It’s hard to resist shopping when you’re in Japan. And especially when we chose an airbnb near the two tourist and spending places of Osaka: Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi. Here I give you my favorite shopping addresses in Osaka. Just type the name on Google Maps to find the exact location Warning: in Japan, all prices are displayed without tax (unless otherwise stated), so you have to mentally add 8% tax, unless you spend more than 5000yen at a time and subject to tax exemption (look for the “japan tax free shop” logo). Take your passport with you. And if you’ve done too much shopping, don’t bring all your stuff with…

The interest of being in the 3rd largest city in Japan (after Tokyo and Yokohama) is to enjoy many restaurants in Osaka (and not too expensive). I bring you to discover in this article my favorite restaurants Note: JB and I don’t like to cook and we spend all our time at the diner since we get a salary. With time, we have become extremely difficult, so if we tell you that this or that restaurant is good, take our word for it! Sakae Sushi Address: 2-27 Souemoncho, Chuo, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0084 Prices: between 150yen and 500yen per sushi 3000yen/person/meal to not be hungry anymore (I counted the drinks…

Sleeping in a ryokan is one of the top experiences to do in Japan. After intensive research, we decided to spend a day and a night in a ryokan near Osaka. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary The ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn. Before, it was mostly frequented by the aristocracy, but nowadays, ryokans can be compared to spas with accommodation. Some ryokans have onsens inside, others do not. But the common point is its superb location/environment (often in the nature), impeccable service (with dinner usually served in the room). We chose a ryokan with onsen. Note: most ryokans are very badly rated…

Last Tuesday, I went to see the cherry blossoms at Expo ’70 Commemorative Park, in full-bloom for 3 days. It is one of the best places in all of Japan for hanami (traditional Japanese custom to appreciate the beauty of flowers, mainly cherry blossoms). As JB had to work, I went there by myself Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary I need 2 changes and a long hour to get to Expo’70 Comemorative Park. Luckily I’m sitting down most of the time. As soon as I get off the train/subway/RER (I don’t know anymore), I see a huge wheel on my right, and a…

Read Travel Diary #1 here, #2 here Ohayô gozaimasu! (hello in Japanese), here I am to tell you the continuation of my trip in Japan If you only knew how hard it is for me to remember Japanese sentences! If you learned to say konichiwa from the movie Taxi, you should know that it is only used in the afternoon :'( And Japanese people seem to prefer to say Ohayô gozaimasu! even in the afternoon So, when someone says hello to me, I get stuck, smiling blissfully, processing “damn, what do we say after ohayô already? kadasui? gounamas? think think think think!!!” and the person in front has already had…

If you haven’t done so, read our first Osaka travel diary here Hardly our suitcases scattered in the Airbnb, we are already outside, too eager to discover Japan, which we are visiting for the first time Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Dobontori As we are cold, our first goal is to find a Uniqlo, where I am sure to find comfortable and warm pajamas. Of course, we’ll end up at Uniqlo last, being too busy looking left to right Our first stop is the local supermarket. We discover with excitement bentos, sashimis and sushi to take away – for a very affordable price…

I am so excited to present this series of travel diaries to Japan. We are going to put online numbered travel diaries throughout our stay in Japan. The idea is to share our discoveries with you as we go along, because there is so much to tell about Japan that the usual three articles per destination aren’t enough So we chose to spend a month and a half in Japan, including a month in Osaka (and surroundings) and two weeks in Tokyo (and surroundings) Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Da Nang => Osaka After a month in Hoi An and 2 days in…