Arashiyama and Dotonbori, Osaka (Japan Trip - part 4)

Hello! It's me again.. 

I'm super productive these day to make it for my last absence....

This is our last day at Kyoto. Only left one place from the list that need to be visited. It's the famous Bamboo Forest or they call it by "Arashiyama". It's not difficult to get there, you just have to take train from Kyoto Station then alight at Saga Arashiyama. Not so far also. From the train station you just have to walk for 10 minutes to reach the forest. We don't know which direction to go, just follow the people in front of you... hahaha...

You can take rickshaw if you don't want to walk.

Saw these cute statues which reminds me of Japanese folklore, which one of the statue can turn to life. Forget the name.

After a short walk passing by some local houses and cute cafe, we reached at the forest. No entrance fee!! Then we quickly set up the tripod to take photo while there's still not much tourists.

There's a very pretty lake nearby. The scenery is surreal.

See the duckling with its mom are swimming peacefully.

After a while we got a bit bored because not much things to see, just trees, bamboo and tourists. Yeah, I'm not really a nature people. Oh there's a train actually, if you like you can take the train but don't know where they will bring you. We got lost on our way going back to the station, "the follow people in front of you" is not working this time, they also lost. T_T

But finally we can reach the station and decided to hunt for best ramen in Kyoto. Based on our express browsing we only managed to find out "Gogyo, the burnt ramen". It's located near Nishiki Food Market. One stone, strike two birds. It wasn't easy to get to the place, we have to ask several people for the direction.

We reached there around 2pm, and we were super hungry, but have to queue for a while. It was drizzling that time. So waiting outside in that kind of weather is make me "HANGRY". The ramen better taste as good as we expected.

Me and the restaurant sign.

The interior is cozy, they decorate it in modern style. Love the wooden table.

 They provide disposable bib so the ramen soup won't stain your clothes. At first I don't think I need that, but then I was wearing white top so I asked for it. And I don't know how to wear, hahaha... And wore it wrong way. Sorry guys, no picture. Was busy with my ramen.

Here's the ramen.... It does taste good. The soup is very rich with a burnt aroma which makes the taste even stronger. The other topping are normal. Finally a good ramen in Japan! We wanted to order the gyoza but it's sold out.

Here's the burnt ramen, and again the give free rice.

Mine, no extra rice but with veggie!

Here's the menu, spot the obvious different!!
Can anyone who understand Japanese explain to me: Why the English menu only have one slice of the pork??

Cute rolling door

Now it's time to explore the market... It's a long stretched of alley with shops on both sides. A bit difficult to walk when there's a lot of people. They sell mostly fresh products like seafood, fruits, japanese pickles and other things that i don't know what they are. But there are some store selling sushi magnets and sovenirs.

dried fish, i guess?

artificial strawberries. why they look all same size and color and so perfect?! And cheap too (less than S$5)
Must be for display, rite?

try to buy 1 packet, and THEY ARE REAL STRAWBERRIES. Super sweet. The best strawberry that I've ever eat in my life!!! I will forget about beef if i can eat this strawberry everyday, literally!!! How do they plant it? Must be using some kind of super power??

Me and my strawberry (in the plastic bag)

are those jelly?

octopus with an egg inside. I didn't try. No more space in my tummy. Sorry, maybe next time.

Fermented beans?

sushi magnets. not cheap. not buying

At the end of the market, there are shops and restaurants.

I stare at the display for 5 minutes. 

We only bought that strawberries and some goma (roeasted sesame) dressing which turn out to be not so nice compared with "the Kewpie". Since it's the last day we're in Kyoto and according to my plan we have to go to Osaka, just to take photo with the "Glico Man". So the long journey to Osaka now begin... Actually it's not that long, only take around 30mins to reach Osaka from Kyoto. Then from there we have to change train to go to Dotonbori, Namba.

When we reached at Namba station, we were greeted by "Basement of a Department Store". You know what that's mean in Japan, don't you?! (meaning: the food section)

Fresh Sushi

Fish Roe

More cheap sushi...

