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.