It's beyond Kyoto, talk about maximizing our 7-day JR Rail Pass ;)
On the Hikari, there were 4 older ladies traveling together, they were like a Gilmore Girls marathon on TV, it was non stop talking, maybe except to take a breath :P
Breakfast was a wagyu hamburg rice lunch box (¥980) with onigiri (¥550) from Shinagawa station. The beef was tasty :) and the 'fried rice onigiri' was good too.
From the Shin-Osaka Shinkasen station, we had to change to local trains. Thankfully the train information guy was very clear and the train stations were also referred to by letters and numbers. First, Midosuji Line, M13 to M18, cross to the Chou Line to Osakaku.
Aquarium entrance fee was ¥2,000 per adult. The first time I saw the whale shark my heart skipped a beat, never in my years of diving had I ever seen one in the wild. This was an experience I will remember. But by the time we left the aquarium my feelings were mixed.
Looking at the size of that whale shark sharing that tank with rays, sharks, jacks, skates and all the other creatures, and the size of the tank, I likened it to me walking circles in the room we got at Sakura Ryodan in Kyoto. These large pelagic creatures are not meant to be kept in tanks, especially in tanks so small.
Oh well, it was good that we visited the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, kumxia Fata for the idea.
Lunch was okonomiaki at Boteju and gyoza from a 2nd place, all at an adjoining mall before the 3 hour Hikari back to Shinagawa.
Shibuya was our next stop. Lots of people, shopping and food. Plus Scramble Junction was crowded! Fata and I crossed the junction just for the sake of it. It's a huge shopping district, and ended up buying matching New Balance shoes which are available only in Japan. That store had that pair of shoes on 10% discount and a timed sale of 20%, even the sales person said that it was a good deal.
Dinner beckoned as our reservation at Kaikaya drew near. Based on last night's experience of walking around place, Fata suggested we take a cab. ¥800 later and a phone conversation between the restaurant and the cabbie we were seated in the non-smoking section at Kaikaya in Shibuya.
I had forgotten to bring Guan's notes about ordering what the chef decides (omakase) so we went with the kind waiter's recommendations. All yummy food washed down with a jug of Yebisu :)
Then it was time to go back to the hotel cos we were up since 5:30am.
Kumxia Osaka!
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