OMG, dessert!!! my kryptonite... but they're not cheap, ok money, you're save.

more desserts....

perfectly cut strawberry roll cake.

perfect cakes

don't know what is that, but they looks yummeh

pretty dessert.... can i have a taste, please?

After all those torture at the basement, We cannot resist but bought a small portion of salad, a beef croquette and a glass of juices to be shared by me and my husband. And when we about to continue our journey to find the Glico Man, I saw a store calling my name...

GODIVA!!! I didn't know that time if Takashimaya Singapore also selling the ice blended and soft ice cream... I've been holding back not buying at the Kyoto Station... Cannot resist anymore...

Chocolate Ice blended.... Taste damn good... 

Failed candid photo

OK, tummy is full and happy, journey resume... Dotonbori is a huge area full with stores and eateries. They're famous with their unique signages that light up at night... It's like the most happening place in Osaka (We only visited this part of Osaka, lol)

easy to get lost. Stick to your group..

And we're here!! That big crab sign has been calling his name...

They're selling grill crab leg.

a portion only consist of two pieces...

this Dotonbori area is his favorite part of the whole journey

failed touching photo of the gyoza.

that octopus actually can dance and sing. this is photo not video, sorry

pretty japanese ladies

pretty indonesian lady

Glico Man snacks!!

cute packaging

Our dinner was conveyor belt sushi which taste pretty normal. no need to write more about it...

After satisfy with taking photos of the signages, we still haven't found the Glico Man. Must be at another part. But then when we walk we realize that he's behind us!!!

TA DAAA.....

A bit tricky to take photo with it.

Next time I won't be able to see the Glico Man again, it's been replaced by a Glico Girl. Another reason to go back to Osaka then!! Why not...

photo credit: ujep

The journey back to our hotel at Kyoto is another long journey. We were all so tired and tomorrow we have to wake up super early to catch the train to Tokyo!!

See you in Tokyo....

Sayonara!!!

How I become a "Japanese Girl" for one day (Japan Trip - part 3)

Hey guys.. U still there? Phewww...

Sorry for not updating my blog for months. I've been back to Indonesia for good, after 3 years living in Singapore. I have to settle for my house, I didn't have wifi for few weeks, blablabla... So yeah, that's pretty much explain how I was busy settle for my new life, here.

But now I'm back, with much slower internet speed, but i will try to continue blogging, since now I'm working from my house, I should have more time to blog, yaay!

I have a lot to share with you, for example: how's life in Indonesia compared with Singapore, but let me finish with my Kyoto trip before I forget everything..

Just in case, if u've already forgotten how i look like

So, the third day is the day that I've been waiting for... The day I've booked for renting a Kimono!! I found this Kimono Rental shop from someone else's blog, here. The place is quite hidden, but very popular. http://okamoto-kimono.com/english/index.html That's the website. A lot of tourists and local Japanese came there. They have kimono not only for woman, but also for man and kids.

You can choose which package you want, the only difference is only the selection. The higher the package the prettier the kimono options. I choose the middle package (4000 jpy). And they also do the hair for you (500 jpy), only 3 models to choose though for the cheapest price: formal up do, messy style and side part (like what i chose). If you want more fanciful hairstyle like with french braid or something more complicated you have to pay more. Additional 1000 jpy if i'm not wrong. And dont forget that price haven't include the tax. The other details like how to go to the shop, you can read from the blog that I've mentioned. She already write it down super detail.

Actually the reason why I was really excited to rent this kimono is because I want to know how it feels wearing a kimono, they said it is a lot of layers of fabric. And it's true. If my mind still serve me right, there were one inner layer (after ur undies) then they will tie some towel around your waist, then another layer which the collar can be seen from the outside, then the kimono itself and don't forget the obi. It's felt a bit suffocating and you cannot walk like normal people, your steps will be very limited. Sadly i didn't take any photo on how's the process. I don't dare too because there are a lot of people inside the dressing room. After we finish with the dressing process, then they will do the hair and we can choose the hair piece, bag and the geta (japanese sandal). Don't worry about your clothes and belongings, they will put inside a bag with your name attach to it. Now you're ready to explore Kyoto as a fake Japanese girl. Please come back to the shop before 8pm to return the kimono and collect your things.

