Anyone up for taking a trip to Japan?
Start planning your trip now because once this pandemic is over it’s time to explore the world.
If I could only pick one place to travel to, my first choice by a long shot would be Japan. I love Japanese food. If I could solely live off ramen and gyoza then I would! Sadly, my bank account cannot handle my need to order Wagamama’s all the time.
I think my love of Japanese food started when I moved to university. I had the freedom to cook what I wanted and not be restricted by what my family were eating which, most of the time, consisted of the typical British staple of spaghetti bolognese. I became really interested in Japanese culture since I immersed myself into the world of anime; my desire to travel to Japan has grown ever since. Before the pandemic I never really felt the urge to travel, I was content in my little bubble where I felt safe and familiar. Now I have changed my mind, for sure.
The go-to place to travel for experiencing Japanese cuisine is Osaka, which has been crowned the best food city in Japan earning the name of ‘tenka no daidokoro’ (the nation’s kitchen). According to Japan-guide.com it is the 3rd most visited city in Japan falling behind Tokyo and Kyoto. The Southern downtown area is the recommended place for foodies. With the Dotombori canal running through, this is the place for dining and enjoying the night life. Visiting the alley of Hozenji Yokocho is must when visiting this area. The cobbled streets allow visitors to step back in time. It is home to 60 traditional restaurants and stores so there’s plenty of choice.
There are a multiplicity of dishes that I would like to try in Japan. Of course, ramen is a must but I would also love to try omuraisu, which is a fluffy Japanese omelette, and Taiyaki, which are fish shaped desserts filled with sweet fillings. Just thinking about these dishes are making my mouth water.
Before trying these dishes, the decision of what type of restaurant to eat at needs to be made. Japan offers many different restaurant types from a kaitenzushi restaurant, where sushi is delivered on a conveyor belt, to a teppanyaki, where a chef prepares dishes directly in front of customers. There’s something truly spectacular about watching your food being made right in front of you, they put on quite a show.
For something a bit more light, Osaka has a fair amount of cafes to try out. JTRRD Cafe & Season0 offer beautiful smoothies using seasonal produce. Tonton café offers insanely cute animal themed deserts. Groovy ice cream offers all the ice cream needs one could possibly want. Osaka leaves you spoiled for choice.
Amongst these restaurants and cafes there is another rather unique way to access food and drink. I am talking about vending machines which sell things from ice cream to fortunes to umbrellas. Japan has over 5 million, with the Japan National Tourism Board putting the estimate at 5.52 million. As long as you have a few coins you will never go hungry (or be caught out in the rain!).
Budget is also something that’s very important to consider as it’s easy to get a bit carried away when there are so many amazing choices. Insideosaka.com has a great guide for places to eat in Osaka with the sections divided into budget/moderate/expensive in order to help you make the best decision for your financial situation.
The time to visit Japan is during cherry blossom season which, in Osaka, is between the last week of March and the first week of April. This is a very short time span of only two weeks, so you will need to plan your trip carefully. Osaka castle park is the largest park in this region and when the cherry blossoms are in bloom it looks absolutely spectacular. Banpaku Kinen Park is home to over 5,500 of these blossom trees. The most popular spot in Osaka is Zoheikyoku. This is because in this garden many of the trees are ‘yaezakura’ trees which tend to bloom later and keep their leaves for longer, this is your best bet to see the blossom trees in bloom. These green spaces are also a perfect opportunity to take part in Hanami, which is a picnic under a Japanese cherry blossom. This is a common practice at the start of spring time as people welcome the new season by eating and drinking in the warm spring weather. Even though the weather gets a little colder in the evenings, it’s definitely worth sticking around as during this time many of the trees are lit up, so don’t forget to take many photos.
I am fully prepared to immerse myself in ‘kuidaore’ (eat until you drop), who’s going to join me?
