Sydney to Dotonburi – ‘Kuidaore’
Arriving into Kansai airport Osaka after a delayed flight on Jetstar from Sydney via Gold Coast at 6.40pm, the first task of the trip was to head over to the JR Office to swap the exchange order we had purchased in Sydney for the JR pass. At $598 for 14 days, this is a bargain if you intend to travel around a number of cities in Japan – and is only available outside the country.
Transport Tip: With the JR Pass, this is based on the conversion rate against the Yen. Some companies revise this daily while others monthly – best to call a few and see where you can pick up the best deal. The JR Pass can also be purchased for a 7 day period at approx $300AUD.
The JR station is located directly outside the JR Office at the Airport so getting to our hotel (Swiss Nankai, Osaka) was quite easy. This is a great place to stay as it’s a short walk away to Dotonbori and given we were arriving late into Japan we didn’t want to have to trek around all night for food.
Transport Tip: For a budget way to get from Kansai Airport to the Swiss Nankai Hotel, take the Number 4 train from JR Kansai to JR Tennoji. Change trains to JR Namba, and take the main exit when you get out. Follow the Namba Walk, pass the Wave Hallway through the Chicago Gallery to the Nankai Subway station. The hotel is located on top of the Nankai station. With luggage it takes about 45 minutes to arrive. Alternatively, take the Rapid Express subway from Kansai Airport to Namba Station for 890 Yen which takes about 35 minutes.
The one thing I noticed immediately about Japan are the amount of vending machines everywhere – in trains, in the underground tunnels, on a line on the street, even in isolated tiny alleys. It’s a society of instant gratification!
After dumping our luggage off at the hotel, we headed off to Dotonburi to experience ‘Kui dao re’ – the Japanese term to ruin oneself by extravagance in food – and indulge we did! Given it was a Friday night Dotonbori was vibrant with locals and tourists. Neon lights lit up the entire street with massive sign boards above hundreds of restaurants that littered the street.
Dinner consisted of Takoyaki from the popular Otakoya, easily identifiable with their Takoyaki stand out front opposite Kinryu Ramen. It was the biggest, juiciest and most delicious Takoyaki I have ever had!
This was followed by ramen from Kinryu, which was purchased from the vending machine out front. There are no menus, pictures of the different bowls of ramen are placed above each button with prices underneath to make the whole purchase decision quite simple. A ticket is deposited once you select the ramen, which has to be handed over to the cook who then makes the food and calls it out for you to collect once it’s ready. Takes about 4 minutes – and the ramen soup is so good!
Being quite full, taking a stroll down the streets of Dotonburi seemed like a great idea – absorbing as much of the atomosphere, the lights, language, smells and movement of mechanial signs and people on the streets. We visited Matsukiyo – a popular cosmetic shop throughout Japan where they sell relatively cheap but good make-up.
This lead us to a small stand on a side street that sold dried fish and oysters. The oysters were great, but the fish was so sharp and tough we could not physically eat it all.
After experiencing our first night of Kui dao re we returned back to the hotel to rest up for the night.
View from our Room at Swiss Nankai Hotel
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