Japan 2025: The journey begins in Osaka Day 1 Part 2

 

By the numbers

20755 steps

15.97 kms

2 bags

1 train

1 Maid Cafe 

The meal from the maid cafe

Level of chaos: Lost in Space with side quests

 

The was to the gate was pretty long as it seemed to be in an area I had flown with someone else a while back and it was far from everything else in terminal 2. Getting through security for my next flight was pretty easy as I think I was supposed to take my boots off, but they never asked. The flight had been delayed by around 10 or so minutes as it seemed all Singapore Airline flights to Japan for around the same time had been delayed. They were mine to Osaka, Nagoya and Fukukoa. The flight left on time, but I found it was a totally different type of plane to the last one as this one seemed to have different TV monitors. The flight was meant to be 5 hours and I know I did get some sleep as my neck was sore and I kept waking up. It was morning by the time we landed on Osaka at Kansai airport.

 

Dontombori. Sensory landscape

Getting through security was not hard at all as I had to scan my passport and go down the lane that they told me to on the screen. It was either A or B, and I got A so I was through under an hour without much trouble. Getting through with my bag was the same and I decided to wander around the airport before heading off. It was a nice airport, if I wanted to I could have stayed longer. You know the airport has a ferry that takes you over to Kobe so that’s something different to think about for another time.

 

I managed to pick myself up an IC card that is called an ICOCA in Osaka that can be used around the country in major cities like Tokyo, similar to Myki and the Opal or even the Oyster. I wanted the rapid train into Namba so I was able to get a ticket for one that was leaving 5 mins later. According to my watch it was 1 min late leaving the station, but I had a reserved seat at the front. What an interesting looking train and it took me to the station I needed with several stops along the way. That was when the Google maps problems decided to say hello. It was directing me to the wrong hotel and I started walking towards it when I noticed some landmarks that I knew were not on the way. I was heading to a big busy shopping area full of tourists. Had a look and I hadn’t noticed Google had given me the wrong hotel, right brand, but wrong one. Getting the correct one in the map turned out to be just as annoying since I went underground thinking I could avoid everything above ground. Turned out I had already lapped the building as it was across the road with roadworks going on nearby. I couldn’t find the correct exit, but I don’t think I want to as it’s a stair master set of stairs.

 

The weather was already muggy like it was an Australian summer, which wasn’t that bad, but annoying with long sleeves. I had a chat with a nice lady at the check in desk who said I could check in with my QR code an hour early as I was a member. Its why I am staying with the chain, I get money back too. She was shocked by how heavy my main bag was. Its 11kg, but I have it packed. I said I would be back later and left. I was free of bags, but had my passport as the rules are you need it on you. The stair master thigh busters, I went down and promptly got lost again, but found my way as I headed to the busy area known as Dontombori. The shopping street I was in awe of and was overwhelmed to the point I realised I nearly got done by a van as I didn’t realise the cross street was a one way street. I ended out in Dontombori, which includes a canal, and everything there from crowd to noise was sensory overload. Sounds crossing over and all that. There was another thing, no honking from the cars at all. I havnt heard a horn either. The only noises I have heard are bird song from the crossings at traffic lights.

 

On the way back, I called into the tourist info centre for a book, where I could get train stamps, although they are area specific stamps and I got a book too. I ended up carrying a little bit of rubbish until I found a bin with a vending machine. I wanted to find the JR Namba station so followed the underground again. I believe it is shorter and easier to find above ground and I also found the station for the trains I need to catch later in the week. A 10 min walk above ground and then find the entrance to go down instead. Could be as I am tired too. I was making sure I could sort out the main railway like as the JR station is the public company and the other stations are private owned. By this time I wandered back to check in and had minor issues with the QR code I had to check myself in. They sorted everything out for me and it apparently works now so we shall see. I was able to get to my room, have a shower and had 2 hours sleep. I never realised I was deep until my alarm went off.

 

I had a reservation to a maid café and I wasn’t sure what would happen. I went looking for it and while I arrived with heaps of time, I found I couldn’t find the building entrance. I ended up in another shopping area and walked back, and funnily enough the maid café was across the road. I was 20 mins early and the lady at the bottom told me to take the lift. The buttons didn’t seem right, but the lift came down and I went up. I had Omirice, which is egg and rice, but curry too and the girls were dressed as maids. It was kind of awkward as I was unsure, but I stayed long enough to enjoy myself and chat with one of the girls. They do speak decent English. After that it was getting dark and I went to look at the shops in Denden town, which is all the geeky type stuff, but they were closing too so I went wandering and ended up with a street worth of maids. I was a little lost in the dark, but had a good wander around before heading back to my room as I knew I would have a big day the next day. I have a night time tour that includes a meal, but I have other stuff too. As long as I get plenty of rest I will be alright and sleep will help me.