Archive for 'Osaka'
Yodobashi Camera
Posted on 05. Aug, 2006 by admin.
What is Yodobashi Camera?
Its a camera store of course! Oh, but its so much more. Yodobashi does cover the gamut when it comes to cameras, but they also throw the gauntlet down when it comes to having the largest selection I’ve ever seen in TV’s, computers, watches, film, photo albums, cell phones, and more.
This is a definite place for any gaijin (foreigner) to check out while in Osaka, Japan. This is probably the best electronics store in the world. Yes, that’s an opinion, but this place is simply crazy and once you see it you will believe it.
Want a cellphone? How about several thousand choices. Sprint in the US has about 20 in their stores.
Cameras? Laptops? Picture frames? Watches? Vintage film? Luggage? Dishwashers? They have it all and I mean all. Yodobashi probably has over 100 different rice cookers.
Even though Yodobashi has everything you could want from an electronics store, typically prices are better in the United States for major electronics. I was able to find some unique items at Yodobashi to take home such as their
bottle top camera tripod.
How to get to Yodobashi Camera?
Yodobashi is right behind the train station as you can see on the map. In this example, I’ll assume you are at the front entrance of the Umeda train station. You can either walk underground to get to Yodobashi or walk topside across the overhead crosswalk that connects Hanshin Department Store, Hankyu Department Store, and Umeda Station. If you are new in town, take the topside skywalk. Its easier to navigate up top. You can get lost in the Osaka subway for quite a while if you are bad at navigating.
Once you are on the skywalk, its easy to spot Yodobashi Camera because it has cartoon eyes on the building. It also says Yodobashi Camera on the building as well. Even though you can see Yodobashi Camera from the skywalk, getting there from this point is still a hair confusing.
If you are facing Yodobashi Camera at the spot of the skywalk where it forks then you want to go right. If you go left it takes you back to the train station through a different entrance. So go right towards Hankyu department store, down the stairs and take the walkway that runs parallel to the street. Its covered overhead and you may see people sleeping on the street here (don’t worry its perfectly safe–its different in Japan). When you hit day light you cross 2 little drive way streets in front of you and then you can cross the main street on your left at the big (lines on the ground). If you think this sounds like some back street route, its not. Its always busy with plenty of people. This is the least busy route though.
Videos of Yodabashi Camera
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Hilton Osaka
Posted on 27. Jul, 2006 by admin.
The Hilton Osaka is situated directly across from the main entrance to JR Umeda train station. The Hilton Osaka also has a luxury shopping center attached to it with subway access underground. Beyond the luxury shopping center is Hanshin Department Store. One of my favorite thing at Hanshin is the amazing food hall in the basement. You can access this via the subway as well. The subway is about 150 yards from the Hilton Osaka. The Hilton in Osaka is a 4 star hotel with 5 star service.
ATM machines in Japan that have English are not exactly everywhere. Fortunately you can always find one at a post office. There happens to be a Post Office about 100 yards away across from the Umeda station.
Check availability
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The Ritz-Carlton Osaka
Posted on 26. Jul, 2006 by admin.
The Ritz-Carlton is located in Nishi-Umeda across from the JR Umeda Rail Station.
The Hotel sits on top of a large high end shopping center as well as easy access to the Yotsubashi, Midosuji, and Tanimachi subway lines as well as the JR.
2-5-25 Umeda
Kita
Osaka, Osaka 530-0001
Japan
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Swissotel Nankai Osaka
Posted on 26. Jul, 2006 by admin.
The Swissotel Nankai Osaka hotel is located at:
5-1-60 Namba Chuo
542-0076
Osaka, Japan
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Osaka Castle
Posted on 24. Jul, 2006 by admin.
Probably Osaka’s biggest tourist attraction, Osaka Castle, sits on an island filled with trees, large rock walls, and moat around the outside.
The castle is a museum as well as an observation deck at the top floor. Prepare to climb tight staircases.
Since this is one of the few traditional tourist sites in Osaka, go see it.
The castle restored to its full glory in 1997.
Getting to Osaka Castle
Take the JR Loop Line to Osakajo Koen
You can also take the subway to:
Morinomiya station via the Chuo line (dark green) or the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi line (light green)
Temmabashi station on the Tanimachi line (purple)
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Kansai Airport
Posted on 17. Jul, 2006 by admin.
Kansai airport is a man made island offshore in the middle of Osaka Bay. Built over the course of 7 years at an enormous cost of 1 billion dollars it was opened in 1994.
The airport resembles a whale from the inside, but you would never know that from the outside. The building is one long sleek undulating silver roof and on the inside there are lots of mobiles and sailsthat turn due to the circulating air.
Highlights of Kansai Airport
- The airport code for Kansai is KIX.
- American Airlines, Northwest, and United have direct flights to KIX from the US.
- Kansai airport is the longest terminal in the world.
- Kansai aiport withstood the effects of the 1995 Kobe earthquake
Transportation to Kansai Airport
Official train schedule from JR
Official train route map to and from Kansai Airport
*If you want to goto downtown Osaka, known as Umeda, from KIX, the best way would be to take the Airport Express “HARUKA” to Shin-Osaka and take either a rapid or local train to Osaka (Umeda train station). The difference between Osaka and Shin-Osaka is that Shin-Osaka is a little further out from the city center and it can accomodate the Shinkansen trains which are also known as Bullet Trains. Shin-Osaka and Osaka are 1 stop apart.
*If you want to transfer to Kyoto from KIX, the best way would be to take the Airport Express “HARUKA” to Kyoto direct. They have direct and non-direct lines so pay attention.
*If you want to transfer to Tokyo via rail, the best way would be to take “HARUKA” direct to Shin-Osaka, then get tickets on the Shinkansen Lines to Tokyo.
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Kansai Photos
