Nara: Buddhism is Huge

Established over 1,300 years ago, Nara was the first permanent capital of Japan. Heavily influenced by Buddhism, Nara features numerous temples and other structures of great historic interest.

Traveling to Nara from Osaka is relatively easy. Riding the Kintetsu Nara Line, starting from Namba Station, is perhaps the best way to make this trip, although JR and Hanshin also offer reasonable train routes to this destination. Fare on the Kintetsu Line will cost 540¥ and take 40 minutes of travel time.

The main attractions of Nara lie in an area known as Nara Park. This spacious area is home to the Daibutsu, a massive structure that claims to be the world's largest wooden building. Inside, lies another giant object, the Daibutsu-den, one of the world's largest statues of Buddha. There are several more statues throughout the complex, including fierce looking warriors that guard the entrance.

Around Nara Park you'll undoubtably come across many wild deer. These animals are tame around humans and can be fed with crackers that are sold throughout the area. But keep in mind, with a handful of crackers you'll quickly garner attention from these snack hungry animals!

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is a colossal sea life exhibit located near Osaka Bay. This state of the art aquarium is popular among tourists and locals and is easily accessible from downtown Umeda (where Hotel Kinki is located).

The quickest way to get to the aquarium is to ride the Midosuji Subway Line to Honmachi. From there, transfer to the Chuo Line and get off at Osakako Station. The aquarium is only a 5-minute walk from this station and signs should help you easily find its location. From Hotel Kinki, this trip can be made in about 30 minutes.

Although this giant aquarium is often absent from lists that rank the world’s largest aquariums, this is largely due to the exhibit’s design, which divides its collection of species into 15 separate tanks. However, the combined capacity of these tanks easily places this exhibit among the largest of its kind.

Osaka Aquarium is home to many exotic creatures, including a sunfish and a whale shark. There are also playful mammals such as dolphins, sea otters and seals. There is much to see here, so ensure to budget ample time to fully enjoy your visit to the aquarium.

Admission to the aquarium is 2000 yen. The facility is opened from 10 am to 8 pm and features a gift shop and various eateries.

Shop At Yodobashi Camera Umeda

Yodobashi Camera Umeda is probably the largest electronics store in Japan. It is housed in a giant building that stands across the road from the Hankyu and JR rail stations in downtown Osaka.

This massive shopping center features seven floors (2 in the basement) of cameras, computers, televisions and other electronic and household goods. Above these floors lies several more dedicated to restaurants and fashion. If you are visiting Osaka for the first time, it is an absolute must to check out Yodobashi Camera!

From the doorstep of Hotel Kinki you can walk to Yodobashi Camera in less than 15 minutes.

To get there, walk to Hankyu Umeda Station (across the road from the red Ferris wheel on top of the Hep 5 building) and walk straight thru the station to the other side (the far west side). Once you are standing outside again, you should easily see the giant shopping center across the road. There are only a handful of crosswalks to get to Yodobashi Camera, so you might have to walk for a few minutes in either direction to find one.

The best part about visiting Yodobashi Camera is that they have more products in-store that any other electronics or camera shop you’ve ever been to. You can get hands on with all the products you are interested in, including many domestic products that are released in Japan earlier than they are abroad.

Also in this shopping complex lies a Uniqlo and a clothing brand store called Comme Ca (spread across 5 floors). If you are a looking for cheap or mid-priced clothing, I recommend checking out these clothing shops when you’re there.

One last note of interest:

On New Year’s Day morning you’ll find hundreds (many thousands) of people lined up in the parking lot to enter Yodobashi Camera. Each person in line selects a ticket that is later exchanged for a mystery grab bag. The ticket holder chooses the category of product that they are interested in receiving and can pay hundreds of dollars depending on the product type.



As you can imagine, it is a bit of a gamble buying a ‘fukubukuro’ (mystery bag), but a large part of the appeal is receiving a great bargain for the risk. Those who line up first receive the best tickets and can expect the highest value mystery bags. But nothing’s guaranteed…

Season's Greetings From Hotel Kinki

Ho ho ho!

Santa has been good to us this year, as we’ve now scored a clean water dispenser and ice machine for guests to use at Hotel Kinki! We’re always looking for ways to improve services for our customers and we hope you’ll find this new addition a great convenience.

