9.45am - Rise and shine
Needed more sleep today... gotta 忍痛割爱. Thanks to the late check-out time of 12 noon, we didn't have to get our butts out before we were ready.
Revised itinerary: Kuromon in Osaka, Travel to Tokyo
Wakey wakey... Woke with sore throat as usual.
No breakfast today. Since we were going to Kuromon, we'll grab something there.
Still got toilet paper left. Conservation overly successful.
Luggage and bags of trash in our hands. Leaking air-refreshener out of the ashtray and back to where it belonged (I don't think we mentioned that the air-refreshener was leaking and we found this perfect home for it). Windows that we never closed (to ventilate the room naturally, remember?), were closed.
With that, we closed the door behind us and checked-out. We deposited our luggage at the reception, dumped the trash and headed for our last sight-seeing activity in Kansai.
11.30am - The Search
According to Google Maps, Kuromon is within walking distance. Before we left, we confirmed with the hotel receptionist, who told us the directions, something about 2 junctions away.
We read the map on the street just down the hotel. Seemed like this is some temple area or something, temples and shrines were dotted all over the area. There is a temple right next to the hotel already! Not a tourists' attraction, so we never went.
At the first junction we came to, to go straight or turn left? I was pretty sure we should go straight, so we did. Cool day at around 15°C. Caught sight of a building where there were workers clearing up after a funeral.
We walked for quite some time... saw junctions, but no Kuromon. Hidden in the alleys?
Until we came to the Tanimachi Rokuchome, it dawned upon us that we were in the wrong direction. Sorry! My bad. Reverse now...
At this time, it started drizzling. First encounter with the rain so soon! Not so lucky like in Taipei :( Just hope that it wouldn't get heavier.
Came across a square overhead bridge. Isn't this a good idea? Why doesn't Singapore have this?
1pm - Kuromon Ichiba 黒門市場
Experiencing the life of a local - visiting the market! But who visits the market so late XD It's ok, the shops don't just open for the morning. There are even 24-hr supermarkets, I read.
Even disposable chopsticks got so many pattern. Dunno which one to choose for my new hawker stall!
Can you spot the expensive rock melons?
Unbound crabs. The buyer not scared?
I want to buy one and tear it apart there and then.
Is it safe to buy these skinned fugu? Take a closer look, they have been skinned so carefully that you can still see the shape of the mouth and the fins are intact.
Red is more expensive than green.
Food delivery! So nice, no need to eat from plastic bowls.
I don't look at eggs when I'm at the supermarket, but these seemed pretty expensive??
Greens. ¥8000 mushroom spotted!
Looked like a whole octopus there! How many takopachi can that make?
Green coffee beans. Roast it the way you want.
I tried to scare them, but they weren't afraid of me. Wait till I eat you.
Wow summer in Hokkaido!
Omg omg this is one obese cow.
How about tempura for brunch? We hadn't had that yet.
Tunaaaa. The belly can be a 50% premium!
The head to prove its authenticity? Can I piece the head back with the body? Or just there to cook curry fish head with?
What's for brunch, what's for brunch? Sadly, there weren't rows of restaurants. We were deciding between this restaurant and the one next door and we picked this one selling primarily rice and udon.
Cigarette smoke. Yucks.
The very kind lady boss immediately served us tea and water. Too bad she couldn't speak English.
Sorry for the odd-shaped photo, but sotong was sitting there.
So I picked prawn tecchiri! It came in a scalding stone bowl.
The pickles were great too!
Brother's chicken rice with a mini udon.
Sister's Japanese curry udon with rice. The glass of water came with the set. Aiyoh! Japanese curry need what water! See us no up!
We walked out satisfied. Recommended!
Some expensive cooked fish decorated with Christmas tree.
Wa wa this must be live, submerged in water!
Not your regular bacon, but WHALE bacon.
Fresh soybean milk, must try! I thought we were going to get a bottle, but Brother got a small cup instead.
Got to go soon... sweets and snacks-shopped (needless to say, Brother bought Jagabee) before finally leaving the market. Late late, hurry!
3pm - Last Hours in Osaka
The rain had stopped by now. On the way back to the hotel to collect our luggage, we were walking behind a woman and her toddler daughter. They maintained their position ahead, despite the fact that we walk pretty fast :O
Traveled from Tanimachi Kyuchome to Tennoji for the last time. Reserved seats for the leg to Tokyo. We requested for the non-smoking car (obviously) and a disabled-friendly seat (it just meant nearer the door, but it's essential as the aisle was too narrow.). Caught the Haruka train and landed at ShinOsaka station with a mission - drain our Icocas and return them for the ¥500 deposit.
Sister and I went to the cluster of shops where Rikuro cheesecake was. No, no more cheesecake. Starbucks Christmas special? Not so interested ley. After thinking for far too long, I don't quite remember exactly what we got, I think it was a frozen chestnut cream puff. The difficulty was that paying using multiple Icocas for a single receipt was not allowed. Then shop had some problem charging from the cards. After we were done with them, we still had one more card to go. Checked out the drinks... somehow they weren't asking to be bought. Sweets... hmm... we already have some... What I really wanted was the Kyoto limited edition greentea Kit Kat lah! I realized its price was the same here and along Matsubara Dori outside Kiyomizudera. Price-control huh. Aiyah cannot lah, focus, focus!
Ok, I really had no impression what I got in the end, but I think I let Sister choose. We ended with a few yen left in 2 cards and cash topup necessary for the last card. Not bad.
