Osaka

Following my trip to Tokyo last Christmas, I visited the Kansai region for Chinese New Year. Having scored a very cheap package over the long holiday with Cathay Pacific, I scoured around Osaka for a few days, exploring all the sites that I didn't visit last time in ... 2003.

The full set : http://www.globalphotos.org/osaka.htm

1. Sinsekai was an entertainment and dining destination that saw its peak in the early 20th century. But the main street still has many dining options and the Tsutenkaku Tower's views are quite decent.





3. Get a pack of cigarettes, and wash it down with some soda next door.





5. A lot of touts were loudly but politely promoting their restaurant menus on the street.







8. It took a bit of work to get the tower at the right angle in these photos.







11. The language barrier has been beaten. Take a picture of the plastic models that you want.







14. A lot of Hong Kongers love Japanese snacks, and they do come cheap here!

















22. Overhead wires were everywhere!



23. Tsutenkaku Tower is not too tall but tall enough to see above the neighbourhood.

























35. Much of the architecture was monotonous though.















42. The Japanese bubble burst in the late 1980's has stagnated the economy for some 20 years. There are signs that things may be changing though.



43. My Kansai trip was not meant to be a splurge, so anything cheap but of good value was welcome. Kuromon is the place to go for very reasonably-priced sashimi.









47. Try these fishes with a sweet filling! Only 110 yen.





49. There are just so many types of interesting snacks!



50. Fish lovers will find plenty of bargains here.











55. The weird part was this market is inland, and is not a fish market at all.



















64. Cheers!



65. Nankai Line runs several services to Kansai airport. The typical service consists of these metro-like trains. Some make more stops than others.





67. Terminology is often confusing. Can you distinguish between Rapid Express, Express, and Limited Express?



68. Often I had to return to the map to see the difference.



69. For those riding the subways, read the destination signs carefully. Some trains on this line make short turns.