels and do some duty-free shopping. I was looking for Russian Vodka, especially the Beluga brand. Due to the restriction of Russian imports arising from the Ukraine War but couldn't find any, so ended up buying this Japanese-crafted Roku Gin which comes in a distinct hexagon bottle. The six-sides signify the Japanese botanicals infused in the gin: Sakura flower, Sakura leaf, Yuzu peel, Sencha tea (green tea), Gyokuro tea (refined green tea) and Sanshō pepper. Sound interesting, will have to drink it soon!
One last meal in Japan before taking off.... er more ramen ; this time from Mensho Ramen, a worldwide chain.
Our AirAsia flight back to KL takes around ? hours, so we had pre-ordered meals-on-board. Although Japanese food were great, we thoroughly enjoyed this Bukhari?? for a change. This is one of my favourite AA meals, the other one being PNNL.
5:00pm - We landed at KLIA and were glad to be home.
In less than 10 minutes we were on the Hanshin Expressway crossing the Minato Bridge and then onto the double-decked Sky Gate Bridge R. The latter is not a very long bridge (about 4km), but from it, we could see the planes parked at the airport hangars on the artificial island on which Kansai Airport sits.
Time to take advantage of our travels and do some duty-free shopping. I was looking for Russian Vodka, especially the Beluga brand. Due to the restriction of Russian imports arising from the Ukraine War but couldn't find any, so ended up buying this Japanese-crafted Roku Gin which comes in a distinct hexagon bottle. The six-sides signify the Japanese botanicals infused in the gin: Sakura flower, Sakura leaf, Yuzu peel, Sencha tea (green tea), Gyokuro tea (refined green tea) and Sanshō pepper. Sound interesting, will have to drink it soon!
One last meal in Japan before taking off.... er more ramen ; this time from Mensho Ramen, a worldwide chain.
Our AirAsia flight back to KL takes around ? hours, so we had pre-ordered meals-on-board. Although Japanese food were great, we thoroughly enjoyed this Bukhari?? for a change. This is one of my favourite AA meals, the other one being PNNL.
5:00pm - We landed at KLIA and were glad to be home.
This is page 8 of an 8-page blog, Click Here To Go To Title Page.
It had been an enjoyable holiday with beautiful sights, great food and most importantly, one of family bonding.
SELAMAT PULANG KE TANAH AIR!
(This translates to "Safely Home to the Water Land" which means "Welcome Home!" in Bahasa Malaysia.)
(For more photos of Days 8 & 9, Click Here)
This is page 8 of an 8-page blog, Click Here To Go To Title Page.
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