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Osaka trains
After touring Osaka castle, we still had lots of time to head downtown and check out the hustle and bustle of Osaka’s famous shopping district. Hiro (our translator and guide in Osaka) helped us find the right trains and made sure we didn’t get lost. Thank goodness!
Just like in Sapporo, there were always lots of station attendants in uniform and wearing white gloves, to help us find our way and get on and off the trains with a folding ramp.
George and Hiro checking out the route
Priority seating sign
Priority seat
Notice the special upholstery on the seat!
"Ladies only" sign
The Osaka trains have priority seating for people with special needs and during rush hour they even had subway cars especially designated for woman only.
Going down the escalator
We never got lost, but in one of the underground malls we couldn’t figure out how to get to the right train. All we could see was stairs and escalators, so Hiro pressed a wheelchair access button for help. Imagine my surprise when four uniformed attendants suddenly arrived, picked me up in my wheelchair and carried me down the escalator backwards! Boy, I didn’t even have time to protest or get scared!
Shinsaibashi shopping street
Famous Minami shopping district
Hiro took us to Osaka’s Minami shopping district. The famous inside mall, called Shinsaibashi Shopping Street has many old stores and was once the most famous high class shopping area in Osaka. Recently, Hiro told us, it is gradually changing and becoming a center for younger cultures.
Street performer singing "Elvis Presley" songs on Dotombori St.
Giant crab over a restaurant - all its legs and eyes were moving!
Man calling you to come and eat in the giant crab restaurant!
The outside mall, called Dotombori Street, is well known as the gastronomic and amusement center of Osaka. There sure were many things to see. Street performers, a giant crab with moving arms and legs over a restaurant, a Buddhist temple and tons and tons of people, wherever you looked!
The streets were jam-packed with people
A tiny Buddhist temple
We ate Shabushabu for supper. This is food you cook for yourselves at your own table. This restaurant was elegant and the waitresses wore kimonos. Shabushabu is paper thin slices of beef dipped in boiling water and stock, then in sesame sauce. Gradually vegetables are added, and then noodles called udon.
Waitress in the shabushabu restaurant
Making our way home in the dark
By the time we finished supper it was dark, so we made our way back to the Amity Maishima amidst the colourful night life of downtown Osaka. Tomorrow we’re going to check out the sights and sounds of Osaka Bay.