Now, the one last, most important thing we MUST do in Osaka... return the cards, although it was never mentioned how it could be done. We went to the machines since the Japanese had a penchant for using machines to do everything, no such function. Asked a human, he dunno. It was as if it was impossible, as least on the other side of the gate. 不会吧... Time was ticking away. Should we forfeit it :(? No way, ¥1500 you know! Can do many things!
Brother then went out to find out. After a long time, he returned, mission accomplished. I don't know what kind of counter, but the thing was, he had to fill out forms and show our passports. Luckily we had the JR pass, enabling us to enter and exit at will.
About 5pm now, well, we had to RUN again! When we got to the platform, the train would be arriving in less than a minute. A staff offered to show us where to wait and we followed. Ok, but which door? The staff showed us where to stand, but we would like to verify with out own eyes and Sister would have this responsibility. When the train zoomed by, she said the left and we promptly headed that way... only to find that it was really at the right as directed by the staff. Brother tried to wheel me to the front, but we got stuck after the first row. Too late to go out and enter from the front now, so we had to wait it out between cars until the next stop, wherever it would be -_-.
The next stop was not too far away at Kyoto, a 15min distance. Felt so good to be back in our own seats! First, we had to organize our luggage within the limited space and as luck would have it, the angmoh couple next to us had a bunch of luggage too. Snacking time~ since we would be spending dinnertime in the train. We ate the wanton thing from Kyoto as it was going to expire soon, and the stuff we bought at ShinOsaka station. Then Sister fed Brother's precious Jagabee to the floor (I remembered because I only had 1 strip before the floor got them all). Watched the lady pushing a trolley of snacks, a service available during such long-haul trips. A memorable final shinkansen trip indeed. I k.o, only waking at every stop for a location check. Nothing to see mah, darkness and through mountains.
8.35pm - Tokyo Station 東京駅
We must have the words "HELP US" written all over our faces again, because a station staff approached us to offer help. We told him we were going to Kasai on the Tozai line and asked him how to get to Metro Tokyo. Without hesitation, he asked us to follow him. He walked damn fast and we were almost running after him! In situations like this, your luggage wheels had better be durable. He led us through long underpasses, lifts, past interesting-looking shops that we couldn't stop and see, fragrant food that we couldn't fill our tummies with and guess what, he had walked us all the way to Otemachi station itself! Stunned!
8.55pm - Otemachi Station 大手町駅
Something for you to hang your umbrella and cane from. So thoughtful!
Pasmo back in action.
When we reached the platform, there was a train there already, but remember the lesson that we learned, we resisted the urge to hop on - check the destination first! We weren't sure if the terminal stop was before or after our destination. While studying the map, Sister noticed some color-coding. We discovered that it denoted different rapid services that skipped certain stops, but we couldn't understand which was the right one for us yet. Sian lah, just get on the next train, and if it's wrong, we'll just get off!
Which was what we did, and after staring at the station marquee long enough, I concluded that this was going to skip our station. So suay lor... we got off at the next stop, seriously scrutinized the map this time and got on the right train.
9.20pm - Kasai Station 葛西駅
Kasai is in Chiba prefecture, not Tokyo. So here we were, in the outskirts, middle of a housing estate, where things are hopefully cheaper! Cold cold! Should be around 15°C. Now, which direction was the hotel? According to Google Maps, it was in the same direction as McDonald's but on the opposite side. If we saw KFC, it would be the wrong direction. Vague hor ^_^;; anyway, let's go! Looked out for dinner candidates along the way.
9.30pm - Hotel Lumiere Kasai ホテルルミエール葛西
The hotel was just 5min away from the station, 好感动! Check-in was hassle-free. Payment was collected by having us feed notes to a machine. There were several other guests at the reception. So, this hotel wasn't as ulu as I thought, phew! Special pillows were available on a rack next to the reception in case you didn't like the default.
Our home for the next 1 day!
The legendary 3 single beds! Yutaka laid neatly to be sure we saw them.
Dressing table-cum-bar. Water airpot wasn't broken this time. Coffee table, armchair and foldable chair provided.
Bathroom ley? Slightly more spacious than Osaka. Family-size bath products provided.
Apart from the usual toiletries, they even provided scrub towels.
10pm - Looking for Food
Food! Roar! But sotong just sit there only, not hungry at all ley. I want to be hungry! :(
Video shop nearby. How did they survive, when its kind is endangered in Singapore? The porn videos, maybe?
Perhaps we should try the area near the metro station. A wind detector? It moved!
We went to a building next to a pachinko outlet and found a restaurant selling rice sets for those on a budget. So nice to stay in a housing estate, things are indeed cheaper :)
After purchasing your food voucher, find your own table.
Settled down. The usual condiments, free-flow pickles (delicious!) and water jug provided.
Our orders. Just pass them to the waiter.
Yum~ Fibre provided, no need to cook our own yet.
Juicy whole fish.
My fried chicken. Left the rice alone :(
Finally back to the hotel for good. It's been a long day, but the shower was throwing a fit. The water heater's temperature was very hard to get right. It would be cold for a long time, then become scalding for another stretch. When you thought you finally got it right, after you turn the water off, you have to redo the trial and error later. Walau, so we just left the water running. Don't blame us.
JR pass was officially retired. Its new home was a folder for past brochures and entrance tickets.
Last but not least, the drink we couldn't sleep without.
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