OSAKA - day 1

On own own in Osaka after the 9-day guided tour with Sunrise Tours. We took a JR train (what else is there to take? there is a JR train to anywhere!) from Kyoto Station (which is across the road from our hotel) to Osaka Station. Too easy. The helpful hotel staff had assured us with good instructions and directions.

Clutching tickets bought off the machines, went to the 'track' the station master directed, asked and was advised by a guy putting up posters to take the next train, heard two women speak in English like they were going to Osaka, train came and they said it wasn't that one. So waited for another one to come along. The poster guy came back, jaw agape as in "why didn't you take that train?"

We gnashed teeth for a few minutes, train came along, and about 30 minutes later we were in Osaka. We didn't see those two women board. The might have still been deciding on which train to take.

I think someone told us Osaka was the third largest city in Japan after Tokyo and Kyoto. Checked into Hotel The Velta Kitahama.



The ground floor consists of 3 parts: the subway entrance (stairs down and an escalator), a Family Mart shop (these are like 24? hour mini-supermarts and they're everywhere) and the Velta's entrance. In the first photo above, you can see the station entrance between the white and blue vehicles, the minimart has blue words overhead and the Velta has the big blue slab top. It's a very comfy decent place, see Asia Rooms's description.

I had read reviews that Velta was difficult to locate. So I gave some directions in the review that I submitted, reproduced in part below:

"Hotel sits on the Kitahama Station. There is a lift from platform level up to the station entrance smack next door to FamilyMart next door to the hotel. Take the Sakaisuji Line (subway). Unfortunately, this line does not go through Osaka or Shin Osaka which are the two main stations in Osaka. Get a connecting line to a common station to solve the problem. For most folks arriving at Osaka station (also known as Uemeda Station), take the line that stops at Yodoyobashi Station, walk up to Gate 11 and turn left and walk all the way to the end of the road (a T junction), turn left and Velta's a few steps away. If with heavy luggage, take Gate 13 (elevator) and come up to road beside a coffee joint. Cross the road (crossroads) and walk the road described in earlier part (Gate 11)".

On way out to recce the neighbourhood, discovered a cobbler on hotel ground floor, next to its side entrance. Back upstairs to get Penny's walking shoes for repairs. The loose soles were ripped off and re-attached, all done next morning at 8am for 2,000 yen. Not cheap, but very good workmanship and service.



Popped into the FamilyMart for some coffee (they supplied only green tea in all the hotels we stayed at). Bought the commonly available packs of two paper cups of instant coffee, creamer and sugar at about 300 yen at pack. Essential nightcap, that.

Oh yes, we spied an example of excellent parking in tight places.




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