Japan 2012: Osaka 4D/3N Itinerary - Day 8

Date of Travel: 8-11 April 2012

Thank goodness for cherry blossoms. Otherwise, we wouldn't know what to do in Osaka. Today's mission was to find a way to transport the bicycle home. It did not come with a box, so I can't check it in. And I also cannot just wheel the bike to the airport. So we set out looking for a bicycle bag. Yodobashi Umeda offered quite a good selection of bike accessories, and we picked up a pretty cheap bag for the bike. We also needed a spanner to detach the bike pedals. You see, bringing a bike home isn't that easy after all.

Japan 2012: Osaka 4D/3N Itinerary - Day 7

Date of Travel: 8-11 April 2012

Osaka city, taken from Temmabashi

Sorry to say this, but we did not like Osaka very much. First impressions are always the strongest, and we had quite an eye-opener first day. Plus coming from places like Kyoto and Nara, Osaka was lacking in food and culture as well. So this is what happened to us.

Day 7 - Bike Hunt

Coming from Nara's JR Station, we were heading to our hotel Fraser Residence Nankai Osaka. Based on the maps and Hyperdia, the easiest way would be to go from JR Nara to Shinimamiya, then switch to the Nankai line to Namba station, which is where our hotel was located. We got to Shinimamiya station quite easily. Because we were carrying heavy luggage, we tried to locate the elevator to the exit. This turned out to be the wrong side of the station to exit. The elevator transported us back in time to the 1950s of Japan that we watched on TV. It was shockingly dirty, ill-maintained and a true eye-opener of what the city actually is like. As I got out of the station, I was disoriented and landed up at the Osaka subway, which was visible from the train exit. If I thought it couldn't get any worse, I was wrong. Beggars sleeping on the streets. Cigarette butts everywhere. People wandering aimlessly, and looked at us funny. Quickly turning around and going back towards the right direction, we traveled 2 stops to Namba, and were once again transported to the 21st century. What a first impression! Sorry no photos of this incident, I was too unnerved.

Japan2012: Nara 3D/2N Itinerary - Day 5,6,7

Date of travel: 6-8 April 2012

Wait, where are you going??!!

Everyone knows that Nara = Deers (no, not literally). What's there to do in Nara? Visit the deers. What's there to buy? Souvenirs shaped like deer. What's there to eat? Pancakes shaped like deers. Aside from deers, what else is there? Spending 2 nights here was more than enough to discover what Nara has to offer.