Osaka Tokyo Adventure: Day 8- Osaka/Fukuoka Solo Trips

Our trip is almost over!!!  Boooooo.. I don't want to go back yet.  Not ready...  Seriously.

So before I get into the photos, here's some background on today's adventure.  Paul figured out that our rail passes would not work today since it is over a week since we got them.  So, if we still go to Fukuoka to meet up with his taiko friends, we'd end up paying about about $600 round trip.  We even looked up flights to see if it was cheaper, but ended up opting to send Paul alone.  So now our plan had changed so we'd both be on our own.  If you know me, I get scared navigating through Japan and rely heavily on Paul.  So because I'd be on my own, I had to pay attention more if I wanted to go out on my own.  Yikes!

So yesterday at Hankyu, I bought more fruit mochi.  Got another mikan (orange) and pear.  Poor Paul didn't have enough money to get one more.  Sorry Paul!

Its so big!!! 

This is the pear one. I still like the orange one best.

Then I had breakfast at our hotel.  They have different breakfasts here that the one in Tokyo.  Here they had scrambled eggs and sausage.  They also had meatballs, miso soup, and the marbled toast (Sakura and chocolate).  They even had orange juice. We saw spaghetti yesterday- which I thought was a bit weird.  The first day we had curry and rice.

OK who can tell me who this guy is?  We keep seeing this statue all over this area.  Even Don K has this guy in the store.

So before Paul had to split off, he had some time so we dropped the omiyage in the coin locker at Namba station and headed to Kuromon Market.

 
This was the first time we went to this market. Since we've been to several open markets, I'd say this wasn't our favorite.  It was interesting though... I'll go over the highlights. To tell you the truth, this market was pretty expensive compared to the others.   This stall had live crabs in the bucket.  It reminded me of when we would catch sand crabs, only these were much larger!

OK I'll admit.  I almost tried this.  It was grilled fruit, but what intrigued me was that I think he threw some sugar on the fruit so it caramelized?  Not sure, but the thought of warm fruit did not appeal to me, so I decided to pass.  This market has a lot of fruit.

I wish I had something in this picture for reference.  Those legs were huge!  This picture does not truly tell you how big they were.

Towards the end of the market, we saw this melon stand.  It was featured on TV?  At least that's what the sign said.  At first we were going to the copycat booth next door, but this one looked better.

We got this melon... With ice cream!

It was really good!  I would get that again.

So we always gotta try something new.... no judging.

Osaka has the best billboards!  No idea what she's saying.

After wandering around, it was almost time for Paul to leave.  But he still had time for a fast lunch, so we opted for a bakery in the station.  It was pretty darn good!

Then we picked up the omiyage from the coin locker... and it was time to say goodbye!  Can you tell I was scared!

Off to find ABC Crafts on my own!  Good thing we did a dry run this morning... but not on the train. Hopefully I remember what exit to get off of.

My subway is here!  Next stop Tennoji!

Yay made it!!  I think it was only like 2 stops away from Namba... but still.

Another fun sign in the station.  I love these!

I finally got a picture of this one!  I have no idea what they are selling. But I keep seeing it on the subways.

Got out of the station at exit #5! Yay!  Right exit!!  Phew!  Then over the overpass to get to the Qmall.

Yay!  I remembered where it was!

ABC Crafts on the 3rd floor.  Made it safe and sound!!!

 I spent awhile there. Had so much fun since I could take my time.  Last time I came here I was so rushed since it was our last day and I was really overwhelmed by this store.  Now that I'm more familiar with it, I had more fun and got braver in terms of what I bought. I hope I can figure out some of those kits!

So after I finished at ABC, I decided to explore the Q Mall more.  As mentioned above, I didn't have much time the last time, so I only went to ABC.  so I actually went through the whole mall this time and discovered a lot of stores I was interested in.  They had Tokyu hands in the basement, Disney store, Rilakkuma Store, a large kids store, 3 coin, Daiso, Food Market and much more.  I checked out their food court too, but didn't get anything. While downstairs, I found another fluffy pancake place!! I didn't try it though.  Maybe if we have time tomorrow.

Ok this kinda freaked me out that it was a display in the kids store?  I think he's selling the ball thing in his hand.  Something is just not right.

Found this cap at 3 coins.  Made me raf out roud.

After I explored the whole mall, it was time for me to head back to the hotel.  I had two options, walk (which Paul had shown me earlier that morning) or take the subway and get off on one stop.  I felt brave enough to take the subway, so I back tracked my way to the station and remembered how to get back to my station.  I took a picture of this earlier and kept having to refer to it.  So stupid I know.

Luckily I got on the right platform and got off on the right stop.  It was good to see those animal butts again- I knew I got off at my stop!

So I was bit flipped around since I came from the opposite direction, so the exit I wanted to go out from was on the opposite side.  I couldn't for the life of me remember what number exit to go towards, but something told me to follow the butts!

Once I got out of the station, I was happy to see the pachinko parlor and the tunnel to get to the hotel area.  Yay!  Now, to just find my way through the maze of shops and restaurants back to the hotel. 

And... made it!  Yay!  Gold star for me!

