Fun Hideout

I'm back to continue my super out-dated Kansai trip after being 'dormant' for so long... =p 

Being 'busy' catching pokemon, so much that I actually forgot to download my K-dramas that I have been following. So far I had 85 pokemon in my pokedex, but theoretically I should have more since I havent being evolving them even though I have enough candies. Oh well, waiting for the new updates to allow calculation of IV so that I can evolve the more powerful one for battles! LOL

Dubz, why am I talking about pokemon here? Ok ok, back to Osaka. For this post, it's all about food! Ya, Osaka is a food paradise man, you better have a big tummy to enjoy all the good stuff. I definitely have that 'capability', something I'm not exactly proud of.. But if I have travelled all the way to Japan liao, fat also must eat right? Lol

This was quite expensive, at 5800 Yen per packet, but it was really meaty. There were also smaller packets but the crab legs not so huge one lor.

If you dont like seafood, there's also beef. In fact, they also have kobe beef here, although slightly more expensive. But if you are on a tight schedule and have no time to go kobe, why not?

Yes, Kyoto grapes, white strawberry and mango!! I wish I have more money to spend. Love eating fruits when I'm travelling coz they are all so sweet. 

You can choose from the different sizes of urchin and the stall holder will open up for you to eat at the spot. But  hubby dun eat urchin, so I bought the smallest portion, i.e. the opened one (800 Yen) which I though not so fresh.

Strawberry in mochi ~ I loved that the strawberry will burst out juice when you bite into the mochi. Really like this.

This was probably the most expensive meal in this trip. Since this trip was a celebration trip for hubby's bdae, ok lah, just splurge.... Heehee

The portion looked like nothing much right, just a few slices of beef. We didnt eat rice but really felt very full after eating so much beef,  this was probably too much for 2 pax to share. Over dosage of beef. LOL

I loved tako balls in Japan, so generous with the fillings! But dunno why no queue one... is there a more famous one somewhere else? Keke... I measure popularity by the queue..

Side track, but I was pretty sad when Gindaco closed its orchard ion outlet lor.. Like WHY? I thought the business quite good?? No more tako balls for me liao... :(

We reached Mizuno slightly after 11am and it was already full house with a snake queue. We waited for almost 45mins, so do come here earlier.

We dunno what to order, so we just opted for the 'Must Recommendable Combination' aka a set with mini yamaimoyaki (pork loin & scallop) and a mini mix modern yaki (soba noodles). Surprisingly, they were pretty good, not to mention they were cooked by handsome young chefs. Keke

I have created a new instagram @funhideout, please add me! ^_^

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I realized I have been eating faster than I can blog, so I shall update the pictures in a nicer way @funhideout. The current @bearytedd is still active, just that I bth it's so "untidy", OCD habit kicks in lah... I shall still be posting my random activities at @bearytedd, but if you want to be updated on places to eat, new posts in my blog... it will be at @funhideout.

Am I making you more confused??? Keke

Just add both! =p 

Reporting early at Kyoto Kimono Rental 41, coz we were going to dressed up in kimono before sightseeing. 

We opted for the couple plan and topped up with a hairdo for me. It took about 45mins for me to dress up and 15mins for hubby. I super blur, I thought the package comes with makeup which didnt lah, so I "sent" hubby back to the hotel and find whatever make up he can find. Again, my hotel damn good lah, go everywhere also can walk. Hahaha

This was the first time I wore kimono and there were so many layers, I totally lost counts. They even placed a cardboard material-like thing at my waist line; I couldnt find my waist at all.  Basically, no figure liao, not that I have one to begin with, but hey, I can say it's because of the kimono. LOL

Our first photo stop was at Kiyiomizu-dera Temple. We acted smart and walked all the way there.. No joke. It was damn hot and sweaty wearing kimono under the sun for almost 20-30 minutes. The temple is not near any train station, so if you are coming in summer like us, I think take cab is better...

And the crowd that greeted us was 'horrifying'. We went on a weekday, why so many school students! 

