Day 5 15/12/18 Sat: The optional morning prayer service (known to be a "National Treasure") started at 6am in the Kondo. It was pitch dark when Potato, PY and I walked over to the Kondo. Francine couldn't make it on time. We spent about an hour sitting outside listening to the monks chant. Guests have to stay quiet. Well, We don't understand the prayers obviously, yet there is a certain sort of peace (and sleepiness~) that followed. I followed the locals offering incense, and hopefully I did it right by following what others were doing. After that, the monk gave us another half an hour of "lecture" in Japanese (only Potato understood some of it) afterwards before we could go for breakfast at Restaurant Bon at 7.30am.
We had the traditional Kyoto breakfast, and it looked sumptuous when you mention it's food served in a temple. I had natto for the first time... neutral about it but I don't like how sticky it looked.
Check-out had to be done by 9am, and soon we left for Osaka on the train.
Francine, Potato and I parted with Ning and PY, and went to get our Osaka Kaiyu ticket (2550￥) at the Osaka station after about 2 hours of ride. The weather didn't feel as cold in Osaka as compared to Kyoto and Tokyo where it rained on the first day we reached.
Managed to find our Airbnb (S$77.95 per person for 2 nights) after a while, put our stuff down and took the train to the famous Kuromon Ichiban Market!
Popped by into a random eatery for lunch. I had salmon sashimi, eggs, unagi and scallop don~ shiok! Saw lots of seafood as we explored further. I had the white strawberry but it was nothing special. The strawberry milkshake blend, however was delicious.
The two had some beef, and Potato also got some fresh scallops for S$10. I'm not usually a fan of raw scallops, but I did have one too. Ate豆腐甜甜圈, and tried Francine's fried crabstick, and that was good.
One thing though, was that it was hard finding a trash bin. Shop owners don't allow you to throw trash into their bins if the food wasn't bought from them. After our foodie trip, we went to the Kaiyukan to meet Ning and PY.
Saw a shop that sold DIY candles along the way~ interesting.
The Osaka Kaiyu tickets we bought already covered the train rides and entry to Osaka Aquarium, so it was a worthy buy. It was chilly at the pier area, and as soon as we headed in, we began our journey from the 8th floor down.
The Kaiyukan consists of 14 large-sized tanks, and is based on concepts such as Ring of Fire and Ring of Life, and reproduces the natural environment of the Pacific Rim area. Their "star" was the whale shark, but many others like otters, dolphins, penguins, sunfishes, seals, jellyfishes, stingrays etc caught our eyes too.
PY, Potato and I had some ice-cream at the Mermaid coffee shop. Mine tasted like ice-cream soda flavour~ At the "touch pool", visitors are allowed to touch some marine creatures like stingrays and other fishes.
Quite a day well-spent in the Kaiyukan. 5 of us then took the train to Dotonburi area.
We Went up to a second-hand shop as the rest wanted to shop around for things. Potato and I didn't get anything though. Osaka is famous for Okonomiyaki, and hence we queued for one!
Yes we ordered 5 (and "killed ourselves") and a plate of cooked scallops. They were very filling! There were veggies, prawns, crabs etc in them.
I bought a pack of crab crackers for 540￥ at the famous Kani Doraku too... they were so yummy I regretted not buying more.
Also bought a bag, that came with a fashion magazine for 1980￥. I felt like Osaka was bursting with life as we strolled down the streets.
Potato was craving for some sweet potato dorayaki (200￥) late at night. We all enjoyed that, and then we really parted ways with PY and Ning. Francine, Potato and I went back to our Airbnb. The owner penned a welcome letter to us, which was nice. Potato slept on the futon while the two girls shared the bed.
We had the kani sushi Potato bought from Kani Doraku and it was very nice! Peach Kirin was not bad too hehe.
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