Now in late December, Japan is in full holiday mode! On Wednesday the 29th, many Japanese will begin their leave from work. This means that major transportation hubs and shopping centers can become quite crowded in the coming days – but when is Osaka not crowded and cramped? Welcome to the greatest city in Japan!

On New Years Eve and the following day you’ll find the whole of Japan virtually shutdown. It is tradition that families spend this day together in their homes. If you’re here for it, you’ll notice that large parts of the city can seem like a ghost town!

Whatever your plans are and wherever you find yourself during this holiday season, the staff at Hotel Kinki would like to wish you a Happy New Year!

Season’s greetings!

Uniqlo For Your Clothing Needs

Need to buy some stylish yet modestly priced clothing during your stay in Osaka?

Uniqlo is Japan’s largest retail clothing chain. Visiting one of their stores in downtown Osaka should be on your list of things to do if clothing or the need to buy clothing (it’s getting chilly outside!) interests you.

Uniqlo rose to dominance in the 1990’s during the tough days of Japan’s economic recession. Their angle has always been to sell casual, quality clothing but at very cheap prices. Since that time, the brand has exploded in popularity, expanded globally and now attracts a more fashion savvy crowd.

Although Uniqlo is still a superb place to shop for essential clothing items, they now offer such specialties as raw selvedge denim.

Uniqlo’s conservative style, hard-to-beat prices and trustworthy quality make their brand a safe bet, especially for on-the-run travelers.

There’s a Uniqlo store quite close to Hotel Kinki if you can find it, but I recommend visiting the one in Yodobashi Camera as it's larger and may offer a greater selection of goods.

Hand Warmers For Travelers

Japan has been using chemical hand warmers for decades; they are extremely common in use and are sold almost everywhere during the winter season.

These disposable pouches of self-generating heat are referred to as ‘kairo’ and can bought at any convenience store or pharmacy for quite cheap.

Businesses in Osaka have a habit of keeping their customers toasty warm, which can mean experiencing extreme temperature differences as you transfer from the street into various indoor environments. Foreigners to the region often find such large temperature swings uncomfortable.

Using hand warmers to quickly apply or remove heat may be a good idea if you find yourself constantly over and under heated as you travel throughout the city.

Tennoji Zoo in Osaka

If you’re an animal lover or traveling with kids, you might want to check out Tennoji Zoo.

Located in the southern entrance to the city, this large animal exhibit can be reached by riding the Midosuji Subway Line to Dobutsuen-Mae Station. From Hotel Kinki, this is only a short trip to the other side of the city.

Admission to the zoo is 500 yen. The gates are opened at 9:30am and closed in the early evening. There is much to see at Tennoji Zoo, so you’ll want to set aside at least a half-day to check out the main attractions.

Over 300 species of animals live at the zoo. Some of the more popular animals can be found in the Savannah exhibit.

Kansai fashion is always interesting to watch as well :)

There are also many reptiles on display in an indoor exhibit.

After your trip to the zoo is complete, you might want to walk around Tennoji for a bit. This area of Osaka is infamous for being a little… poor. But it's a great opportunity to soak in some blue collar Kansai culture!

Visit Arashiyama Near Kyoto

Arashiyama is one of the most picturesque places to visit in Japan. This popular tourist destination lies just west of Kyoto. Guests at Hotel Kinki can walk to Hankyu Umeda Station and travel there in about 40 minutes.

Arashiyama features many historical points of interest and is absolutely essential to visit during autumn leaf viewing season (right now!).

One of the best places to check out in Arashiyama is Iwatayama Monkey Park. After a short hike up the mountain, you’ll find yourself literally surrounded by wild Japanese snow monkeys!

The monkeys are tame enough to safely be around humans, but feeding them is only permitted in a special area.

At the base of Mt. Arashi you’ll find amazing historic sites like the romantic Togetsukyo Bridge (Moon Crossing Bridge), Tenryuji Temple and Hozu River with row boats that you can rent.

Late November to early December is the ideal time to visit Arashiyama to view the autumn leaves at the height of their brilliance, just like the Japanese have been doing for well over a thousand years!

Shopping At Nishinomiya Gardens

Looking for a great shopping experience during your stay in Osaka?

