This isn't the definitive Osaka. This is the Osaka that my cousins know,
with some allowance for a couple things that interested me.
Returning from the villas, I couldn't go home without seeing some big
cities as well. We went mostly to the Minami area, but we walked much this
day.
Damn, I can't wait to go back again... the colors and lights... just
so much better than L.A...
What? A roller coaster inside a building? That's the reaction I had
on my way to Hiroshima, via Osaka.
I had to go when I had the opportunity. It's actually a whole amusement
park inside a building called "FestivalGate."
Getting off at the Shin-Imamiya station, it's right there. Yes, I did
ride the roller coaster. How could I not?
Shin-Sekai. It is said that this is possibly the most dangerous neighborhood
in all of Japan. Cool, huh?
Kind of like East L.A., I guess... the Lonely Planet guide had something
to say about it.
To top it off, played a couple of games of Pachinko here, hehe.
Doguyasuji Arcade: Imagine, an entire shopping district devoted to restaurant goods. I thought it was good... the whole cook/gourmet side in me coming out that makes me go to Williams-Sonoma and stuff. Also, there was an electronics district called Den Den Town as well - that was like, four square kilometers of Fry's - I was in heaven.
More cousins: Masashi, Takahiro, and I at Mr. Donut in Sennichimae.
These covered streets/shopping malls are everywhere in Japan - and it's
wonderful.
I actually got two silk ties (100%) for 1000 en near here.
Tomohide and fiance, Ryo-san. We're all getting pretty plastered at this point in the izakaya; we met up with Tomohide at the Sony Tower, then walked across Dotomburi (Ebisu-hashi) to go drinking in Namba. This picture is actually really bad, but I can't help but laugh at the expression on Tomohide's face.
Okay, I'm nice and drunk here, but check out that door on the izakaya.
It's like 1 meter tall. The reason, supposedly, is that it's like the teahouse
style.
In the old days, the doors were this small so everyone had to dunk
to get in - meaning that any sword would be revealed, and thus none could
be snuck in.