Apr 22, 2010

A new and fun restaurant in Osaka

Recently we have noticed a new restaurant in the neighborhood of J-Hoppers Osaka. It's a restaurant of Tsukemen, it means cold noodles that you pour yourself in a bowl of soup and vegetables and meat, in opposition with ramen where you receive the noodles hot and poured in the bowl of soup yet. The soup of Tsukemen can also be cold, and the noodles served with icicle in summer. This is a meal I'm always happy to rediscover each year, as it makes me feel that summer has come.
But this new restaurant has something special : you have to eat your tsukemen in a very particular way ... First you receive the noodles (hot or cold) and the hot soup with pork meat and some vegetables (and eggs in option). Then you add minced onion to the soup, mix, and eat as usual. Once you've had a third of it, you're asked to press half of a lemon on it. Then you can start enjoying a new taste ! Another third of noodles later, it's time to try with a supplement of spices ... Take care to don't use to much ! Finally when you're done with the noodles, you generally still have some soup left. At this point, if it surely got cold. You could then just leave it but it would be a waste.


Then they simply thought about warming it up once again, in a funny way ... First you can dilute a little the soup to make it easier to drink, with hot dashi (kind of clear soup), then you receive a burning stone which is to be put in the soup. The stone is *very* hot and your soup will be soon bubbling furiously. Few seconds are enough to have it properly heated. Then take out the stone (still hot, take care !) and enjoy your soup till the last drop ... :-)

The restaurant's name : Tsukemen Misawa, open from 11:30 to 14:30 and from 17:00 to 24:00, open everyday, google map, around 800 yen.

Apr 13, 2010

The Mint Bureau under cherry blossoms Apr.14-20

There is the Mint Bureau in Osaka city, near Osaka castle and it's famous for cherry blossoms with approx. 120 species, 370 trees in bloom.
They open their garden for 1 week in only this season, so thousands of people come to enjoy the last cherry blossom - because this place is the last one where we can see them,as they are all late blossoms.
You can enjoy gorgeous cherry blossoms, and also you will a lot and a lot of food stalls beside the river.. and again, with tons of people..

But it's worth to visit for both enjoying cherry blossom and yummy foods. Don't miss it!!

Open : April 14 - 20
Weekday 10:00-21:00
Weekend 9:00-21:00
Access : Walk from JR Osaka Temmangu station or Keihan/Subway Temma station
Admission : Free

http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/topics/new/page26.html

Apr 4, 2010

April Bunraku Performance


BUNRAKU is the modern name for the traditional puppet drama of Japan which developed in the Kansai region, particularly Osaka, in the seventeenth century.

This time they perform full Lenghth "Imose-yama Onna Teikin".

The story is set in the Taika Reform in ancient Nara in 645.
I can highly recommend it, to those who have yet to see Bunraku or who are interested in Japanese history, tradition and culture.

April 3rd - April 25th, 2010

First Part : 11:00- (till 15:20)
Second Part : 16:00- (till 21:00)

Place : National Bunraku Theatre

Price : 1st Grade : General 5800 yen / Students 4100yen
2nd Grade : 2300yen
One Day Pass (1st Grade only) : 9800yen

About National Theatre of Japan
http://www.ntj.jac.go.jp/english/index.html

About April Bunraku Performance Tickets
https://ticket1.ntj.jac.go.jp/Play

Apr 1, 2010

Events in Osaka in early April

Waiting for the sun ... some more suggestions to get out while staying dry !

* Traditional Osaka Performing Arts

On Saturday 3rd at the Yamamoto Noh Theater, 4 kind of arts will be performed from 19:00 with subtitles in English, Chinese and Korean. Tickets from 3500. Website here.

* Cherry blossom by boat and night

Enjoy a special dinner while cruising on the Okawa river in Osaka which has many cherry on its riverbank. Until April 11th, from 18:30, 50mn, 4200 yen. Website here.

* Sakura Party at Club Pure

Wear in Pink or White and enjoy all you can drink for 3 hours at Club Pure on the 10th of April. From 19:00, 3000 yen. Website here.