Osaka, Japan
Friday, August 10, - Saturday, August 11, 2007
This week seemed like it took forever and I was so tired after work. I really wanted to go home and go to bed for the entire five day holiday but Clo and I were going to Osaka tonight. I was really excited about going and Clo had been there before and is an excellent tour guide and so I couldn’t pass up the trip. This would be one of our last Japanese outings together because she is going back to the States on Wednesday.
I finally got home from the train station, grabbed my bag (which consisted of my toothbrush, a little hairbrush, contact stuff, a tiny bit of makeup, and a change of clothes—I pack light these days!), grabbed Clo (who had bought me dinner, yea Clo!), and we went to the big train station. We were going to ride the Shinkansen (the bullet train…it goes really fast) to Osaka which would get us there in an hour as opposed to taking local trains and taking a few hours.
Arriving in Osaka was like arriving in New York compared to what I am used to around here. Everything is fast paced and there were so many more people. It was hotter than Okayama too. We jumped on the subway for a short ride into the city. When we got into the actual city we were greeted with SO many shops and people and lights. It was awesome. I was so tired and I didn’t think I could walk anymore but I was so excited to be there that I just followed Clo through the streets. We walked around for a little while until we got to the hotel that we were staying in. It was a capsule hotel and was super cheap. It was 2700 yen a night which is a little less than $27.
When you walk into the hotel you take your shoes off (like everywhere in Japan). And put them in a shoe locker. You give the key to the people at the desk and they hold on to it for you. After you pay, you get a key to the women’s area (it is locked at all times) and you get a locker key. There was free internet in the lobby and pay phones by the front desk. Women sleep downstairs and men sleep upstairs. We went downstairs and into the women’s area. The whole place was really clean and well cared for. In the locker room I opened my locker. There was a pair of the world’s smallest pajamas, a couple of towels, and some hangers.
In another room there were sinks and mirrors what lined the walls. At each sink there was soap, lotion, new toothbrushes in packages, etc. There were chairs too so you could sit down and get ready. They had hair dryers and brushes and combs. The brushes and combs were in one of those sanitary things that clean and disinfect. It looks like an oven with a florescent light in it…they have them at dentist offices to clean the instruments.
There was a resting room with chairs and magazines. There was also a treadmill and a massage chair that you could pay to use. In another room was a TV and some tables. There was also a vending machine and two washer/dryers. Off of that room was a sauna and the restrooms. The only complaint I have (in general in Japan) is that you can smoke just about anywhere. At home you can’t smoke inside at most places anymore. Here, everyone smokes everywhere. The TV room was smoky and gross. The next morning I woke up with a migraine from the smoke. Not how I wanted to start the day.
Now the beds… This is a huge treat and it was hilarious to see these things and think that I was going to be sleeping in one. Clo insisted that I take the top bunk for my first capsule hotel visit. Have you even had an MRI? You have to get in the little tube? That’s what this was like except way bigger. I could lie down all the way and stretch out. I could sit straight up. I could roll over. It was awesome. Inside the “capsule” was a TV and a little air conditioner (like the ones on an airplane), a mirror, a shelf, some places to hang things, a chock, etc. It was so much fun. There was no door on this bad boy, you had to pull down a straw mat type thing (like a shade) to cover your “room.” There was a little mattress (like an inch thick) and sheets, blankets, and a pillow. I felt like a caterpillar going to sleep in a cocoon.
Friday, August 10, - Saturday, August 11, 2007
This week seemed like it took forever and I was so tired after work. I really wanted to go home and go to bed for the entire five day holiday but Clo and I were going to Osaka tonight. I was really excited about going and Clo had been there before and is an excellent tour guide and so I couldn’t pass up the trip. This would be one of our last Japanese outings together because she is going back to the States on Wednesday.
I finally got home from the train station, grabbed my bag (which consisted of my toothbrush, a little hairbrush, contact stuff, a tiny bit of makeup, and a change of clothes—I pack light these days!), grabbed Clo (who had bought me dinner, yea Clo!), and we went to the big train station. We were going to ride the Shinkansen (the bullet train…it goes really fast) to Osaka which would get us there in an hour as opposed to taking local trains and taking a few hours.
Arriving in Osaka was like arriving in New York compared to what I am used to around here. Everything is fast paced and there were so many more people. It was hotter than Okayama too. We jumped on the subway for a short ride into the city. When we got into the actual city we were greeted with SO many shops and people and lights. It was awesome. I was so tired and I didn’t think I could walk anymore but I was so excited to be there that I just followed Clo through the streets. We walked around for a little while until we got to the hotel that we were staying in. It was a capsule hotel and was super cheap. It was 2700 yen a night which is a little less than $27.
When you walk into the hotel you take your shoes off (like everywhere in Japan). And put them in a shoe locker. You give the key to the people at the desk and they hold on to it for you. After you pay, you get a key to the women’s area (it is locked at all times) and you get a locker key. There was free internet in the lobby and pay phones by the front desk. Women sleep downstairs and men sleep upstairs. We went downstairs and into the women’s area. The whole place was really clean and well cared for. In the locker room I opened my locker. There was a pair of the world’s smallest pajamas, a couple of towels, and some hangers.
