Hello! Welcome back to the Japan posts
They're going to be coming at you daily to reduce my blog backlog
I hope this is ok and that you continue to enjoy these posts
They're going to be coming at you daily to reduce my blog backlog
I hope this is ok and that you continue to enjoy these posts
Spotted in Lawson: Kyubey meat buns
Kyubey is the mascot for the Madoka Magica series and looks scary in bun form
Kyubey is the mascot for the Madoka Magica series and looks scary in bun form
Our plan for today was to visit the Pokemon Center!
We didn't visit one in Tokyo as at the time there wasn't really any central stores
(There is now a store in Ikebukuro which is easier to access)
Though the one we intended to visit should have been easy to find
I did a mega derp and lead us out of the wrong Station Exit
So we ended up a bit lost and was approached by a drunk Chinese man
I don't even know if he was trying to help, he seemed just as lost as us haha
But we did eventually find it, and it was inside a giant mall too
We always forgot, that when in Japan you need to be looking upwards!
Being lost had made us hungry so first we stopped off at the Malls food floor
There was a lot of places to choose from but we settled on a Korean place
(which I can't seem to find on their website anymore, maybe it's gone??)
In the past year I've really developed a taste for Kimchi but never really tried Korean food
I trusted Rhi in her recommendation for Bibimbap and it was SO GOOD
Oh man, I really want some now... and some Kimchi!
I think this was one of my favourite meals of the trip ♥
Bellies full, it was time to locate the floor with the Pokemon Center
and make all our childhood dreams come true!
(which I can't seem to find on their website anymore, maybe it's gone??)
In the past year I've really developed a taste for Kimchi but never really tried Korean food
I trusted Rhi in her recommendation for Bibimbap and it was SO GOOD
Oh man, I really want some now... and some Kimchi!
I think this was one of my favourite meals of the trip ♥
Bellies full, it was time to locate the floor with the Pokemon Center
and make all our childhood dreams come true!
At the time Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire were 10 days from release
The posters to the right showed poll results of people's favourite new Mega Evolution
The posters to the right showed poll results of people's favourite new Mega Evolution
as well as which game they were going to buy and which starter they would choose
Now, you can't really take pictures inside the Center and I do my best to oblige by these rules
I was also too busy spending ALL THE MONEY to remember to take pictures
But if you're a Pokemon fan you really do need to visit a Pokemon Center in Japan
I remember when we were inside, there was 2 other foreign guys in there
and they gave me a look I was all too familiar with, that judgemental"fake gamer girl" stare
I felt like whipping out my 3DS' and challenging them to a battle right there! Jerks!
I honestly do not feel bad for choosing Pokemon based on their cuteness lol
I was also too busy spending ALL THE MONEY to remember to take pictures
But if you're a Pokemon fan you really do need to visit a Pokemon Center in Japan
I remember when we were inside, there was 2 other foreign guys in there
and they gave me a look I was all too familiar with, that judgemental"fake gamer girl" stare
I felt like whipping out my 3DS' and challenging them to a battle right there! Jerks!
I honestly do not feel bad for choosing Pokemon based on their cuteness lol
Here's a sneaky picture I took of the Center after I paid for my goodies
I guessed that after I'd spent between ¥10,000 and ¥15,000 in there they wouldn't mind one sneaky snap
The guy who served me was super cute, he double checked everything with me
Like the cases I bought, he made sure to double check I'd picked up the right size/device style
I guessed that after I'd spent between ¥10,000 and ¥15,000 in there they wouldn't mind one sneaky snap
The guy who served me was super cute, he double checked everything with me
Like the cases I bought, he made sure to double check I'd picked up the right size/device style
In front of the lifts here was a small waiting area and it was full of people sat down playing Pokemon
I felt like I had found my people haha, it was amazing!
I felt like I had found my people haha, it was amazing!
We had to board here for the novelty!
I was surprised we hadn't seen these more in Tokyo actually
We kept joking that I would have to ring Rhi's mum one night
I was surprised we hadn't seen these more in Tokyo actually
We kept joking that I would have to ring Rhi's mum one night
and explain that she had been arrested for being a train pervert haha
I don't know if I mentioned the trains in Tokyo, we had our picture taken a few times
Peoples methods were quite hilarious but sometimes so obvious!
Our evening plans were simply to explore our local area
I had to take a quick rest stop at the hotel to drop off my Pokemon haul
and also catch my breath a little bit, I think I had a mild panic attack but luckily I was ok
Peoples methods were quite hilarious but sometimes so obvious!
Our evening plans were simply to explore our local area
I had to take a quick rest stop at the hotel to drop off my Pokemon haul
and also catch my breath a little bit, I think I had a mild panic attack but luckily I was ok
On our way to Dotonbori we saw this cutie pie ♥
She was just walking freely behind her owner but stopped for a picture haha
She was just walking freely behind her owner but stopped for a picture haha
A lot of dogs tend to be well behaved in Japan and aren't often on leads, which scares me a little
Especially when they're in the cities, I'd be so scared of them near traffic!
Especially when they're in the cities, I'd be so scared of them near traffic!
Dotonbori!
I always knew of this place in Osaka and it's various other famous sights within
But for some reason I never knew what it was called haha, oops
It's full of shops, arcades and of course lot's of food stalls for Osaka Street Food
I always knew of this place in Osaka and it's various other famous sights within
But for some reason I never knew what it was called haha, oops
It's full of shops, arcades and of course lot's of food stalls for Osaka Street Food
One of the three famous Kinryu Ramen shops
These are really popular and were always fulls
But we didn't see the "big deal" as their ramen looked so ordinary
Perhaps it needed to be tasted to be believed?
