Eating Ramen in Osaka

Many people visit Japan with the expectation of eating ramen at least several times during their stay in the country. Ramen restaurants are everywhere, and nowhere is this more true than in Osaka.

Most ramen shops offer their broth in several flavors: tonkotsu (pork bone), miso, shoyu (soy sauce) and shio (salt). Condiments, that you'll find on your table, include raiyu (hot sesame seed oil). This can be added to any broth to increase the karai (spiciness) of the soup.



Chashyu, or sliced roasted pork, is often included with the ramen. But most ramen shops allow you to order more pork, for a few hundred yen, if you're a diehard meatlover.

Common side orders are gyoza (potstickers), chahan (fried rice) or chicken karaage (deep fried chicken). Most shops offer the ramen and side order as a set, sometimes including nama (draught beer).



Fortunately, like many restaurants in Japan, ramen customers are often given picture menus, so ordering couldn't be easier.

Kitano-cho in Kobe

Kitano-cho is just a short walk north of Kobe, towards the mountainside, and features buildings that Western foreigners built and occupied during the 19th century. As Kobe was opened for trade, many wealthy businessmen and diplomats made their homes in this elegant suburb of Kobe. Today, much of this area has been restored to what is now a popular destination among Japanese couples who have romantic notions concerning the area's history and past occupants.



Nearest to the mountains lies a temple with great views of the city. There is also this interesting statue of a cow. It accepts donations.



Kitano-cho is also home to an abundance of cafes and restaurants. It might be a good time to get a bite to eat before heading back to the city.

Kobe Shopping: Koka-Shita and Center-Gai Street

Kobe is a port city with a great atmosphere of commerce and adventure. Even if you're not interested in blowing your holiday budget on fine leather goods and vintage gold watches, you ought to check out two famous shopping areas that lie at the heart of Kobe: Center-Gai Street and Koka-Shita.



Center-Gai Street is a covered shopping arcade that stretches for several blocks. It features an eclectic mix of stores and eateries for the young and old, and makes a great walk in any weather. Some of the best shoe stores in Kansai are located on this strip. Also on this street is an official Yamaha store, which may be of interest to musicians.



Koka-Shita is another long stretch of retail shops, but lies completely under the JR Kobe rail line. Compared to Center-Gai, this walkway is narrow, cramped and offers many interesting shops that cater to special interests. There are also quite a few second hand shops to peruse.

Both shopping areas run from JR Sannomiya Station to Motomachi Station. Whereas Koka-shita lies directly under this train route, Center-Gai Street runs parallel but to the south of this rail line.

Visit Nakayama-Dera Temple

Right now is the perfect time to visit Nakayama-Dera Temple. Known for its 600 plum trees, these sacred grounds explode in a sea of pink and white ume blossoms during late-February and early March.



The temple at Nakayama-dera was built 400 years ago, but the original temple was established 1000 years prior to that! On these ancient grounds, you can visit a famous statue that was supposedly carved from a nutmeg tree during the tenth century. Bring some coins, make a prayer, and enjoy the countryside setting of this popular spiritual destination.


To reach Nakayama-dera from downtown Osaka, board a train bound for Takarazuka at Hankyu Umeda Station. Get off the train at Nakayama Station and walk north towards the mountains. Within a few minutes you’ll be able to spot the gates leading up to the temple ground.