Japan Summer Trip. Day 1: Osaka

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Good boy!
We visited another one of the East Asian countries, Japan. This time we visited several cities in the Kansai, Shikoku, and Chugoku regions. Our flight departed well at almost midnight and safely landed at the KIX airport early the next day.

It is just too early for hotel check-in, so we decided to have our first shopping at Rinku Premium Outlet. The Rinku Premium Outlet (RPO) is conveniently located near the airport and can be accessed either by train or the shuttle bus provided at the airport. After settling down with the JR rail pass and the 'Osaka amazing pass,' we took the Kansai airport line to Rinku Town station.


It was really convenient having Ta-Q-bin service to deliver your luggage to the hotel

Well, RPO is barely a shopping outlet for big brands. The good thing is that it is suitable for last-minute shopping, where we had to buy new luggage (not because of intense shopping :-)) since our Langkawi luggage (grey color) has ended its 4-year service.
They looked lethargic after more than a 6-hour flight, didn't they?
Ahhhh... smiley faces can't wait for shopping
JPO.. err sorry, RPO, Rinku Premium Outlet
I never knew about this brand

After spending more than an hour at RPO, we took back the train to KIX airport, having our first Japanese lunch. The Udon Sanuki has been certified as halal by the Malaysia Travel Agency in Japan. If you ask me, is it easy to get halal food in Japan? I would say, you can find many Japanese restaurants selling seafood meals.
Had an ice-cream at the airport
It was easy to find halal restaurants at Kansai International Airport (KIX).
Having the Udon and tempura
Nu'man's first 'catch' for the day

The JR pass comes with a return ticket from KIX airport. We took the Haruka Limited Express to Shin-Osaka Station. Well, though it's never been so easy to get familiar with the station, local people are always there to help with directions. Our hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the Shin-Osaka station.
In front of our hotel accommodation
The Shin-Osaka station at the back

After a simple wash and getting dressed, we continued our first day trip in Osaka by heading to the Umeda area on the Midosuji Line, which is part of the Osaka subway. We hopped into the HEP Five Ferris Wheel to enjoy the panoramic view of Osaka city. Instead of planning to go to Grand Front Osaka, we detour to the Yodobashi-Umeda located just 500 meters from HEP Five, looking for Ultraman toys and Tenkan knights (am I spelling correctly?).

The HEP Five Ferris Wheel
So many tracks going in and out from the Umeda station
My sweetie...
I'm afraid of heights
The exit tunnel from the Ferris wheel
The Yodobashi Camera Shopping Complex
Huh?? Nu'man pening kepala nak pilih mana satu...
Am I lovely?

We did pass by the Grand Front Osaka on the way to the Umeda Sky Building, but it's just a normal high-end shopping complex, contrary to what was suggested as a visiting place by TripAdvisor. By that time, we were starving for food and had stopped at the 'Malaysia Boleh' restaurant in front of the Umeda Sky Building. We found this Japanese-owned restaurant using HalalNavi, but then it was located in a small alley that we couldn't spot. Luckily, a gentleman helped us by directly calling the restaurant for directions. To our surprise, it's just in front of us! We had our Nasi Lemak and Nasi Goreng Ayam. (Sorry, Ms. Mazura Mokhtar for not following your rules by eating Malaysian food... Hahahah.)
Malaysia Boleh is a restaurant ran by the Japanese
Light at the end of the tunnel?
This place is covered under the Osaka Amazing Pass
Osaka city view at night
Lots of love, 'mangga kunci' being locked
Luminosity Deck, which glows in the dark. Nice atmosphere up there!

The escalator is crossing the wide-atrium-like space and hanging on the 40th floor

Initially we planned to stroll along Shinsaibashi Street. However, our energy bar drops to the lowest, and we need to recharge. We saved the Shinsaibashi attack for the next day. I'll continue the second- day trip in the next post. Stay tuned...

Note: The 2-Day Osaka Amazing Pass covers unlimited rides on the Osaka subway and free entrance to most of the top sightseeing places.

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