Previously known as sweetsurrender.99.com.my
If you are wondering how much I spent for this trip to Osaka in Summer 2019, here’s the video that summarize my expenditure. By the way, I wasn’t a budget or luxury trip. It’s pretty much in between. Hence, if you are on a budget, I’m sure you can spend less than I spent. Hope that this can be a guideline to you and give you an idea of how much budget you need if you are to go to Osaka.
Last year, I did go to Kobe but we didn’t eat any Kobe beef. This time around, it is a must to eat it!! There are many Kobe beef eateries around, very easy to find. Don’t worry about them charging high price for it if it is located in the tourist attractions, there shouldn’t be such problem. They all charged pretty much similar and do not worry about it being fake. I believe Japanese don’t do that and they take pride in their beef and their integrity.
There are so many of them at Nankin Machi, Chinatown of Kobe. We didn’t have ours here because it was still early. This is quite an interesting place to go and it is also a foodie heaven. Eateries everywhere!
We had ours at Akanoren(3 Chome-9-5 Sannomiyacho, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0021, Japan). This restaurant was founded in 1906. It wasn’t plan, we just decided to go for it because of the rain and it was already way over lunch time and we were so hungry after so much walking at the shopping streets. It rained throughout our time there. That’s why we ended up at the shopping streets instead. This Kobe Beef restaurant is located at Sannomiyacho which is also a shopping street hahaha…
When you order, make sure it is printed as Kobe Beef in the menu(they have English menu), not the other beef on the menu. You might be tempted to order cheaper option but those will not be Kobe Beef. I almost ordered the cheaper option then realized it is not under the Kobe Beef category phew… We ordered the set that cost 7000yen. They have steak only which was around 3000-4000yen. In fact, this is good enough if you just want to eat meat.
Left: My first time eating beef shashimi. Interesting… No weird taste, just beef melt in your mouth…
Right: The most awaited main!!! Love it! I love my beef just lightly seasoned with salt and pepper and grilled. They didn’t ask us how we want it to be cooked though. I don’t really mind as long that it is not rare or well-done. I’m sure they know what is best and I’m happy with this even though it looks rare than what I usually will eat, I didn’t mind, it’s not bad at all. With the heat from the hotplate, it will be cooked further too. Not a problem at all, it’s grilled to perfection! No taste of blood or anything. Just yummy, tender, juicy, melt in your mouth beef.
They served it on hotplate and they provided us with bibs to protect our clothes from oil splatters from the hotplate.
This is the set. The sashimi was served first which is not in this photo but it’s in the photo above this photo while the dessert is below this photo.
So, you know why I said you just need to order the steak instead of the set. I personally just need the meat, I don’t need the salad, the rice, the soup, and the dessert. It was a bit too much for us. We ordered one set each, regretted a bit because we could have save about 2000yen if we ordered just the meat but it’s OK, still a satisfying meal. If you plan to go, just skip the set, doesn’t matter which shop, you don’t need the set.
Left: Since we ordered a set, that means we had dessert to end the meal. The ice cream were yuzu and green tea flavours. They tasted quite nice.
Right: If you are not sure whether the place serve real Kobe beef, here’s how you can make sure you are getting the real deal. The bronze plaque displayed in the store means that it is appointed by the Kobe Meat Logistics Promotion Consociation. When you order, make sure it’s listed under the Kobe Beef section in the menu.
Before I end the post, here’s the travel vlog, see Kobe beef in action hahaha…
Happy 2020 in advance! Gosh… My expectations on my future beef steak is gonna be hard to please… Oh no…
Merry Christmas!! We are approaching 2020 soon!!
Want to share this video with you in case you are looking for videos on how to use Nagatanien The New Otani Hot Cake Mix:
I bought this from my previous Osaka trip. This video took me hours to film. I hope this is what you are looking for and can help you in making Japanese hot cake or pancake with the this premix or in case you are wondering whether this premix is foolproof enough or not.
After Nara, we went to Fushimi Inari Taisha (68 Fukakusa Yabunouchicho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0882, Japan). If you are in Kyoto, if you don’t go to Fushimi Inari Taisha, your trip will likely be not complete ;p This is the head shrine of the kami Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
I’m sure this place is no stranger to many people and a popular attractions in Kyoto. You have likely seen it in many marketing materials about Kyoto and I’m sure you’ve seen photos of people taking photos under the red torii gates in Kyoto, most likely this is where it is!
