reconnecting

Back in January, I got an email from cousin E.

The last time we saw this cousin was back in 2012.

Before that, was way way back when I was in high school (I think)...

Anyway, his email was to let us know that he and his family were coming to Japan in June.

After emailing a couple of times, we decided to meet yesterday.

Even if we met up in 2012, it was actually our first time to "hang out" with them.

Instead of eating at the shopping mall we met up at, we bought some bento and other items from a supermarket in the complex and had a makeshift picnic near the Osaka Castle.

I think they enjoyed checking out the pre-made food section at the supermarket too.

Then after walking through the castle, we walked around Dotombori and had an early dinner at Honke Ootako.

Takoyaki, yakisoba, okonomiyaki and other nibbles.

I think everyone had a nice time and I hope everyone had enough to eat.

side note: If you just want to eat takoyaki, Honke Ootako has a stand called Ootako around the corner from their shop. (as we left, we saw wait staff running orders of takoyaki from the stand to the shop)

I don't really care too much for takoyaki as the "innards" are always kinda undercooked for my liking, but this shop's takoyaki was delicious with huge pieces of tako (octopus) inside.

It was a blazing day, but I'm glad we got to spend some time reconnecting with them and I hope they enjoyed their visit to Osaka.

Thanks for a great day, E & Family!

Honke Ootako
1-1-6 Namba
Chuo, Osaka
Phone: 06.6213.1888
Hours: 11:30-23:00

fall foliage

Yesterday we went to Kyoto, to visit MIL and also to check out some Fall foliage.

MIL is doing fine, she sent us on a scavenger hunt of sorts through her closets and drawers for items she needed while she is in the hospital.

The hospital she is in at the moment was looking to move her to a bigger hospital with cosmetic surgery facilities but there are no beds open at the moment, so right now, they are waiting and treating her as best as they can.

At the rate things are going, she probably won't be out until early next year. Though we all hope it is sooner.

As for Fall foliage, we went to Tofukuji. I've often seen pictures from my Flickr friends but have never actually been to the temple.

According to Satoshi, he's never been either. Well, he said maybe he went as a child, but he surely doesn't remember it.

From the outside (for free), you can look down on the trees from a wooden bridge and what a sight it is to see.
But I would suggest for 400 yen (about US$4) per person, go inside to see it all up close.

Tons of people all trying to get "that perfect shot", but so worth fighting off the crowds. It is definitely something to see.

Satoshi and I had our mouths open and maybe our jaws dragging as we walked through the area...so beautiful.

Of course, the sun was playing hide-and-seek so the pictures I took don't do this place justice.
After checking out the leaves, we were hungry so we popped into a tiny takoyaki shop, Negitako.

I don't care much for takoyaki because the insides always seem uncooked to me. Satoshi on the other hand, loves this stuff.

He ordered the takoyaki with sauce (I think this is okonomiyaki sauce that they use)...this is the standard way...adding mayo to the dish is rather a new way of eating takoyaki.

Most times when you order takoyaki, it is served with a toothpick, so this was how Satoshi ate (or tried to eat) his.

Can you imagine stabbing this big soft (and piping hot) orb with a teeny stick, then trying to balance it as you try to stuff it all into your mouth before it falls off?

Then trying to eat it all the while it is still piping hot...you huff and puff, moving the orb around in your mouth trying not to let it touch the sides of your mouth so you don't get burned...that is what Satoshi looked like.

Me, I ordered takoyaki with sauce and kim chee...this was so good...spicy kim chee, lots of green onion and piping hot takoyaki...perfect for a nippy day.

I chose to eat my takoyaki with chopsticks...way easier and less burning of my mouth.

We also shared a takotamago (literally octopus egg). A tiny octopus holds a boiled quail egg in its head...this was served ice cold but so delicious.

The tako is cooked in a sweet soy sauce...yum!

All in all a great day.

Tofukuji
15-chome Honmachi
Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Phone: 075.561.0087
http://www.tofukuji.jp (click on the British flag for English)
From the JR Nara line, get off at Tofukuji station and walk for 10 minutes
Or take the Kyoto City bus and get off at Tofukuji

Negitako (UPDATE: 2016 no longer in business)
12-228 Honmachi
Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
Phone: 075.541.4777
Open: 12 noon until 1 a.m.

blingy saturday

Saturday we met our family friend, D, he is here with a group and had some free time to get together.

The first place we went to was Shinsekai, I've posted about this area before and we took him up Tsutenkaku, a large tower in lower Osaka where you can see the city.

