Osaka Autumn Trip - Nara

Usually for travelers to Osaka, they will make a trip to either of the three places – Kyoto, Kobe or Nara. Since for me it’s a leisure trip with no rush to cover as many places as possible, I chose to just visit Nara for a day. Nara is just an hour’s train ride away from Osaka Central, and the main attractions are the temples and the wild deer park.

I was not particularly interested in the temples, so my main agenda was to see the wild deer and the surroundings for a change from Osaka view.

The quieter streets were a change from Osaka, coupled with the stronger winds, be prepared with the right clothing so that you won’t be too cold. Temperature tends to drop 2-3 degrees compared to Osaka.

Most of the activities surrounds the Sarusawaike Pond. Just go in the different directions from the pond to seek for the different attractions and just be back here.

Or just hang around the pond and enjoy a nice cup of tea and watch the ducks. Nara is just a place to slow down and relax.

From the exit of the Subway Station, walking straight will bring you to the wild deer park. Don’t you think the red leaves are just beautiful? I can stay in this season forever.

  

They are so mild and friendly, you can just stay and take a selfie (needs a bit of patience to get this shot).

Walking back to the pond, I passed by some really authentic Japanese restaurants.

The  Tea House was closed on my visit, but worth a try.

No matter what, you still have to visit this historical Five Storied Pagoda (National Treasures). It was constructed by the Empress Komyoh in 730. This current building is a restoration completed in 1426, and is the second highest pagoda in Japan, rising 50.1 meters.

 

It’s really nice to see these cyclists along the road. They looked like students who have just finished their lessons.

Stopped over in a quiet café for coffee. Loved the serenity.

Shopping in Nara is limited, the main street with shops is the Mochiidono Center Gai – one of the oldest shopping arcade in Nara.

The name “mochi” refers to rice cakes is one of the celebrity food you have to try in Nara. At the end of the shopping street, you will find this shop with lots of tourists and locals in front, and all queuing for the famous mochi.

The chefs will ‘showcase’ their amazing skills on preparing the mochi.

   

Once the dough is prepared, it will be placed in the machine and delicious mochi is ready.

 

I love Nara for it’s quietness and peacefulness. A good one-day break from the usual shopping and eating in Osaka.

Osaka Autumn Trip - Food

Every trip is about food, in fact when I plan for a trip, food is one major consideration, will I find food I like and what is the ‘must-try’ food in that place.

In Osaka, I found the best Udon in the world (pardon my exaggeration). This shop along Shinsaibashii Street, serves Udon noodles directly from the boiler (without cooking process), all I need is to dip the noodles into the sauce and enjoy.

The Udon noodles are placed in these large nets and into the boiler. No cooking process means the noodles are taken out of the boiler directly and placed in a bamboo bowl to be served, when normally the Chef will soak the noodles in another pot of cold water then transfer to another hot cooking pot before serving to customers in a ceramic bowl.

Try both types if you are traveling with a partner or friend, then you can taste the difference, but if you are like me, traveling alone, then try the boiler type, cos you can get the normal Udon cooking in almost everywhere else.

Look at the queue in the shop, and mind you, the queue didn’t stop for the 30-40mins I was there.

 

Mix and match the Udon with different Tempura available on the side. I ordered a large bowl of Udon and 4 Tempura sides, costs me 840yen.

If you are traveling to Minoo Park which is 30mins ride away from central Osaka, then you have to try the special fried autumn leaves, only available in this place. Buy a packet and take the walk into the nature and be captivated by the beauty of the autumn scenery.

The autumn leaves tastes sweet because I believe in the flour was added some honey. Definitely for those with a sweet tooth. Recommended to eat it while it’s hot.

Along the way into the hills, you will pass by a shop that sells Oden. It is a Japanese winter dish consisting of several main ingredients such as boiled eggs, beef, potato, radish, beancurd, etc.

Who wouldn’t like such a dish when the weather is cold. Just try it, about 700yen.

Back in Osaka, probably the most famous food everyone will talk about and try, has to be the Takoyaki. Be prepared to queue, maybe for 10mins or so.

