Thursday, May 22, 2014

Fernandezes in Japan: Osaka

The last city we visited was Osaka! Right after we returned our kimonos at the shop in Kyoto, we made our way by train to Dotonbori, Osaka to meet a family friend for dinner. 


The Mitamura family treated us for dinner at Oreno French (My French). It was the best French food I've had! They said that this chain is quite popular in Japan and it truly is. When we got there, there was a long queue and people were willing to wait to get in. Thankfully, Tita Beth and Lizette got there first and lined up for us so we didn't have to wait too long. This restaurant was different out of all the places I've been to. This is the kind of restaurant where you stand up while you eat. In this way, customers can leave right away as soon as they're done eating to give way to the next person in line. People really line up in here because the food not only has the taste of you're like in a luxurious restaurant but they are very affordable. We were told that the Japanese chefs used to work in France and decided to come home and bring the exquisite cuisine they mastered to their country men. Every bite was bursting with delightful flavors. All we could say were, mmmmmmmmmmmm, wow, OMG, oishiiiiiii! We had to ask for bread to help us clean our plate and make sure we scoop every savory drop left :)  

If you've been reading my travel blogs for quite sometime, more than the culture, scenery, and people, food is really one of the reasons why I like to go places and travel. This experience made me want to go to Paris all the more... someday :) 

Thank you Mitamura family for this lovely treat and the warm hospitality! We appreciate it so much and it was an honor to meet you. 


After that tasty dinner, we walked around Dotonbori and posed in front of the neon billboards and copied Glico running man.  


For our last night (huhuhu) we stayed at Water Hotel. We stayed at hotels where tourists wouldn't know about. Some of them were automated like a vending machine! LOL. You go in, choose your room on a screen by the entrance and when you get to the room, you insert your credit card or cash in a automated machine and voila, you're checked in! There are personnel in the hotel that can help you but they don't speak english well so I'm very glad my husband knew how to work around it like a local Japanese. Hotels in Japan are quite expensive so we pretty much saved a good amount of money because my hubby did his research. Thank you love!

Best tour guide, tiga bitbit ng bag, masseur, photographer, and husband ever! :)

The next day, we had some Takoyaki for brunch at Kukuru still in Dotonbori. One of Osaka's specialty is Takoyaki. They are made of wheat flour batter shaped in balls filled with diced octopus cooked in a takoyaki pan. Yummy!


For lunch, we met with a sweet Japanese newly wed who was a Filipino major, Yuri-chan. She also stayed as a border at Alan's house in the Philippines like Junki, Hiro and Taku. We had some Kushikatsu (deep fried kebabs). They fry any meat and even vegetables. As courtesy to the others, you deep your skewer only one time for sanitary reason. 

Speaking of courtesy, I love Japan's courtesy rules like when I went inside Uniqlo's fitting room, there was a sign that stated, "please remove your shoes before entering". Same with some of the bathrooms where you need to remove your shoes and wear their slippers on. Another one is standing on the right side (or left depends on where you are) of the escalator to give way to the people who wants to walk their way up. Also lining up when entering the train. They also don't give tips here. In the US, it is a courtesy to give gratuities for a good service you've received but here in Japan, it is rude. However, they pour their hearts out in serving you without anything in return which I'm absolutely impressed. There was one time when we took a cab (that automatically opens!) and when it's time for us to pay, I wanted to tell the driver to keep the change but I was reminded of what Alan told me that it is rude to tip so I kept my mouth shut and took our change. I'm sure there are a lot more courtesy rules that's why Japan is an organized country because people follow common courtesy. So if you're a tourist, you better study some of their courtesy rules to avoid getting into any trouble. 

Back with our friend Yuri, after lunch, she joined us and helped me shop for some beauty products in Shinsaibashi! hehehe. I'm fascinated with Japanese porcelain skin and hers is spotless! Parang walang pores, nakakainis! LOL. She recommended some products that she uses like Japanese facial masks, cc cream, even lip glosses, and eyeliners. Thank you very much Yuri! :) 

After shopping for some pasalubongs, we headed straight to Kansai airport. 


Me posing in the Tomare sign, which means STOP... right now, thank you very much. (Spice girls baby!) LOL. This is the end of my travel to Japan posts. Thank you very much for reading my blog. O diba parang nag-Japan na rin kayo. hehehe. I hope you find this helpful for when you travel to Japan. Gambatte and Sayonara! 



xoxo,
Joselle

No comments:

Post a Comment