Our lunch! The tempura was sooo good! The batter was really light and crispy. Japan is really a country where anyhow pop into a restaurant, the food also nice.

Oh and one funny incident happened when we were walking to the main road. A Korean auntie stopped us and made us take picture with her son. Maybe I looked cute in Kimono? But likely is she adored my pink Kimono. Keke 

We took cab to Fushimi Inari Shrine, coz really bth the heat.  The Shrine is located right outside Fushimi-Inari (Keihan line), so is actually very convenient to go. 

Anyway it was really hot, so we gave up wearing the kimono (although the rental was until 7pm) before we proceed to the next spot, Kinkakuji Temple. 

Again, this temple is also not near to any train station, the easiest way is to take a bus. We took bus number 205 from Saiin Station, which cost about 220 Yen. In kyoto, you board the bus from the back door and exit using the front door and make payment there as well. Just follow the locals ya. 

We bought the Hankyu Tourist Pass (1 day @ 700 Yen) at Hotel New Kankyu since we were travelling to Kyoto as well as Arashiyama via the Hankyu Railway on the same day. The journey from Osaka to Kyoto was slightly less than an hour, super easy to go. =)

Highly recommending Hotel Grand Bach! The room rate was relatively cheap ($100+ per night) and directly connected to Kawaramachi Station @ Kyoto. The bathroom comes with rain shower and massage jets, which was quite shiok. That's not all. The hotel also has public bath and supper ( simple porridge). Impressive for the price paid. The Osaka hotels that I stayed only have basic facilities and cost me $230-300+ per night. =_="

We went to Nishiki Ichiba Market for lunch, which is just walking distance from our hotel. Lotza snacks and fruits. If you are here at Kyoto, remember to buy Kyoto grapes! They tasted just like Hi-Chew grape flavoured sweets. The sweetness was just unbelievable. I actually preferred the grapes to strawberries.  The grapes were sold around 1000+ yen for a small packet (depending on the weight) but  they were sold like $20+ at Taka Cold Storage.  

Flowers that smelt so good!

Another must eat is the matcha warabi mochi. It is a more jelly type of mochi, very different from those taiwanese mochi. Must try! If you are keen to find out how it tastes like, you can find it at Buruto @ CBD. Although Kyoto one still tasted better lah. =p


Too bad, it can only keep for 2-3 days, so cannot buy back as souvenir. =(

Next, Arashiyama for tourist sightseeing.. cannot be eating all day one mah, although I must say majority of our time at Kansai was EAT...keke

We first went to Monkey Park Iawtayama, which is around 20 minutes walk from the station. Well, we went with slippers, without realizing that we got to trek uphill..

This was just the beginning..... the staircases slowly turn to muddy uneven path; dunno why we always ended up trekking when we went for holidays... @#$%

Finally..... we reached the hill top where the monkeys reside and a bird eye's view of Arashiyama, after like 45mins to an hour?

Ok lah, we got no stamina. I think if I tell people I've been to Nepal for trekking a few years back, I dont think any one will believe.... but I did hor. Anyway, it was not easy to 'giap' my slippers, especially when the path was muddy and slippery.  If you are coming here, please wear proper walking shoes. Well, at least the route downhill was easier and faster.

We skipped the temple but just visited the garden which will lead to the Bamboo Groves. You can also take the other route (refer to the map which you can get at the station) to go straight to the Bamboo Groves if you dont want to pay the entrance fees.

Bamboo Groves

Arashiyama is famous for its tofu, so dont go off without trying! We randomly went into a restaurant and ordered a full tofu set.

Back to Osaka for dinner at Kichi Kichi Omu Rice, which is again walking distance from my hotel. Told you, my hotel damn good. Keke

Kichi Kichi Omu Rice (5pm to 9pm)

Address: 185-4 Zaimokucho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 604-8017, Japan

As the restaurant is really small, probably sit around 10 - 12 pax, so if you are keen to try this, remember to make reservation online! Location is at a small alley, so check with your hotel reception to find the way.