Tag Archives: Osaka

The Best Ways to Get Around in Osaka

Osaka

Photo by kenmainr on Flickr

Any time you visit a foreign country you are bound to face the “stranger in a strange land” learning curve. This is especially true if you don’t speak a lick of the language, leaving you hoping that you can find someone who speaks your language, or else relying on your bumbling attempts to form recognizable sentences from a book of common words and phrases.

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Osaka: City of Lights, Castles and Giant Crabs

Osaka

Photo by timlam18 on Flickr

Having booked your Osaka flights, you are probably wondering what to expect. Osaka is a Japanese city visited by Western tourists often for different reasons than the vibrant Tokyo and the historic Kyoto. It is a city very much defined by its standing as the commercial centre of Japan, a status inherited and upheld all the way from the Edo period, when it was known as “the kitchen of Japan,” the largest rice trading centre in the country.

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Backpackers Guide to Osaka

Photo by eng1337 on Flickr

Osaka is one Japanese city that fulfils all travellers’ expectations, and not only because it’s a large metropolis that has everything one can expect, but also because much of its offerings can be had on the cheap. Experienced backpackers will already know which Osaka hostels to track down and how, but this short article should serve as a guide for any and all travellers looking to make the experience affordable.

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Things to do in Osaka – The Instant Ramen Museum

Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum

Photo by JanneM on Flickr

Stacey loves her ramen. I on the other hand, do not. During week long hiking trips of my youth I feasted on little more than instant porridge in the morning and instant ramen for lunch and dinner. By the seventh day I had instant ramen coming out my ears and I had developed a strong loathing for the stuff.

Can you imagine my excitement when Stacey suggested we visit the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum in Osaka?

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Shooting Osaka, Japan: Photography Examples and Tips

Osaka Castle

Just wanted to let you know that one of my photography articles about Japan was posted over at PhotoTuts. It’s a quick look at Osaka and what top spots there are for photographers. I’m hoping to do one for Tokyo as well. I’ll keep you posted :)

Photographing Sakura in Kema Sakuranomiya Koen

Sakura Osaka

As promised, we’re back with part 2 of our Osaka sakura tour. This time we walk through the Kema Sakuranomiya Park.

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Photographing Sakura Around Osaka Castle

Sakura in Osaka Castle Park

Today I spent about 3 hours walking through and around Osaka Castle taking as many photos as I could of the sakura (cherry blossoms).

It’s been a long time dream of mine to see the sakura blooming in Japan, so I was really excited to get this opportunity.

Here is some advice on where to go to take great photos along with some of the photos I took.

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Interview with an Osakan – What to Eat and What to Buy in Osaka

Osaka girls crossing street

Photo Credits: by bruceley on Flickr

We earlier had a interview with a friend who is from Osaka, lived for some years in Canada and has now returned to Osaka. This is part two of the interview.

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Renting a Fully-Furnished Apartment in Osaka

Fully-furnished apartment rental in Osaka Japan

Photo Credits: by Jim O'Connell on Flickr

As Stacey would like to say, I spent 200 hours and 2 years researching fully-furnished apartment rental options in Japan. While that may be a bit of an overkill, we did find a great little place in a wonderful location in the Osaka Bay area.

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Recent Japan Earthquake

Japan Earthquake Tsunami

Photo Credits: BBC

Just a little over an hour ago, Japan was hit with an 9.0 earthquake (worst in 300 years) . And although little damage was done here in Osaka, it was still quite an experience.

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