The line to get up to the observatory deck of Tsutenkaku took about 45 minutes. After checking out the city from above, we walked to Namba (about 20 minutes).

We went to a bar that D had been to in the past and wanted to re-visit on this trip...Tako Tako King.

This bar serves takoyaki, as well as okonomiyaki and other items that can be cooked on a teppan (steel plate).

That photo above is actually of a takoyaki, in the lighting of the bar, this photo turned out to look like umeboshi (preserved apricots).

Everything we tried was delicious and very reasonable.

As we were walking back from the bar there was a showroom with all these blingy Benz. These were all covered in Swarovski studs! I checked their site and apparently they do accessorizing for Mercedes'.

After shopping a bit more, we made it back to D's hotel in time for him to meet up with his group.

We did a lot of walking and had a fun day with him. We hope he had a nice time. (Thanks D!)

Tako Tako King
2-13-1 Nishi-Shinsaibashi
Chuo-ku, Osaka
Phone: 06.6211.0071
Open from 17:00-late at night

the past couple of days

The past couple of days we had my cousin staying with us. He was in Japan for work and had some days to spare. It was a nice time to bond with him as we usually only see each other at family gatherings.

Our first day together was spent at the Osaka Aquarium. There is a ticket for 2400 yen (about US$24) which you can buy. This allows you entrance to the Aquarium (2000 yen about US$20) and then free rides on the Osaka subway system. If you are staying in Kyoto or Kobe, check with your concierge, because there are ticket for a little more that will allow you to ride the other private lines too.

It was quite noisy as the aquarium was filled with school children. All excited to see the different sea animals and fishes. We stopped to have a soft-serve cone (or as the Japanese like to call it "sofuto kurimu").

From the aquarium we headed to Namba, this is where did a little shopping and we had takoyaki. Takoyaki is one of Osaka's famous foods, tiny round balls of batter are filled with bits of tako (octopus), green onion, red ginger. After buying a plate to share we realized that we both don't really care for it because of the mushy insides.

From Namba, we walked to the Dotombori area to have okonomiyaki at Chibo. There is a Chibo in Hawaii, but the head restaurant is in Osaka. Okonomiyaki is yet another famous food of Osaka. We ordered an ikatama with yakisoba noodles in it. Ikatama is a savory thick pancake filled with cabbage and ika (squid). The noodles are also added to the pancake and the piping hot pancake is brought to your table to sizzle in front of you while you eat and chat.

After our snacks and lunch, we headed back to Umeda for more shopping. We walked and walked and walked. Finally, we were hungry for dinner so we stopped into a conveyor belt sushi shop and had several plates of 100 yen (about US$1) sushi. It had been a long day, so we got back on the train and headed home.
The next morning over breakfast, my cousin talked about the UCC coffee museum on Port Island. I asked him if he'd like to check it out and he said he would, so we jumped on the train to Kobe.

The UCC coffee museum is located on Port Island right next to IKEA. For 210 yen (about US$2.10), you can check out different displays and explanations on the stages of roasting coffee, as well as the learn about the coffee belt. Most of the explanations were in Japanese, so we ended up just browsing around.

At the end of the museum route, there is an area where you can take a test. I got 5 answers right and was proclaimed Dr. Great Coffee with a photo ID card. My cousin had a mishap with his computer and ended up just receiving a commemorative visitors certificate with his photo.

Afterwards we headed over to IKEA. There were these cute French-made glass bowls that I seen on Friday. Can you believe they were only 59 yen each? (About US$.59) I bought 2. My cousin mentioned that IKEA has these delicious cinnamon rolls, but when we got to the cafe/restaurant, there were none to be found and he was disappointed.

Instead we decided to have lunch, I got the Christmas plate. For 895 yen (about US$8.95) you could get an assortment of Swedish foods. I enjoyed the meatballs and gravlax, but didn't care for the pickled herring, though it did remind me of namasu.

While waiting for the shuttle bus, we had some soft serve, only 50 yen (about US$.50). It was a mini cone but we agreed that it was softer than the one we had at the aquarium.

After lunch, we headed back to Sannomiya and took the train to Tarumi. There is a huge outlet mall there. My cousin did some window shopping and we had more soft serve at the McDonalds there.

The sun was beginning to set so we headed home. On the way back we were able to see this beautiful orange sunset from one of the stations.

After more shopping at Kawanishi-Noseguchi, we headed back to Ishibashi for sushi at a shop near the station.

In two days we did a lot of shopping and a LOT of walking and ate a lot of soft serve. I hope my cousin enjoyed himself, we enjoyed having him stay with us.

Hope your week is going well.