Oh Yeah Osaka!

I just love Osaka. Tokyo has its interests for sure, but for me, it's all about the smaller cities in Japan and Osaka has a lot to offer. It's smaller, less uptight, more child friendly, and definitely foody. So when we fly into Osaka, it's mostly menu that we're thinking about.

First off, it's the home of Takoyaki, octopus balls! It's a kind of batter fried in a special pan (like a poffertje pan), each ball about the size of a ping pong ball, and each with a bit of octopus in it. Morning noon or night, you get 6-9 of them depending on the joint and toothpicks as forks. They're drizzled in mayo, brown sauce, bonito flakes and powdered seaweed. They're like molten lava when you get them so you have to time it just right- too quick, bye bye tastebuds, too slow and they lose pizazz. And really no one wants a tepid ball in their mouth.

Osaka is also home to certain varieties of Okonomiaki, or Japanese stuffed pancake. I've waxed lyrical about them before, they are effen great and we have our favorite spot that we've now hit on 3 separate trips, Suke Okonomiaki. I'm not sure it's the 'best in town' or anything, but it's a small place with a great relaxed vibe and always the same woman manning the teppan table. She also makes a winter stew that is to die for and serves the other usual suspects of snacky foods, yakisoba, gyoza, edamame, etc. It's in a part of town that we always forget exactly where it is so we have to fan out and shout in the cross streets when someone finds it. And somehow, the sidewalk out front has like a kid vortex or something, both times Hopper has been there he's had an intense fascination with the nearby doors, plants, and signs. Hm?

We stayed on the main road at Shinsaibashi across from the subway station, so we were super close to food, shopping, and transport. Since we were really only there for a day, our plan was to check out a couple favorite kids stores, wander around the cute shopping streets and grab a few handy things at Tokyu Hands like a drinking bottle for Hopper (since he lost his at the train station) and a sesame grinder for soups and so. (And can I just say that I looove Tokyu Hands. They have everything! It's like a spiffy amped up Target type of shopping- it's very easy to walk out with 100 bucks of stuff not on your list.)

And of course we had to visit the kids park in Americamura, only to find that it was full of blooming sakura trees! Oh the joy!

Quick stop, on the bus, hop, off to Kamiyama! Hai!

Our spot! Lucky to sit outside after the day's rain showers

Happy man with belly full of okonomiaki!!

The people opposite Hopper inside the doors had a toddler boy with them, they played a lot of games through the glass and then shunned each other face to face outside

Tuckered out little dude! (This is considered an "apartment". What you see here is almost half the space. The rest is econo-kitchen with small dining table and separate shower/toilet area. Tiny!

Had to go back to Dotombori to show H the big crab (sorry, photo was a bit of an afterthought, but there it is)

For some reason, this canal makes Hopper buzz out. He's had melt downs both times he's been here. This is recovery mode discussing how the turtle wasn't going to wait for him to stop crying at the top of the stairs. So he pretends not to care. And we walk on hoping we haven't "lost face" as parents.

The Howl and Sakura!

a slide revisit 1 1/2 years later. still fun!

just chillin in the park while the kids play