There were so many people! Best to go early on weekday morning or towards the end of the day, the crowd will be less. The attraction is open 24 hours. It’s not a difficult hike, just wear comfortable shoes. If you want to take photos without the crowd, do go further up where there will be less people because people will usually turn back at the Yotsu-suji.
You will need few hours to reach the summit(233m) but if you do not have the luxury of time or just not into hiking too much, then you can turn back, there will be path for your to turn back.
By the way, it’s very hot and humid during summer. Therefore you must bring water with you. There will always be random vending machines around but having your own water will be better so that you can stay hydrated anytime you want and you don’t have to wait till you reach the nearest vending which likely will take a bit more hike.
After the hike, we felt a bit hungry so we decided to get this Wagyu from the stall there. It’s only 500yen(about RM20), if you are to get this size of cooked Wagyu beef steak in Malaysia, it will normally cost you more than RM20. It tasted sooooo good! Yum! Should have gotten another one ;p
That’s the end of our Day 6, if you want to watch the full video of my Day 6 with more views of the shrine, do check out my video here:
If you visit Nara, you must visit Nara Deer Park otherwise your trip to Nara doesn’t count. *LOL* If you plan to just spend half day in Nara, this is the easiest attraction to locate and access. Nara Park is a five minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station, this is the best way to get there. If you are from JR Nara Station, it will take you about 20 minute. Alternatively, the park can be reached by bus. There are multiple stops around the park.
Greeted by the deer, curious creature, make sure you keep your cables or whatever dangling around you away or else they are going to chew on it. Do not tease them with non-food or something they can’t eat to avoid getting attacked. Only feed them the deer crackers which you can buy at the park and make sure you don’t tease them with it too. Be sincere, give it to them, don’t play with their feelings. Make sure you do not leave anything on the ground, the deer will eat anything they see and you will kill them.
Walking further into the park, the deer will get less as most gathered at the entrance. There are few buildings inside with rich history and being classified as National Treasure. KÅfuku-ji (興ç¦å¯º, KÅfuku-ji) is one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, in the city of Nara, Japan.
Left: Here, you can see the five-story pagoda(五é‡å¡” GojÅ«-no-tÅ) is a National Treasure built in 1426.
Right: Nan’endÅ(å—å††å ‚) which is an Important Cultural Property, built in the year 1741, it’s know as Site No.9 of Saigoku 33 Pilgrimage.
Left: East Golden Hall(æ±é‡‘å ‚ TÅkondÅ) is also one of the National Treasures built in the year 1425 which is one of the former three golden halls.
Right: Somewhere near the toilet ;p
Left: Taking photo with the deer is a must-do *LOL*
Right: Sarusawa-ike(49 Noborioji-cho, Nara, Nara Prefecture 630-8213) is a manmade pond. This is an artificial pond that was dug in 749 as part of the grounds of Kofukuji Temple. This is a great place for cherry blossom in spring and experience the Nara’s fall colours. Apparently there’s a legend related to this pond.
There is a legend that during the Nara period (710-794), the Emperor’s favor for the lady of the court, Uneme, waned and she drowned herself in grief here. At the edge of the pond is the Uneme Shrine which pays respect to the Uneme deity. (source: https://www.japanhoppers.com/en/kansai/nara/kanko/1235/)
After all the walking, it’s time for food! Hungry! When you come here, it’s a must to eat Kakinoha zushi(柿ã®è‘‰ãšã—) also known as Persimmon Leaf Sushi. We bought it at a kiosk called Hiraso 平宗(2-1, Higashimukinakamachi, Nara city, Nara, 630-8215) just outside Kintetsu Nara Statio. Hiraso is founded back in 1861 at Yoshino Yamatokami City in the south part of Nara while Nara branch opened in 1968.
The one with reddish orange top is salmon and the one at the bottom right is mackerel. They are flavored with salt and vinegar. As for the two types of maki you see in the photo, the fillings are made up of different type of pickles.
After spending about 4 hours at Nara, we headed over to Fushimi Inari Taisha at Kyoto. This will be in the next post.
You can see more of Nara Deer Park in this video: