Japan Trip Day Four

Day #4 Tokyo - Osaka
12th August 2008 (Monday)

We had planned to visit Tsukiji Fish Market early this morning! Was scheduled to wake up at 4:30am. Think we slept too late the previous night, both me and hubby refused to get up and was having a headache. The rest of them went ahead though. Here are some photos they took. Was kinda glad I did not follow, coz those fishes lying on the floor is not very appealing to me as a fish lover! 

@ Tsukiji Fish Market

We schedule to meet at the hotel lobby at around 10am to set off to Osaka. We even sent our luggages bia courier to the airport so that we do not have to carry so much stuff. All we need to do is to pick up our luggage before we check in to depart to Singapore!

We bought the 7 day Japan Rail Pass which was really handy when we were getting around. It saved us alot more as well. Transportation cost in Japan is really not cheap.

Our Japan Rail Passes

We took the Shinkansen bullet train to Shin-Osaka and transitted to the JR to reach our destination at Namba JR Station where our hotel is near. The journey was a long one (about 2hrs 45 mins) despite the bullet train moving at a tremendous speed. What was worse was we did not manage to get a seat so half the time, we were sitting on our luggages. :)

Shinkansen from Tokyo - Osaka

Transitting to JR to Namba!

We chose to stay at Cross Hotel and it was a pretty good choice. The boutique hotel was cosy and nicely decorated. We love the bed! Location of the hotel was not bad too, with the shops and shopping streets in Shinsaibashi all within walking distances. I don't mind going back to stay if we ever get the chance to Osaka again. :)

Cross Hotel Osaka

Cross Hotel Osaka
(Address: 2-5-15 Shinsaibashisuji Chuo-Ku Osasaka 542-0085 Japan; Tel: 06.6213.8281)

After settling down our stuff and resting a while in the hotel, we made our way to find some food to fill our almost empty stomach. We chose this ramen shop (四天王) where we have to buy our food coupons via the machine. Infact, many of the eateries in Japan practises this... Singapore should do that too. It's efficient and interesting. We were still discussing the possibilities of implementing it in Singapore. Hah.... I had ordered rice while hubby ordered Ramen. Food was not too bad.

Our first meal in Osaka

After dinner (or rather late lunch), we continued to walk around the area and took more pictures. Shinsaibashi is a colourful place. All the neon lights of the shops make the streets look bright and interesting.

The colourful streets of Shinsaibashi

We also came across this temple look alike place so decided to take some pictures outside. Have totally no idea what it is but the Japanese culture feel is there. :)

We walked to the electronics building nearby to check out on the gadgets. Hubby was as usual more excited than usual and kept testing out on the Japanese electronics items though he has no idea what was written on the screens or buttons. When the shop was closed, we continued walking aimlessly but in a relaxing mode, we came across this Gasino. The Japanese call it Pachinko. Steven of course tried his luck on one or two of the slot machines. We just sat around waiting and checking out the Japanese style Casino.

@ Gasino

After the Pachinko session, we slowly make our way back to the hotel and call it a day.

On our way back to Cross Hotel

Our planned itinerary is to go to the Aquarium tomorrow. Pray for good weather!