As we head into winter, the dipping temperatures can sometimes make trekking outdoors a little uncomfortable on days when the weather isn’t working out as well as you’d like. If you’re looking for an indoor shopping adventure, you ought to check out Nishinomiya Gardens.

Located conveniently on the Hankyu Kobe Line, Nishinomiya Gardens – western Japan’s largest shopping complex – is only a 15-minute train ride from downtown Osaka. Simply walk to Hankyu Umeda Station and board a train headed to Sannomiya or Shinkaichi. All trains on this route stop at Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi. This is where you’ll want to get off and follow the signs leading to this giant shopping mall.

Inside the complex lies many clothing stores, restaurants and other shops suited for buying gifts or household items. And unlike many places in Kansai, Nishinomiya Gardens sports wide and spacious walkways, creating a relaxed and slower paced environment.

True to its Kansai roots, this center features a plethora of restaurants: The fourth floor is entirely dedicated to serving food, but you’ll also find a food court on the basement level along with several other eateries littered throughout the mall.

Situated halfway between Osaka and Kobe, the mall may lie between several of your travel destinations and is worth checking out if you're in the mood to shop.

Visit Minoh in November

Just north of Osaka city lies the township of Minoh (sometimes spelt as Minoo, or Minou). Minoh is one of the best places to visit during momiji-gari season – a time when Japanese people travel to the countryside to view the many colors of autumn.

Traveling to Minoh is easy: simply walk to Hankyu Station from Hotel Kinki and board a train headed to Takarazuka. Get off at Ishibashi Station and transfer to the Minou/Minoo Line. Take this train to the end of the line (3 stops) and you will have arrived at Minoh city.

Follow the signs to Meiji no Mori Mino Kokutei Koen. Here, you’ll begin your hike up the lower mountain slope and get a look at one of Japan’s oldest national parks.

At the end of the hiking path lies a beautiful waterfall. There, many people stop to admire the view and grab a bite to eat. You’ll find outdoor food vendors cooking up some delicious snacks at this rest stop.

Minoh park also has wild monkeys! Just remember that you’re not supposed to feed them.

Rinku Town Outlet Mall in Osaka

Rinku Town is Osaka’s premium outlet shopping center, located close to Kansai International Airport.

Many visitors to Japan like to stop at this destination to buy premium brand clothing at heavily discounted prices. Now that summer has finally given way to cooler weather, it may also be a good idea to stock up on some warm clothing.

Most trains bound for Kansai Airport will stop at Rinku Town Station, so getting there is pretty easy if your route starts from Umeda (where Hotel Kinki is located). You can take the Midosuji subway line or JR Osaka Loop line to Tennoji station, and then transfer to a train that’s headed to the airport.

Rinku Town has many, many outlet stores - checking them all out in one day may not even be possible! And unlike some shopping centers in Japan, you’ll find a plethora of stores specifically targeting men’s clothing.

The outlet mall closes at 8 pm. Afterwards, you can visit the nearby Seacle center to grab a bite to eat before returning home.

Autumn In Japan: Timing The Tree Leaves

The bulk of Japan’s landmass lies across four major islands. This territory spans from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south.

As the autumn season hits Japan, tree leaves begin to change color starting first in the north and descending gradually to the southern regions.

Osaka and Kyoto, which are situated relatively south on the main island of Honshu, typically see autumn colors beginning around late November.

Furthermore, tree leaves tend to change color earlier at higher elevations. This means the hillsides surrounding Osaka Bay will offer a spectacular color change a bit before the trees in the city and lower delta follow suit.

Traveling to Osaka and the Kansai area in November is an excellent time to view the autumn colors as they reach the pinnacle of their brilliance.

Smelling Fresh in Japan: Deodorant Body Paper

Most Japanese people don’t produce a lot of body odor. This means that finding effective deodorant and antiperspirant products can be a little challenging in Japan.

Fortunately, deodorant body paper, a newer type of product that is sold at any convenience store or pharmacy (including ones around Hotel Kinki), can do a pretty good job at keeping you smelling fresh.

Deodorant paper is similar to a wet wipe (moist towelette), but is soaked in a scented alcohol solution. This makes it effective for not just applying deodorant onto the body, but at removing sweat and oil at the same time.

A pack of deodorant paper can be easily carried in your bag and used discreetly throughout the day. In a pinch, you could probably use a few sheets to wipe down your entire body in lieu of a shower.

