Japan Trip 2013 - Shinsaibashi (Another brief walkabout) + Fugetsu

July 16, 2014

Japan Trip 2013 - Shinsaibashi (Another brief walkabout) + Fugetsu

From Inari, we took a train back to Kyoto station arrived JR Osaka station about 45 minutes later. Then we started to use our Osaka 2 day pass which grants unlimited subway use and boarded to train to Shinsaibashi for our very belated dinner.

Osaka, being one of the 3rd largest city in Japan, is also as vibrant and lively as Tokyo. This was very much of what Shinsaibashi has to offer being one of the spots for nightlife as well as for fashion. As we have arrived a bit late, most of the shops have begun to close.

Shinsaibashi street, full of shops

The famous Glica signboard

The famous crab signboard

Crab sushi!

Huge Forever 21 building!

Once again, due to time constraints we were quite with limited with what we could visit. Hence the first place that we visited was Fugetsu, to try one of Osaka's most famous delicacy - okonomiyaki! This place was inside the coupons that came with the Osaka 2-day pass (free Asahi beer) and was recommended by some websites.

Egg & Bacon!

We ordered a couple of stuff but the okonomiyaki was the best of all. The whole dish was cooked on the grilling pan right in front of us, step by step. From the base, to the veges, to the meat etc. Just watching the dish being prepared feels tantalising to watch. I still can't find a restaurant back in Malaysia that makes okonomiyaki that tastes as good as the one here.

Shinsaibashi also has its fair share of dodginess as social escorts (i think) can be seen all around the streets. As the well dressed male and female approach random strangers on the streets, to which a majority rejected their offer of something. These people (the girls) look really decent and certainly of model quality I guess.Quite an eye opener.

Pretty looking escort

On an unrelated note, I also saw how the Japanese clear their own rubbish from the shops after work. Not sure where they will dispose of them later on. Great culture.

We didn't get to try any takoyaki though, which is also one of the most famous delicacy in Osaka. Was feeling too full after the sumptuous okonomiyaki. Maybe at another stop then.