So since I was on my own for the night, I decided to pick up dinner on my way home.  I couldn't decide what to eat, so I ended up getting the fish from the food market at the mall.  There were three pieces of fish for 580 yen!!  I didn't realize you had to pay for it right there, and walked away with it. I was going to pay for everything at the cashier.

Then I walked back and realized I had to pay right there.  The guy had walked out and started counting the fish.  I think he realized he was missing one and seemed relieved that I wanted to pay.

I also got those to breads (loaf size) at a bakery in the same area.

After I got off the subway, I went to Family Mart and grabbed some musubi cause I needed some rice!!

Don't worry, I couldn't finish it all.  I didn't have room for the bread but I still want to eat it!

I forgot to grab chopsticks.  So grateful Paul had some in his backpack. That's back from our wedding video days.  Always have chopsticks in your bag!

So now you are pretty much caught up.  After dinner, I face timed my daughter to check on her and then checked on my husband to make sure he was ok.   I worked on blog posts and then headed to Don K which is just around the corner.  Had to get some last minute omiyage...

And as usual, found some weird stuff.. Ever had a banana drink?  Doesn't sound good to me.

And Superman drink?!

By then I was ready to go back to my hotel...   On a side note, when I was typing up this blog post, there was a LOT of yelling downstairs.  Then I heard sirens then a megaphone, then the sirens stopped, then sirens again. I think the police were in this area.  Must be drunken messes downstairs.  LOL! 

Meanwhile.. Paul seemed like he was having fun with his Buzen Taiko pals!!! Here's the photos they sent me. Hope he's not too drunk and makes it home safely!

Asuka was happy to get her Lays potato chips!

Looks like they had fun...

Plenny of them showed up! I think it was a far trip for them too.  So glad Paul was able to go see them.

Only one day left in our Osaka Tokyo Adventure!

Osaka Tokyo Adventure: Day 7- Osaka Shopping Day

Boy am I on a roll cranking out my posts!!  Yay!  At this rate, I'll be caught up by the time we leave for home.  That also makes me sad since I know that day is tomorrow for me.

Sigh... well at least I'll be able to read my blog and remember all the good food we ate!  Speaking of food...  I was not satisfied yet with the whole souffle pancakes and needed more!  So we looked up pancakes in Osaka and found this one nearby...  Its called Micasadeco & Cafe.  After I looked it up, I saw they also have a shop in Tokyo.  We opted for this one since it didn't say you needed to come back at a certain time.  We skipped breakfast and got there about 10:00am.  I was getting hungry but saw this line...

We are finally at the front of the line!

Now, not all of their pancakes are the fluffy type.  I got the ricotta pancakes...

It was good but too rich for me. I think I prefer it plain.

Paul got the special- Chestnut pancakes.  He really enjoyed it. 

Look how cute my coffee is!

After breakfast we headed to the department store at the Hankyu Department Store.  Needed to finish up my omiyage buying and remembered they had a good selection at that store.  We decided to go back before heading home since we had more shopping to do.

I wanted to go to the Pokemon Center, so we headed there next.  I totally led us in the wrong direction, but luckily Paul navigated us back.  It was right across of where we were!  DOH!

We tried to get my nephew's order, but were unsuccessful. I guess its always sold out.  Sorry Z!  I got some goodies for me though, so it wasn't a wasted trip.  The Loft was also there, so we checked it out too.

By then we were ready for a snack, so Paul finally got his Horai 551 (go go ichi) nikoman (aka manapua).  I gotta say, it was pretty good.  You can't just get one.  The minimum order was 2, so I got to have one too.  It tastes like they put a pork hash inside the breading.  It had really good flavor. 

Lots of meat!!!

After our snack, we headed back to Hankyu and picked up my Sugar Butter Tree and more mochi. I wanted to try the Grand Calibee but Paul said next time. Bummer. I'm pretty sure it would've been good.  I'm gonna get more there next time!!

One last shopping stop was to Shimojima.  I've been waiting the WHOLE trip to go here. Yay!!!  I had a lot of fun and got my double sided tape!!!  I wanted to get 100 roles but was responsible and only got 50.  So happy!

By then we needed to go home since we had a lot of stuff to carry.  On our way back to the hotel, Paul wanted a snack and picked up a takoyaki for the room.  He must've been hungry cause I only got 2 bites and he inhaled the rest!!  Couldn't even get a picture of it!

After our snack, Paul took a nap and I worked on my blog.  That took awhile, so we didn't leave for dinner till around 7:00pm.  We were going to go back to Dotonbori, but I think we were both tired, so we ended up just finding a place near our hotel.  The area we are in is behind a very big Don K. and has a lot of little restaurants.  The majority of them serve kushikatsu.  The rest are Izakaiyas, so they serve all kinds of stuff.  I think we ended up at an Izakaiya but ended up eating kushikatsu anyway.

Kanpai!!

This was our first round order... but we also ordered the quail eggs, more beef (kushikatsu), cheese, and asparagus.  This place was good cause I could also order a side of rice.  The last time we ate kushikatsu, the didn't have rice and gave me stink eye when I asked about it.

Oh.. and no double dipping!!!

After dinner I was pretty toasted!  So we just went back to the room and fell asleep-  Good Night!