Osaka/Kyoto/Nara Dec 2014 Itinerary: Part 6: Day 5

Day 5: (Osaka/Nara Day trip)
AM: Sushi Breakfast at Endo Sushi (Central Fish Market branch)
PM: Nara Day Trip
Evening: Explore Umeda

AM: Had a really tiring day yesterday from the traveling in Kyoto, so woke up a little later than usual. Headed out from hotel to Endo Sushi at around 10am (was definitely way too late for fish auctions but hope it wasn't too late for some sushi breakfast!) Took the JR line to Noda station to walked over to Osaka Central Fish Market where Endo Sushi is located.

I reached Endo Sushi around 10.30am, and waited a short while before being entering the restaurant (there were just a couple of people waiting for their turn before me). I was ushered to a counter seat, where I can watch the sushi chefs busy slicing fish and making sushi with their hands.
I was given an English "Maze" menu where I can choose a sushi platter comprising 5 different pieces of seasonal sushi items- each for 1080 yen. 
This is Set 1 (From left: Eel, Sea urchin, Sea bream, fatty tuna, yellow tail) shown with a hot piping bowl of miso soup. I really like how fresh and chewy the fish slices that tasted so heavenly when paired with Japanese rice. I really enjoyed the Toro (fatty tuna) one, especially how the fatty chucks of the fish melt in your mouth. They also serve miso soup with small clams that is so sweet and fragrant and a definite must order to go with your sushi meal. 

Not quite satisfied, I proceeded to order Set 4 (with from left: salmon, fatty tuna, halfbeak, salmon roe and ika). You could taste the freshness with every bite of the raw fish sushi- the salmon roe literally burst with sweet-salty flavour in each bite. They also provide a soya sauce brush where you can (if you wish) delicately brush your sushi pieces with the right amount sauce and not overdo it by dunking them in sauce. I might have ordered a third plate, but was constrained by my tight cash flow (esp after visiting Kyoto!)

Getting to Endo Sushi is rather tricky for the unfamiliar. I got lost despite having Google Maps on my handphone and consulting very specific directions from misstravelosopher. So if you are as hopelessly directionless as me, I hope my suggested straightforward route on Google Maps can help- it will take a good 15-20 min walk. The main aim is to reach the front entrance of Osaka Central Fish Market and then head towards the left side to Endo Sushi Restaurant.

1) Exit Noda Station
2) Walk towards Tamagawa station, you will see a Family Mart at the cross junction near the train station
3) Make a turn and walk straight along the main road- you will pass by a second Family Mart shop
4) Walk towards and enter the FRONT entrance of Osaka Central Fish Market (Watch out for traffic!)
5) Walk towards the left side- the Endo Sushi is not within the main fish market premises, it is housed in a separate block on the left.

After a satisfying sushi breakfast, I walked back to JR Noda station to catch a train to Nara. There is a direct train service (along JR Yamatoji Line Rapid Service, 800 yen) but I wasn't too sure if it stopped at Noda station, so I took a stop to Nishikujo and transferred there.

PM: Upon reaching JR nara station, I exited and found the Nara Tourist Information Centre and got myself a well illustrated map of the place. I found myself walking along the beautiful streets of Sanjo Dori after which I visited Kofukuji Temple, the nearby Deer park and Todaiji Temple.

The grounds of Kofukuji

Deers are regarded as messengers of god and are allowed to roam around Nara freely. But there are signs that remind you that the deers are wild animals and do behave as such- they can get aggressive- especially when it comes to claiming food. (A deer actually chewed on my paper map)

At the entrance of Todaiji Temple- where deers roam

You can purchase deer cookies to feed the deers, but be prepared to face a hoard of hungry deers!

The main hall of Todaiji- a really huge and magnificent temple that houses a huge buddha statue. 

Catch the autumn colours around the park of Todaiji

Walked back along Shijo-dori- had a cup of coffee, stopped for some souvenir shopping. Do also check out Nakatanidou (中谷堂)- a shop specialising in mochi (130yen). These are probably one of the nicest soft, chewy rice cakes I have ever tasted and my only regret is not buying more!

Picture taken from http://www.nakatanidou.jp

Evening: Caught a train out of Nara back to Osaka- and spent the night exploring Umeda area (More info in the next post!)