Osaka/Kyoto/Nara Dec 2014 Itinerary: Part 2: Day 1

Day 1:  (Osaka)
AM Kuromon Market (Kuromon Sanpai and more)
PM- Osaka Castle
-Shinsaibashi
- Dotombori (Osaka Takoyaki Museum, King Emon Ramen)

Day 1 was really too packed and this itinerary is not for the faint-hearted. Did a lot of walking but it really helped that the hotel I stayed was in the heart of Namba.

AM: Walked over to Kuromon Market for fresh sushi/sashimi breakfast. (It's not too far away from Namba station where I stayed- or take train to Nipponbashi station). It is a marketplace that sells fresh seafood, fruits and food snacks and a great place to fill your tummy!

Do keep your eyes peeled for the entrance of the market, which is tucked between some shops and may not be obvious at first glance.

 

Inside the market- which consists of covered walkway/streets

 

Grab a copy of this really cute (and FREE!) official free guide map of Kuromon Market- it has a useful map of the place and information of shops (in English!) . It can be found at info stands around the market- I got my copy from Kuromon Sanpai restaurant.

My first stop was Kuromon Sanpai which serves fresh ready-to-eat seafood! Look at the wide range of sushi/sashimi available!

There is an eating space inside, where you can sit and eat. They also serve Donburi- just go up to the cashier and place an order. They will give you a number and the rice bowl will be brought to you. I ordered their seafood donburi (1200 yen) which has dollops of fresh salmon roe, crab, tuna, salmon slices, scallop and squid. The set also comes with a bowl of hot miso soup, which complements this hearty meal. i also got a side dish of fatty tuna sushi (1000yen) which was fabulously fresh and the fatty parts just literally melt in your mouth. I had a really satisfying meal here! You may want to come early to avoid the crowds- everyone seems to make a bee line to this particular store.

Proceed to walk around the absorb the sights and smells of fresh produce in the market and sample more food/snacks.

Delicious looking octopus on a stick- it's head is stuffed with quail egg!	Get more seasonal fresh seafood- some food items like escargots, scallops are prepared and served to you on the spot!
There is also a tempura shop	Visited Mitoya (三都屋) which sells tasty snacks. I bought their seasonal mochi snacks- one that is matcha flavoured, and another fruit mochi- fresh strawberry encased with red bean paste covered in mochi and chocolate powder. Simply divine!

PM: After a great breakfast, I proceeded to Osaka Castle. I took transferred trains to exit at Tanimachi 4-chrome station and walked to the castle area. I mostly lingered around the castle park and keep area to admire the autumn colours. I was still pretty full from my breakfast, so I just had some Waribimochi that I had bought from Mitoya in Kuromon Market. There was a mini festival/carnival going on and there were some makeshift food stalls around the castle area.

Took a train back to Shinsaibaishi and joined the shopping crowds. Explored the America Mura area and Mido-suji road shops. There are many pharmacy shops around the Mido-suji area- great places to get cosmetics and beauty products but really like a war zone where many tourists clamour for duty free cosmetics. Don't hurry into a purchase- there are many shops along the street and it won't harm to compare prices and check out discounts offered by different shops. Also visited Tokyu Hands Department Store which is a massive complex with many floors stocked with various Japanese products.

Evening time: I walked over to Dotonbori (I'm not a shopaholic, so I didn't spend too much time in Shinsaibashi, you may consider keeping this to the next day too, if you're tired!).

One of the main sights is the Glico Running Man- such a wonder when it's lit up at night!

Dotonbori is a street filled with restaurants, snacks and souvenir shops. Look out for the interesting signboards on each shop front.

Stopped over at Osaka Takoyaki Museum for some of Osaka's specialty food- Takoyaki! You won't miss the shop- it has a huge octopus above it and snaking queues. They also play a catchy medley of songs that chants TAKOYAKI TAKOYAKI repeatedly. This is of course not the only place to get your takoyaki fix, walk further down and you will also see other takoyaki stalls.

Freshly made takoyaki balls  (550 yen for 8 pcs) that were piping hot and absolutely delicious! A generous piece of chewy octopus is encased inside pillowy soft flour balls that were pan-fried to perfection. I also tasted some pickled ginger mixed in the flour batter which I thought really gave the takoyaki balls a nice gingery twist.

Explore the Dotonburi area- I walked into a small alleyway and was suddenly found myself near the Hozenji Temple area which was a quiet, serene place which was in stark contrast to the noise, hustle and bustle of Dotonburi, just a street away.

Returned to Dotonburi and had dinner/supper at a ramen shop. There are many ramen joints such as Kinryu (the shop with the big dragon on top of it) and Kamakura. I walked into King Emon ramen store and had their "Osaka Black" ramen (800yen), springy ramen noodles served in a black soy sauce soup base- another hearty meal to fend off the cold!