Eat Tsukemen in Osaka

Visitors coming to Japan often look forward to eating ramen at least a few times during their stay in the country. But suppose you find yourself more interested in eating the noodles than drinking the hot soup? Fortunately, there’s a dish for that – it’s called tsuke-men, or ‘dipping noodles’.

With tsukemen, the noodles are served separately from the soup. Compared to ramen, the quantity of noodles is often much greater and the amount of soup much less.

To start eating tsukemen, it is polite to sample the noodles on their own. Similarly, one should also sample the thick broth before fully diving in. This shows appreciation for the two main elements that make up tsukemen, each of which is carefully prepared to produce the restaurant’s signature taste.

As mentioned, the soup is actually a dipping sauce for the noodles and is quite thick and heavy. One eats tsukemen by grabbing a small bundle of noodles, lifting them high from the bowl until they separate from the bunch, before dipping them into the warm broth and slurping them down.

When ordering tsukemen, most restaurants offer the noodles in various quantities (sometimes weighed in grams). In addition, one selects the type of broth they wish to have. Similar to ramen, the stock is often flavored by miso, soy sauce or various types of meat and seafood.

Tsukemen is frequently served with slices of pork (chashu) and cooked bamboo shoots. Additional garnishes and accompaniments may also be available depending on the restaurant and your ability to decipher the menu. Just remember, hand pointing and head nodding will often get you what you want if English menus are not available.

Visit The Takarazuka Revue Theater

Interested in seeing a Broadway-style performance during your stay in Osaka? The Takarazuka Revue offers lavish first-class productions that are sure to please any theater fan.

What makes Takarazuka Theater so unique is their all-female troupe, or more specifically, five distinct troupes that alternate in month long productions throughout the year. These women sing, dance and act in female or male roles depending on how they’re cast. Many find their gender-bending performances impressive and unique.

Guests of Hotel Kinki can board a train for Takurazuka from Hanku Umeda Station. The Takarazuka Grand Theater is a short walk from Takarazuka Station. Take the walkway called ‘Hana no michi’ (flower path) to reach the Theater complex.

Show tickets cost between 3,500 - 11,000 yen and can be purchased from most convenient stores, or at the ticket counter at the theater.

Inside the Takarazuka Grand Theater complex lie several cafes, restaurants and stores. Visitors come from all over Japan to see the Takarazuka Revue and many visit the gift shop to get themselves a souvenir.

And despite the theater’s western-style appearance, you can absolutely get yourself some battered octopus balls (takoyaki) from the cafeteria if you’re looking for a snack!

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!