Osaka, Japan

Family Reunion Cruise -- 8-Day Roundtrip Keelung, Taiwan on Diamond Princess

Day 6 -- Osaka, Japan November 23, 2018 (8:00 AM~6:00 PM)

Breakfast was at the International Dining Room this morning considering that the buffet would be very busy with everybody getting ready for their day in port. We have been to Osaka a couple of times in the past on land tours and we kind of knew what we wanted to see and do in town. We were very much aware of the long hike up if we go to Osaka castle and that we just saw the Nagoya castle the day before, we decided that we would just concentrate on food today. Seems like an easy port to explore. 

As I was walking around the ship before breakfast, I noticed the boat from the Japanese Fire Department squirting colorful water spray to welcome our ship sailing into the harbor. Very nice!

Kai Sushi on deck 7

Photo Gallery

We walked off the ship at around 8:30 and ready for our trip to downtown Osaka.

Right in front of the gangway is the entrance to the Tempozan Marketplace. The port exit is actually to the left of the building.

A huge giraffe made of lego blocks greeted us as we walked down the street in front of the marketplace.

Looking back at the port gate showing where everything is. From here, the metro station is only about three blocks up. An easy walk.

Across from the marketplace stands a beautiful building.

We took the Chuo Line from Osakako station to Sakaisuji Hommachi Station, then switched to the Sakaisuji Line to Nippombashi station where we got off and walked to the Kuromon Ichiba Market. Changing lines was easy, the hard part was looking for the elevators that would take us to the right platforms with the wheelchair. For a while we were making wild goose chases looking for each others because we failed to find the wheelchair group at the platform where the elevator should be. Instead it went straight up to the street level. We managed to meet back up and got on the correct train to our destination. Thank goodness!

Out of the Nippombashi station for our walk to Kuromon Market.

Kuromon Ichiba Market is a covered indoor market filled with vendors selling street food and souvenirs. There are also restaurants and supermarkets scattered around making this a very busy tourist spot.

Seemed like all the tourists from around the world were there having their shares of good food. Not cheap, I must say, but quite interesting!

Never knew that I would be brave enough to try this. Deep fried puffy fish. Puffy fish can be deadly if not prepared properly.

Did not get a picture of the final product but they were good! The meat of the fish was dense and tasty.

The puffy fish stand right at this corner.

They also have puffy fish shabu shabu. The sign shows the recommendation of a Hong Kong celebrity.

We also made sure that we visit this place...for their fresh uni.

We ordered one fresh uni...

...and they piled the opened one with more uni into a 'uni tower'.

Making this a valuable treat.

Yum! Creamy and sweet!

We also tried the toro from the tuna specialty store. Very good but much more expensive than the one we got from the Mega Don Quijote supermarket in Yokohama a couple of days earlier.

Tuna store

Finally, we got in line for the Kobe beef store.

With every kind of beef you can choose from.

Award winning

    Our order of sample Kobe beef, that was like 1500 Y.

Grilled right there.

Certified Kobe beef

Super delicious, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth good!

From there we walked over to the Doutonbori Street, the main tourist sight in town.

A restaurant specialized in crabs. There are several branches just on this one street.

People in the long line for some takoyaki.

This must be the busiest corner with all the famous restaurants in one spot.

Takoyaki (squid balls), an Osaka specialty and a must-try.

We ate at this revolving sushi restaurant the last time we were here but not this time.

Hustle and bustle!

Another sushi place.

Puffy fish

Another takoyaki store with a long line.

How about some more takoyaki?

The main indoor shopping arcade Shinsaibashi that runs several blocks through the city.

Some visitors enjoying a boat ride along the river.

For a view of the city, we went up to the rooftop of Daimaru Department Store at Shinsaibashi. We were the only ones up there and it was free of charge.

We could see for miles around.

That's the covered shopping street of Shinsaibashi.

Nice rooftop garden with no one.

From Shinsaibashi, we walked back to the Hommachi station and took the Chou line back to the port.

Walking back to port from the metro station.

Port entrance straight ahead.

Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel

We were thinking of walking around the port area a little but we were just tired. After three days of walking we were ready for some rest. Apparently, there are quite a few things to see near the port, like the aquarium, the harbor village, and the shopping mall. But, those will have to wait until the next time.

We had a good day in Osaka and I was happy that we got to try out all these food at the market. Now I realized that what makes me happy while traveling is to enjoy local food.

Roasted pork belly, delicious!

Sugar-free mango and macadamia nut samosas

We will have a sea day to rest up tomorrow before reaching Okinawa

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."           Proverbs 3:5~6