In another room there were sinks and mirrors what lined the walls. At each sink there was soap, lotion, new toothbrushes in packages, etc. There were chairs too so you could sit down and get ready. They had hair dryers and brushes and combs. The brushes and combs were in one of those sanitary things that clean and disinfect. It looks like an oven with a florescent light in it…they have them at dentist offices to clean the instruments.
There was a resting room with chairs and magazines. There was also a treadmill and a massage chair that you could pay to use. In another room was a TV and some tables. There was also a vending machine and two washer/dryers. Off of that room was a sauna and the restrooms. The only complaint I have (in general in Japan) is that you can smoke just about anywhere. At home you can’t smoke inside at most places anymore. Here, everyone smokes everywhere. The TV room was smoky and gross. The next morning I woke up with a migraine from the smoke. Not how I wanted to start the day.
Now the beds… This is a huge treat and it was hilarious to see these things and think that I was going to be sleeping in one. Clo insisted that I take the top bunk for my first capsule hotel visit. Have you even had an MRI? You have to get in the little tube? That’s what this was like except way bigger. I could lie down all the way and stretch out. I could sit straight up. I could roll over. It was awesome. Inside the “capsule” was a TV and a little air conditioner (like the ones on an airplane), a mirror, a shelf, some places to hang things, a chock, etc. It was so much fun. There was no door on this bad boy, you had to pull down a straw mat type thing (like a shade) to cover your “room.” There was a little mattress (like an inch thick) and sheets, blankets, and a pillow. I felt like a caterpillar going to sleep in a cocoon.
These are the two that we slept in. I was on top.
The bed
The straw mat door (and my feet)
Good morning!!
It's really not a tight squeeze or anything.After my tour from Clo, we locked our stuff up and then headed out to downtown Osaka to see the lights. They were so pretty. There was so much neon that I just didn’t know what to do. Wow! We walked around for a little while and then we headed back to the hotel to go to bed.
Osaka at night
A little neon
More Osaka at nightI did find the Kate Spade store!! You should know of my obsession with Kate if you know me very well. Walking in was like being in America. It smelled like Kate Spade, just thinking about it makes me so happy. Finally Clo made me leave because if we had stayed for very much longer she was going to buy something and she didn’t need to do that.
This picture is a little tricky. It says Kate Spade New York but we are really in Japan! :)The next morning we turned into butterflies and shed the cocoon. We had a long day of shopping ahead of us so we headed out around 10. The stores don’t open until them. After checking out we were starving so we walked to find some breakfast. We went to McDonald. It was funny to be there in Japan. The menu is pretty much the same and I got pancakes. The only big difference here is that the drinks are tiny. You pay about the same amount as at home and get the same food, but you get a drink that is four inches tall. That’s not even enough to swallow a vitamin! AND no refills. It’s like that everywhere…tiny drinks. It is healthier though except when I want a big glass of water and they hand me that tiny cup. I want to show them the American sizes!
American breakfast
Here is my regular sized drink. That would not fly at home.
Breakfast was delicious but shopping was better. Seven hours of shopping in Osaka…just glorious! Many of the shops are for clothes and since I can’t wear any of the clothes I skip those (saves tons of money). We did find a few cute shops that sold Japanesey stuff and I picked up a few gifts. I don’t think I bought anything for me while I was in Osaka. I kept finding things that people at home HAD to have!! Actually, I just bought a couple of gifts (for birthdays) and looked at a ton of stuff. It was great.
We shopped and shopped. We went all over the streets and in and out of shops. My feet were killing me but I was in heaven. We went in a Hello Kitty store that was three floors! It was amazing. I am in the Hello Kitty motherland here. Ever since I was probably two years old when Mom took me into Sanrio Surprises and let me but something, I have loved that cat. Every trip to the mall required a trip to the “Hello Kitty Store” as we called it. Oh, those were the days and then the stores closed. That was a sad day for all of us. L But now, here in Japan, I see Hello Kitty everywhere. I just hope the rest of the world understands how great Hello Kitty is and when you all get a Hello Kitty present from me, you better cherish it! haha
At the end of our day we went back home. The Shinkansen was packed and I had to stand up. No worries though, I made it home and then to bed. I was so tired but so happy with Osaka. I can’t wait to go back there again!
At the end of our day we went back home. The Shinkansen was packed and I had to stand up. No worries though, I made it home and then to bed. I was so tired but so happy with Osaka. I can’t wait to go back there again!
Me, Hello Kitty, and CloNotice that I have a bag. Someone is getting a present!!
I am going to buy this huge Hello Kitty. I must have her for my collection.
Red, yellow, blue...all lovely little kitties.
I'm not quite sure about this one. The Hello Kitty head with crossbones freak me out a little.
Did you know that Hello Kitty got married?? Yes, to DANIEL Kitty!!!What would you do without my knowledge of Hello Kitty guiding you through life?
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