These are really popular and were always fulls
But we didn't see the "big deal" as their ramen looked so ordinary
Perhaps it needed to be tasted to be believed?
I loves this giant Octopus holding a piece of Takoyaki, so cannibalistic haha
I never knew until today that this place has a workshop where you can make fake food!
They show you how to make a piece of souvenir Takoyaki, I wish I had known
I never knew until today that this place has a workshop where you can make fake food!
They show you how to make a piece of souvenir Takoyaki, I wish I had known
Kani Doraku is a restaurant with a famous mechanical crab billboard
My picture does no justice to it's size, this thing was HUGE!
There are a couple of imitation crabs but this is the original and his eyes were so funny to watch
My picture does no justice to it's size, this thing was HUGE!
There are a couple of imitation crabs but this is the original and his eyes were so funny to watch
I took this picture without even realising the building was in fact a Donki store
I think I even asked on Twitter where the local Donki was and it was here all along!
I think I even asked on Twitter where the local Donki was and it was here all along!
We continued our journey of the area and ended up in Amerika-mura
There was lots of hip hop inspired stores around here and we felt a little out of place haha
There was lots of hip hop inspired stores around here and we felt a little out of place haha
But there was also some great second hand stores full of Jeffrey Campbell
and we even found on purely for rock and lolita brand items
There was also this old school Punk guy, we're not sure if he followed us for a while
There was also this old school Punk guy, we're not sure if he followed us for a while
perhaps he felt out of place in this "ghetto" place too haha
On the way back we passed through Shinsaibashi and spotted Prisila wigs
I had been trying to remember the name of this place for so long, so I'm glad Rhi spotted it
On the way back we passed through Shinsaibashi and spotted Prisila wigs
I had been trying to remember the name of this place for so long, so I'm glad Rhi spotted it
and she treated herself to a new wig
The staff there were so lovely and they had cards with translations on them which really helped
So if either of us were stuck in a language barrier we could just point to the sentence we needed hehe
I remember the staff there also didn't realise Rhi was already wearing a wig!
They thought it was her natural hair and was surprised when she took it off
I think that's really complimentary, when someone who works with wigs thinks your hair looks real!
The staff also asked me if I was cold because I just had a T-shirt on and it was November
But I am a human radiator haha
The staff there were so lovely and they had cards with translations on them which really helped
So if either of us were stuck in a language barrier we could just point to the sentence we needed hehe
I remember the staff there also didn't realise Rhi was already wearing a wig!
They thought it was her natural hair and was surprised when she took it off
I think that's really complimentary, when someone who works with wigs thinks your hair looks real!
The staff also asked me if I was cold because I just had a T-shirt on and it was November
But I am a human radiator haha
The famous Glico man was all lit up!!
The bridge becomes really crowded at night time as people want to take his picture
It's also full of host's and hostess looking for customers
I saw one woman approach a man and ask "You like fun?"
At least I hope that was the F-word she used haha
The bridge becomes really crowded at night time as people want to take his picture
It's also full of host's and hostess looking for customers
I saw one woman approach a man and ask "You like fun?"
At least I hope that was the F-word she used haha
Dotonbori is so pretty at night time
But it also gets really busy too, for some reason it's a magnet for Chinese visitors
They come here to do Tax Free shopping it seems
Which didn't make sense to use because we always thought China was cheaper?
But it also gets really busy too, for some reason it's a magnet for Chinese visitors
They come here to do Tax Free shopping it seems
Which didn't make sense to use because we always thought China was cheaper?
Ok, so this picture has a story haha
We were just having a sit down and people watching
Then I saw a foreign woman who was wearing rock/punk style clothing
She gave me a little "hello fellow foreign person" nod and smile
She gave me a little "hello fellow foreign person" nod and smile
and then I saw her boyfriend stopping to take a picture of the Dotonbori street view above our heads
That's when I realised he was the lead singer of the band Trivium!
It was so surreal to just bump into him in the middle of Osaka of all places in the world haha
That's when I realised he was the lead singer of the band Trivium!
It was so surreal to just bump into him in the middle of Osaka of all places in the world haha
We weren't sure if it was definitely him at first but remembered the band was in Japan
for a concert with some other Metal bands, and he has such a unique face too
(later checks confirmed, it was him)
and so this picture is the piece of pavement on which we saw some guys from Trivium hahaha
(later checks confirmed, it was him)
and so this picture is the piece of pavement on which we saw some guys from Trivium hahaha
We were sat near a food place and had considered going in but a queue started to form outside
and it wasn't moving too quickly, so we decided to go on a wander to find somewhere else
We accidentally ended up in a seedy Host district
and we feel like Infeccion is not the best name to call your club of sexy men...
There was also a strange man who could tell we were a little bit lost
There was also a strange man who could tell we were a little bit lost
and he offered us a ride on his bicycle, which had an extra seat made out of foil hahaha
I totally thought it was some kind of portable grill he had
I totally thought it was some kind of portable grill he had
We eventually found somewhere to eat and promptly shit our pants at the tradition menu
The guy took us outside to a simpler menu for us to order, I'm pretty sure we had gyoza
The guy took us outside to a simpler menu for us to order, I'm pretty sure we had gyoza
and that's all for our first day in Osaka!
See you next time for a trip to Koyasan for Rhi's birthday~
See you next time for a trip to Koyasan for Rhi's birthday~