A short day in Osaka

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So I decided to goto Osaka just to do a little shopping and meet up with some friends that I know there. It was pretty easy getting there from Honazono Station near my dormitory but I did not know that it would take nearly two hours to get there. Apparently there are a couple of lines for mass transit out of Kyoto. The JR (Japan Rail) serves the majority of Japan and is the most efficient way to travel through Japan. For this instance I would use it to travel to Osaka. I had to transfer trains at Kyoto station and then on to Osaka from there. I met a couple of nice Souteast Asian college students who attend the other Ritsumeikan campus somewhere south of Osaka I believe. Amit was the first one of the group I conversed with and I learned that he was from Nepal which is pretty neat. So as expected Osaka station was large and confusing, especially to the foreigner who does not read or speak Japanese. I met up with my friend Mangekeyou and we went to get some lunch within the crowded streets. It seems that instead of building large flat two or three story malls like in the states, the Japanese like to build large malls with multiple levels.

I learned that Osaka has the largest underground network of shops and subways in the world...I'm sure this bypasses anything that Underground Atlanta can claim...LoL. This past weekend was a holiday weekend in celebration of elders...Monday is Grandparents Day and the majority of offices, banks, and Japanese Post are closed in observance for the holiday. I eventually headed to the electronics store to purhase some things for my computer. Now compared to your local best buy, this Japanese electronics store was massive! It had nearly eight levels, thousands of people, millions of electronics, and greeted customers in nearly every language on the planet. I was quite overwhelemed with this experience but I was still able to use my American credit card to purchase some speakers, a keyboard (in English and Japanese), and a mouse pad. All that for only 3,100 Yen ($30)

After my excursion at the Japanese electronics store I took the local subway and headed to Namba station where I was confronted by an even bigger shopping center and even more poeple. I ate at the local Maku on the street and I bought some clothes and a watch from a store called Who's Who. I even almost bought a man purse...LoL...apparently all the young guys in Japan carry around what looks like a purse to the average American...socially acceptable here but maybe not in America..LoL..I think I will pass for now though : )

My trip back to Kyoto station left me tired which led to confusion on how to get back. I spent nearl 980 Yen to get to Kyoto and I should've transfered trains to Honozono which would have taken me home. Instead I became lost and confused and I exited the station and had to pay another 280 Yen in order to get back on the right train. I know how to get back in the future though. Next time I will most definately spend more time in Osaka.

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Photos

The subway
lots of people going about every which way in Osaka Station.

New Friends
Some nice English speaking Ritsumeikan students.

Osaka
Near Osaka station.

Bikes
Bike parking near the station.

Crossing
Lots of people waiting to cross the street in Osaka.

Down the street
Walking down the street

KFC
A KFC in Osaka.

Electronics Store
A major electronics store in Osaka that is nearly 8 levels.

Best Buy on Steroids
How can people shop in this chaos?

So many people
People shopping in the store.

A big TV.
This is by far the largest television screen I've ever seen! It had the number 60 on it so I'm guessing 60cm???

Osaka
Dusk in Osaka

Osaka skyscraper
A tall building in Osaka.

A street at nght
A local Osaka street at nighttime.

Comments

[briana]

It looks like you are having so much fun! I am so happy for you and I miss you!!

[John]

Gosh...
I do not see any homeless people lurking around the subway or in the streets at night. Whats up with that??! Besides that everything looks great!!

[Tonya L]

Shopping!
Yeah...hope you don't spend everything you got before you get a job! LOL Stay safe! God bless!