Me with the husband who regret not rented the kimono. He thought it's only for girls, later then he saw lots of guys also renting the kimono.

Because we have to come back to the Kimono Shop, we decided to explore nearby places: Kiyomizudera temple and Gion area. It was difficult to walk with the kimono, the kimono will automatically make your walk like a true Japanese lady.

We reached the Kiyomizudera a bit late, so it's already crowded with tourists. No entrance fee!

The main gate

The view should be better in fall, where all the leaves turn to orange.

We come for this scenery.

Sadly some part of the temple is still under maintenance.

Found a sakura tree! Must take photo

This is how's my hair & my obi looks like from behind.

Saw a monk too, look at his sandal. Really like in the movie.

Full body coordinate.

There is another "mini" temple not far from there, where we met a nice indonesian family who helped us take this picture.

And it's come for lunch time. Had difficult time to decide where to eat, so we just went to the most crowded restaurant. It was a soba restaurant managed by 3 aunties only. We have to wait for a while to get a table, but their service is really fast and efficient. Japanese, they are so hard working.

We both ordered the cheapest set meal. Cold soba with tempura.

I don't know how the Japanese people eat. There is noodle already but they still have rice?! And they all still slim...

Nice food. Happy me.

The soba was very nice, the texture is different with what I've eat in Singapore. The tempura also very light, you will forget if tempura is a deep fried food. So crunchy and not oily at all. Sorry i don't know what's the name of this place.

'

After we eat our lunch, we stumble upon a stall selling "Baked Dango". Of course I cannot resist...

And we continue our journey to explore Gion. Gion is a huge area apparently, lots of small alleys with Japanese traditional houses which mostly operate as shops. They sell any kind of souvenirs from Yukata, snacks, candies, toys, cake, stationery until caricatures. This is definitely tourists spots. You can spot a lot of tourists wearing kimono. You will feel like you're walking in a mini Japanese village. Gion is the place if you want to find a Maiko (Geisha apprentice) /Geisha. And I did find them!!

look at their kimono, super pretty....

But after we walk further, I found a shop which rent out Maiko's costume. I think those Maiko are fakes, they're just tourist who dress like Maiko. But better than nothing.

This is Gion. This is what I'm talking about. Old Japanese houses.

Found another sakura!!!

How pretty...

zoom in

more zoom in

There're several temple at Gion area. We didn't visit all of them. Because we still have to come back to the Kimono shop, remember? If you're tired of walking, you can ride a rickshaw which being pulled by a muscular Japanese guy.

like this

Of course it comes with a heavy price tag too. We didn't take the ride. We rather spend the money on this:

Sakura flavour ice cream!!! which taste a bit like coconut flavour, but more fragrant.

Pretty and expensive dessert, must take photo together.

This is another temple at Gion area.

I must lay down very low on the street only to take this photo.

Colorful charm

Another temple with a huge statue, but when we were there it already close.

This is a museum which already close too T_T

Some wishes & prayers I guess..

It was fun strolling around Gion. There's a Ghibli store also. I have no idea what Ghibli is. I didn't grow up with Ghibli anime, only Doraemon T_T.

This is another temple's gate.

Saw those cute dogs who stand on the second storey window of a house. How cute...

After that we go back to the Kimono shop to collect all my belongings. After that we're already so tired and only go around Kyoto Station to have Ramen dinner. I heard that Chabuton already open it's branch at Singapore. But their ramen is not that nice. Taste so-so only.

Ok, here's the end of my third post. I still have one more day at Kyoto and 5 days in Tokyo!!! Stay tune... See you around...