virtually nonexistent: 2018

Sojibo. Osaka. Japan. 11.24.2018.

For my last meal in Osaka, I opted for a classic soba at Sojibo. Let me warn you about all these multi level building addresses and how difficult they are to find. Even the Japanese locals had trouble with them. Give yourself plenty of time to find these if you are feeling adventurous. I got the oyster soba special. And this concludes my second Japanese adventure. What a beautiful and traditional country. How I have fallen even more in love with it.

Sojibo
1 Chome-1-10 Aomi
Koto
Tokyo 135-0064
Japan

Katsuō-ji. Osaka. Japan. 11.23.2018.

Katsuō-ji was one of my favorite temples on this entire Japan trip. It takes a while to get there as it's on top of a hill, but well worth it both for the foliage and the views. It was exactly what I needed to get away from all the commerce in Namba. I stayed until the last bus was going down the hill near closing time.

Katsuō-ji
2914-1 Aomatani
Minoh
Osaka Prefecture 562-8508
Japan

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Definitely not fall enough here in San Francisco. I downloaded all my pictures last night and organized by cities. I am also dropping off the roll of film I shot while in Japan today. This is going to be a lot of work but filled with fond memories putting these blog posts together. Until then I will continue to tease you with the hundreds of great photos I took. Ha.

A post shared by Amy Yvonne Yu (@amyyvonneyu) on Nov 25, 2018 at 1:08pm PST

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Fall foliage Osaka edition.

A post shared by Amy Yvonne Yu (@amyyvonneyu) on Nov 23, 2018 at 1:16pm PST

Amato Maeda Namba City. Osaka. Japan. 11.23.2018.

My friend Garwin was also in Osaka when I was there and we were able to meet up at a matcha cafe to do a quick catch up. I finally got to meet his boyfriend as well. I gave them some quick tips for Osaka, Nara and Kyoto since they were still there for a few more days. Such a treat to run into them half way around the world!

I got the anmitsu with matcha soft serve and they shared the giant matcha shaved ice.

Amato Maeda Namba City
5 Chome-1-60 Nanba
Chuo Ward
Osaka
Osaka Prefecture 542-0076
Japan

Namba Yasaka Shrine. Osaka. Japan. 11.22.2018.

Namba Yasaka Shrine
2 Chome-9-１９ Motomachi
Naniwa Ward
Osaka
Osaka Prefecture 556-0016
Japan

Oretachino Kareya Ramen Koji Labo. Osaka. Japan. 11.22.2018.

We wanted to round out our Japanese culinary experience by getting some traditional Japanese curry. Oretachino Kareya Ramen Koji Labo was on my shortlist so we walked there for lunch. You purchase what you want through the vending machine then give the tickets to the chef behind the counter. I got the stewed meat of the day and Uli got a katsu curry with an egg. I really love the simplicity of traditional restaurants that do their one thing very well for decades. This would be one of them.

Oretachino Kareya Ramen Koji Labo
14-13 Nanbasennichimae
Chuo Ward
Osaka
Osaka Prefecture 542-0075
Japan

Namba. Dotombori. Shinsaibashi. Osaka. Japan. 11.22.2018-11.24.2018.

I was not expecting Osaka to be so intense in the commerce sense. You see hoards of Chinese tourists coming to mass shop and filling their large empty suitcases with Japanese goods, not unlike in Hong Kong. It was really mentally exhausting to walk through all that in Namba/Dotombori/Shinsaibashi.

Tommy-san the Osaka alley cat.

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A quiet moment down an alley in Osaka. I was not expecting Osaka to be this intense! Its commerce is very prominent and filled with Chinese tourists coming with empty large suitcases for the sole purpose of shopping, not dissimilar to Hong Kong. It turns out that Osaka is the 7th wealthiest city in the world. Now I make a trip to a temple further away from downtown to escape the madness and enjoy more foliage and peacefulness.

A post shared by Amy Yvonne Yu (@amyyvonneyu) on Nov 22, 2018 at 8:22pm PST

I was a bit obsessed with her perfect ensemble.

Nakatsu. Osaka. Japan. 11.21.2018-11.24.2018.

I did not actually spend any time in Osaka the last time I was in Japan and just flew out of Itami after visiting Nara. This time, I ended up in Osaka to explore. The Airbnb we got was pretty exceptional. It was very well designed, pristinely clean and in a very convenient and charming location. Tatsuya is an interior designer and a super host. He has 4 listings of these Bios that are above shops in an alley in the Kakatsu district. They are also very affordable. However, if you are taller than 5'9", then you will not fit in the bathroom and would have to sit down to shower.

https://www.airbnb.com/users/37833591/listings

Sushinosuke is a block away for late night bites and drinks. It is also extremely affordable.

Sushinosuke
1 Chome-23-33 Edobori
Nishi Ward
Osaka
Osaka Prefecture 550-0002
Japan