osaka-kyoto-tokyo

Sunday, we woke up early to check out the Shishiden (Lion stage) on the grounds of the Namba Yasaka Shrine
 

I saw this on social media...and there were quite a number of foreigners out and about here too

It was something to see!

After breakfast, we checked out and made our way to Kyoto

On a previous trip to Osaka, I noticed this street art on the side of a building.

After looking it up, I learned that it was a mural of Taro Okamoto, a Japanese artist.

I'm glad I got a photo of it this time around...

Well, the AI site had sent us a message that they didn't have any item similar to Satoshi's cap...boo!

So, when we got to Shin Osaka, we asked the Shinkansen Lost and Found about Satoshi's cap

They gave us a number to call since the item would've probably been turned in at the final destination of the Shinkansen we rode…Hakata!

If you've been reading our little blog, do you remember the huge chocolate bar wall that is at the Meiji Chocolate Factory?!

I wrote about it here and I also uploaded a newer video of the wall here

After arriving in Kyoto, Satoshi checked out some things and then we went to visit our family grave

Lunch was at Mimikou...we have eaten here before

The curry was a little saltier than I had remembered and the serving looked a little smaller too

Satoshi had the ebi ten curry udon

After lunch, we bought our tickets for the Shinkansen and got these soft waffles filled with custard from Patisserie Hiroya, a shop that has been in business since 1956...so ono! with some coffee

It was a short trip, Satoshi got to refamiliarize himself with many areas

I hope you enjoyed this adventure too!

p.s. after we got home, we called Hakata about Satoshi's cap, they had it! they sent it to us and it arrived yesterday, “cash on delivery”...Satoshi was amazed at the lost and found system. We're thankful someone turned it in and we were able to get it back.

ippoutei

Ippoutei is a tiny shop that is famous for their shumai

They have been in business since 1933!

While waiting in line, I overheard many people that walked past say that there is always a line to get in

This shop was on a J-drama which is why I was interested in trying it

They have dining on the 2nd floor as well as some seats and a counter area on the 1st floor

I ordered the sweet sour pork set...1350 yen (tax included)

This comes with 5 shumai

Choose the size of your rice...I chose small

I also asked for no soup

This was delicious and the serving was super generous

Satoshi ordered the ebi ten (tempura shrimp)...1200 yen (tax included)

His dinner also came with a serving of 5 shumai 

He chose the medium amount of rice

And also ordered a large bottle of beer...700 yen (tax included)

The food took awhile to come out, but it was fun to listen in on other diners’ conversations while we waited

While we were eating Satoshi said he had eaten these shumai before at their other shop that was near his office when he worked in Osaka

The shumai was a little too soft for my liking, but I'm glad I got to try this place

Ippoutei

2-6-22 Nanbanaka

Naniwa, Osaka

Closed: Sundays

Hours: 11:30-20:00

*cash only

osaka-mount koya

We headed out early so that Satoshi could refresh his memory for Mount Koya

As we were getting ready, it was then that Satoshi realized he might have forgotten his cap in the Shinkansen!

During the hour and a half ride to Mount Koya, we sent an AI site, a lost item form for them to check on his cap

Anyway, the last time I visited Mount Koya was back in 2007! 

Loved all the shades of green

Unfortunately, even if it was sunny, we were not prepared for the fahreezing temps...brr!

Konpondaito

many rhododendron were in bloom, and there was a bird that had a beautiful voice

Okunoin

Many shogun, as well as many company presidents have their graves here 

Nowadays, some areas do not allow photos, and there are areas that would like visitors to dress accordingly since it is a sacred area...so be aware & respectful

Lunch was at the Digital Museum, which I believe is new, inside, they have Cafe Shizuku.