There are a lot of roadside stalls selling the yummy Takoyaki along Dotonbori. You won’t miss it.

Inside Dotonbori is a hidden gem that is sometimes shown on the tourist maps and sometimes not. It’s a secretive alley, dark and forgotten (again I am exaggerating), but the truth is not many tourist will find it cos it’s just not easy. I walked the entire place for the first night in Dotonbori and still cannot find it. I nearly gave up until I went back again the next night and my hard work paid off.

Hozenji Yokocho Alley. It is an alley from the Edo era (1603-1868), a narrow street 80m long, 2.7m wide. It has now become a famous street with traditional restaurants set in the Edo era.

Directions as follows, “walk towards Glico signboard, turn right into the lane with Starbucks shop, walk straight till you see on the right a street name 千日前, walk in about 30m on the right”.

 

Here, I had the best Yakitori meal ever.

I spent almost 3000yen here alone. Lots of skewer food and beer!

 

Next up it’s some seafood and fantastic sashimi!

Near to Dotonbori, walking for about 15mins, you can get to Kuromon Market.

Remember to try the mega escargot, steamed on bamboo sheets. Delicious!

 

Hopped to the most talked about shop in Kuromon Market, here you can find lots of fresh sashimi and seafood for a very affordable price.

The uniqueness of the shop is buying the food pre-packed and then find a seat to enjoy it immediately. If you purchase a slab of sashimi, the kitchen staff will slice it for you too.

This set is about 1900yen.

If Kuromon doesn’t satisfy your cravings for good sushi, you are like me. Go to the Osaka Fish Market and dine at Endo Sushi. Managed by now the 4th generation family, this sushi shop serves nothing but the best.

You can order the sushi you want, but almost every customer order the ‘maze’ or ‘omakase’ sushi, or english terms, ‘the chef’s choice’. Each serving of the ‘maze’ sushi consists of 5 different pieces of sushi and definitely 1 piece will be a toro sushi.

There are 4 different sets to try, and since I have come a long way for this, I had to order all 4!

Anago (sea water eel), Uni (sea urchin), Tai (sea brean), Toro (fatty tuna), Hamachi (yellow tail), Tako (octopus), Sake (salmon), Ikura (salmon roe), Ika (calamari), Sayori (halfbeak), Hotate (scallop).

 

 

Don’t just indulge in the sushi, try the equally nice clam miso soup.

If you would like to have wasabi, indicate to the waitress when ordering, they will add in into the sushi when preparing. They do not serve raw wasabi on the side. But they do have the shoyu (soy sauce) and pickled ginger as shown above. Take note on how to apply the shoyu. You are suppose to brush the shoyu on top of the sushi once and eat it. Trust me, just one brush would be enough. The freshness of the sushi will demand no other things for enhancement.

 

Needless to say, this was my most expensive meal on the trip, about 6000yen. Every single cent was worth it.

 

Along Tenjimbashisuji Shopping Street, I found a small restaurant that sells Kobe beef. Of course, you can travel to Kobe for the most authentic one, but if you are just staying in Osaka like me, I think this is close enough for the experience.

I ordered the full set with Kobe patty and also Kobe steak. Only regret, portion is too small, for 2190yen.

Last but not least, if you have a chance to travel to Nara (one hour’s train ride from Osaka), the one thing I would recommend is this shop. Check out the crowd in front of the shop and you can be sure it is something nice.

What is the craze all about? It’s for this little green Japanese Mochi. Rice flour tinted green with yomogi (mugwort) and covered in kinako (soy bean powder).

 

 

One for 130yen, my suggestion, but at least two, you will regret after tasting one and need to queue again.

I hope you have enjoyed this post on the food I have tasted in Osaka, as much as I have enjoyed re-living the memories of the good food I had. More to come on Osaka in the coming days! Come back again.

Click here to read all about my Osaka Autumn Trip. I will update more over the next few weeks.

All my photos are taken with Canon 5D Mark III, courtesy of Canon Singapore to loan me the set for this trip.