Shinsaibashi-suji

Shinsaibashi is easy to navigate, a little like Melbourne, where the main department stores are in the intersection of the CBD, with smaller shops in the laneways.

Hotel Nikko sits next to the major intersection, facing Sogo and Daimaru. I love the architectural details on the ceilings and pillars of the Daimaru building, but couldn’t take any photographs in the building.

Daimaru, Shinsaibashi

Below, other shops on the main street of Shinsaibashi.

Younger brands, local stores and some twee boutiques sit in the laneways. I wandered off to Minami Horie and found some cool Danish and retro furniture stores, and A.P.C. Unfortunately A.P.C. was out of size 28.

Cyclists in Shinsaibashi ride all over the pedestrian malls, lanes and roads with seemingly disregard for traffic rules.

I wasn’t sure if I had to look out for cyclists when walking on the pedestrian lanes or was it the other way round. Like cyclists in Melbourne, perhaps worse, cyclists ride along the roads with the other vehicles, but at the stop light, they cross the street with the pedestrians too. Some even ride on, cutting through the pedestrians, defying the stop lights. Like this cyclist in the picture demonstrates, there are probably no formal rules for cyclists in Osaka – no helmets required; TXTing and talking on the mobile is OK too.

I wasn’t sure if I had to look out for cyclists when walking on the pedestrian lanes or was it the other way round. Like cyclists in Melbourne, perhaps worse, cyclists ride along the roads with the other vehicles, but at the stop light, they cross the street with the pedestrians too. Some even ride on, cutting through the pedestrians, defying the stop lights. Like this cyclist in the picture demonstrates, there are probably no formal rules for cyclists in Osaka – no helmets required; TXTing and talking on the mobile is OK too.

Away from the main streets are smaller, local stores and restaurants. Suji means laneway.

In the laneways are smaller local shops and and restaurants.

I am in love with the drugstores. I stocked up on lip balms, moisturisers and Chocola® BB.

Tokyu Hands is a haven for DIY enthusiasts and home-makers. I love this totally un-PC curry tiffin, which comes in 5 different skin tones. The 'face' is for curry, the 'middle turban' for rice, and the top container salad and other condiments.

Fun with Engrish

I'm KIVing the orange enamelled kettle from Tokyu Hands. This will be mine if I have enough space in my luggage by the time I reach Nagoya.

Osaka was not spared from the fuglyfying jaws of these Crocs. Tyler Brûlé will have a hissy fit when he sees that Tokyu Hands have Crocs displayed just next to the Monocle-approved Porter luggage.

OMG, see what I found - The Greatest Hits of Boys Town Gang!

Cute car in Shinsaibashi-suji

After wandering around the laneways deciding what to have for lunch, I settled on this restaurant that specialises in unagi. I ordered a 1,000¥ unagi set, that comes with miso soup and pickles, and a pint for 320¥!

Naoki

Before we set off separately for the afternoon, we had tea and cakes at the lobby lounge of Hotel Nikko

Naoki

Food presentation and decoration in Japan’s always fascinating.

Cake selection at the Hotel Nikko lobby

Coffee, tea or Naoki

Petit fours

I had tea and petit fours which consist of a berry tart, butter cake slice, soft meringue filled with creme and berry jam, dark chocolate truffle and a citrus sorbet.

Gateau aux figue

Naoki had siphon coffee, and a fig sponge cake slice.

Dude, I can see your junk.

We had so much to eat in a span of an hour – Japanese breakfast and now, tea and cakes.

A groggy Naoki

With only one full day in Osaka, we didn’t waste time sleeping in.

Naoki has to meet up with a client before noon, then a dental appointment after so I will have a few hours on my own.

Shinsaibashi

The concierge recommended Shinsaibashi Shokudo (Shinsaibashi Eatery) for breakfast. This restaurant specialises in home cooked-style dishes, and has been around for decades.

Shinsaibashi Shokudo

The range of dishes vary throughout the day. Naturally, these selection are typical Japanese dishes for breakfast. The rice, cooked in a special cast iron pot called taki, is known as kama-meshi.

Chicken Hamburg in teriyaki sauce with poached eggs

Grilled fish in teriyaki sauce

Stewed hijiki, abura-age, konnyaku, carrots and peas

The pictures start to get a little blurry because I was starving.

Battered fish in teriyaki sauce

Fresh tofu, topped with grated ginger, scallions and dashi-tsuyu

Battered octopus in a sweet chilli and soy-based sauce

Salmon sashimi

Acerola drink

This is the first time I’ve come across acerola. Its taste is somewhat like a cross between an apple and sour plum.

Hotel Nikko Osaka

We’ll definitely return to Hotel Nikko Osaka if we’re ever back here in Osaka. Service is impeccable, and the hotel sits right in the middle of the shopping strip in Shinsaibashi.

View of Shinsaibashi from Hotel Nikko

The staff offered an upgrade to the “L Floor”, one of the better rooms in this hotel, after they discovered the Internet in the first room we checked in wasn’t working. Sweet. Here are some things we love about Hotel Nikko:

• Right in the middle of the shopping strip, and sits above the Shinsaibashi station. Our elevator heads straight down to the subway.
• Nikko Hotels Group is part of JAL, so excellent service is a given.
• Friendly staff, and they always try their best to assist us. Even if they don’t speak English much, I got what I needed.
• Jawdropping views from the room.
• Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries.
• Colour-coded toothbrushes.
• Toto toilet (warmed seats, bidet for my vajeene and booty shower with variable pressure)
• Free cable internet

Starving and cranky

After our shower, we headed to one of the late night ramen restaurants in the laneways at the recommendation of the concierge.

Chashu Ramen

Kara-age

Gyoza

Yummy