All the food served here was shojin ryori style (vegetarian cuisine for Buddhist monks)

Kat had their dashi chazuke while Satoshi chose their meatless curry (no photo)

Even if both had no meat, they were both delicious

Kongobuji's rhododendrons...

huge tree slice!

lovely rock garden...video here and beautiful rhododendrons outside on the outskirts of the property

the ceiling at Mount Koya station was covered with the zodiac animals

And the ceiling of the Nankai Gokurakubashi station was so colorful

We headed back to Osaka, it was a long day, and we were ready for dinner...

Cafe Shizuku

inside of Koya Digital Museum

Hours: 10:00-16:00

APA Hotel Namba Ekimae

1-2-13 Minatomachi

Naniwa, Osaka 

tokyo-osaka

Satoshi wanted to research some things for an upcoming tour, so on Friday, we headed to Osaka

This building, Osaka Shochikuza was slated to be torn down, but many people protested and has been saved!

We stumbled on this cute 3D screen right across of the big crab in Dotombori.

so much sensory overload...and tons of people...

we needed to wake up early for the reason we were here...will post about it tomorrow.

Osaka Teikoku Hotel

2-8-17 Nishi Shinsaibashi

Chuo, Osaka

toranoko

We’ve passed by Toranoko many times, but only got to try them the other day

I ordered their lu rou fan…980 yen (tax included)

This was tasty but I wished it wasn’t swimming in the gravy

Thank goodness for a spoon

I didn’t think the spicy bean sprouts matched with this dish

Satoshi ordered the kikurage (wood ear) with pork & veggies…980 yen (tax included) (no photo)

and an order of gyoza…580 yen (tax included) (no photo)

His lunch also came with a slice of tofu and that same spicy bean sprout 

Both our lunches came with a little bowl of soup that had no flavor

The gyoza did not pass gyoza snob's criteria...the wrappers were too thick

Not sure if we’ll come back but we were glad we tried this place

Toranoko

2-1-4 Shinkamata

Ota, Tokyo

Hours: 11:00-23:00

tokyo metlocker plus

You probably already know about this, but I recently learned about these lockers that will send your luggage to your hotel

The lockers are located in several metro stations around Tokyo.

Apparently if you put your luggage in these lockers by 14:00, they will be delivered to your hotel by about 19:00 the same day

I think this would be good to use if you land in Tokyo too early for check-in and don't want to lug your bags around

For more info, please check out their site

this and that

tried 7-eleven's chocolate strawberry smoothie...love!
 

more chocolate than strawberry, would get it again

chinese peony season!

glad that the other 2 bloomed

that krazy lady from across the street was "cleaning" our planters...hoping she didn't pull out any of the plants

Tried Asahi's Mirai no Lemon Sour, previously we tried the original and non-sweetened version, and recently, they came out with a strong version that is a limited edition

This one is sweetened and still has the fresh lemon slice in the can, but instead of 5% alcohol it is 7%

I hope they come out with an unsweetened version of this too

Weather is so wonky, rainy and cold (fahreezing) one day, blazing and a little "h" the next...

Okinawa started their rainy season, almost two weeks early!

I tried the Kaka'ako Nutty bowl from Lanikai Juice...1090 yen (tax included)

This one had an acai base, pistachio paste, mixed nuts and coconut chips

I enjoyed this one and am glad I tried it, would get this one again 

I recently bought some chocolates from Lindt, they have a thing called "Pick & Mix", of course they give you a BIG bag, so that you take a lot, then they weigh it and you pay.

I picked all the ones with dark chocolate and also added some that I had not seen before

this amount was 2117 yen (tax included)

Kashiwa mochi for Children's Day or what we grew up knowing as Boy's Day

Okuniya had yomogi filled with chunky sweet bean paste and one filled with chestnut and smooth bean paste...delicious!

Chirashizushi also to celebrate the day

and we reconnected with the koinobori (carp) that is made by elementary students in our area and hung over the Nomi river.

Our area is often used for J-drama locations, this bike shop is currently being used in "Gift" 

Love it when I can use the points from a point card to pay for stuff...this bag of dish detergent was only 44 yen because I had points to pay for the rest...whoo!

Have a safe weekend.