Deodorant paper is sold in several forms. Gatsby currently makes their body paper in ‘powder’ or ‘ice-type’ styles. Ice-type will leave your skin feeling very chilled; if you have sensitive skin, you should probably opt for the powder type. Gatsby also sells facial sheets, which are basically just a smaller version of their body sheets.

And I should note, although these products are aimed squarely at men, their scent is really quite mild and I wouldn’t call it overly masculine.

One last tip: In Japan, being heavily scented in perfume, cologne or deodorant is not really customary or appropriate. Most Japanese expect a neutral odorless body scent(!). Assuming your genetics can’t quite live up to these standards, just try to use a limited amount of heavily scented products during your stay in Japan.

Drink Vending Machines For The Thirsty Traveler

Drink vending machines are everywhere in Japan. No where is this more true than in and around Osaka.

These drink machines are situated on almost every street corner and usually in front of any business that has enough space to cram one in. Of course, there’s even a drink machine inside of Osaka’s best budget hotel. With drinks priced from 100-150 yen, typically, you are not paying a great premium for this convenience.

As you can imagine, there are a great variety of drinks sold from these machines. Most drink machines offer a range of beverage types, including Japanese tea, canned coffee, soda and sport drinks.



Go ahead and roll the dice – try a drink that looks interesting or bizarre enough to give you a memorable experience! Most drinks are appetizing and not so strong that they’ll offend your senses. And keep in mind that some drinks are seasonal or have time-limited availability.

Concerning canned coffee – perhaps Japan’s favorite way to consume this beverage – many machines serve this drink hot or cold. Just pay attention to the color-coding or labels placed around where the cans are displayed to determine its serving temperature.



After you’ve finished your drink, you might begin to notice that garbage and recycling bins are a bit hard to find in Japan! But don’t worry, every vending machine is accompanied by a bottle receptacle. So you’ll never have to carry an empty bottle or can for very long.

Osaka Looks Great in November!

Many people believe that autumn is the best time of year to visit Osaka. During the peak months of summer, Kansai weather can be uncomfortably hot for some visitors. Similarly, winter months may sometimes limit outdoor activities due to the cold.

But during spring and fall, most people find Osaka’s weather temperate and inviting.

If I had to pick a time of year to visit Osaka, I’d have to go with autumn. More specifically, I’d time my trip around November.



November may be the most picturesque time of year to visit Japan. As the tree leaves change color, Japan’s many tourist spots present an even more incredible photo op for visitors to the country.



With an abundance of shines, temples, castles and other locations of interest, visiting Osaka during November ensures an unforgettable experience.

Remember, Hotel Kinki is less than 10 minutes away from the city’s major transport hub. So if you’re thinking about daytrips to Kyoto, Nara and Himeji - no problem! Let the city of Osaka be the center of your travels and stay at the most trusted budget hotel in town: Hotel Kinki!

How To Visit The Nissin Ramen Museum

It’s only fitting that Osaka, the undisputed food capital of Japan, is where instant ramen was invented during the 1950’s by Momofuku Ando. You can visit the Nissin Ramen Museum and learn about the history of instant ramen by making a short trip to this permanent exhibit. This guide will help you get from Hotel Kinki to the Nissin museum in a trip that takes around 45 minutes.

Start by walking to the Hep 5 building (the shopping complex with the red ferris wheel on its rooftop). Cross the road from the front entrance of Hep 5 and look for one of the entrances of Hankyu Umeda Station.

Buy a ticket that will get you to Ikeda station, and board a train that's bound for Takarazuka. An express train will get you to Ikeda in 20 minutes, but the local train isn’t much slower (and you might be able to score a seat easier!).

Exit the train at Ikeda station, walk thru the ticket gates and take the first exit you see down to the street.

Go to the south side of the tracks where you'll be able to find a Daiei department store. If you’re on the wrong side of the tracks you’ll see a series of bus stops.

Follow the walkway with the tracks running parallel to your left until you find this pachinko parlor, just beyond the station.

Walk down the mustard colored road that leads away from the train tracks. You will come across the Nissin Ramen Museum on your right hand side within a few minutes.

Admission to the museum is free, but make sure to arrive before the doors close at 3:30pm.