New Year countdown

Christmas is finished and the new year is coming soon!

Universal Studios Japan has a special countdown event on the 31st of December.

You can see a fantasy show performed by an international artist team with great 
fireworks during the countdown.

Also they have a special concert with various artists and DJs.

And of course you can try the rides and attractions all through the night!!

I'm sure you can have an amazing  time there:D

Happy New Year!! 

Osaka tourist facilities opening schedule

 I checked Osaka tourist facilities opening schedule while new year holidays. 

* The Aquarium of Osaka stays opened.
* The Castle is closed from the 28th to the 1^st.
* Universal Studio Japan stays opened.
* Tennoji zoo is closed from the 29th to the 1st.

*Shimizu-yu, a public bath is closed on the 30^th, 31^st and 1^st.
* The Tourist Information Centers stays opened.
* Namba Parks is closed on the 1st.
* National Museum of Art is closed from the 25th to the 18^th of Jan
* The Tsutenkaku Tower stays opened.

* Convenient stores stays opened.

* Big Camera stays opened.

    * Umeda sky building stays opened. 

     To watch the first sunrise, they open at 5:00am on the 1^st of Jan.

    *  Spa world stays opened.

* Super market, Tamade stays opened. 
* The café on the 1^st floor in this building is closed on the 1^st.
* Transportations keep running, but with lower frequency.

Osaka Hikari-Renaissance 2012

An illumination in Nakanoshima and Midosuj.

Osaka offrs you gifts of cheer through beautiful lights!

Nakanoshima are
In front of Osaka City Hall, around the Miotsukushi Promenade, Osaka City Central Public Hall, Nakanoshima Park
Dec 14th, 2012（Fri）－Dec 25th（Tue）
From 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm　
（Certain parts from 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm）

Shinsaibashi area

Midosuji, Yodoyabashi Intersection (Tosaboridori) to Shimbashi Intersection (Nagahoridori), about 1.9 km
Dec 14th, 2012（Fri）－Jan 20th, 2013（Sun）
From 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Twilight Fantasy @ JR Osaka Station

Twilight Fantasy　～Illumination and Orchestra～

will be held at Osaka Station City  from today the 16th of November!!!

I went there yesterday to see how it looks like.
They are ready for the Lighting Ceremony for today!



on the 5F of JR Osaka Station, at Toki- no Hiroba Plaza
It looks beautiful without any illumination!!

You can enjoy music and lllumination together and it will be held until the end of Janurary.


This place is roofed, so you don't have to worry about the weather and it's free!!

Please drop by if you have any chance to go to JR Osaka Station or Subway Umeda Station!


When：  the 16th of November（Friday）～　the 20th of Janurary(Sunday)

Time：　17:00 ～23:00

Place：　Osaka Station City Northgate and Southgate side & Toki-no Hiroba

Admission Free


Hokusai (Ukiyoe) exhibition is here in OSAKA !

Many of you imagine Hokusai's Famous Ukiyoe 『Great wave of Kanagawa』　or 『South wind, clear sky』 when you imagine about 'Japan' 'Mt. Fuji' etc...

Now you can see Hokusai's arts before your eyes in OSAKA!!

 

 

When: 30th of October till 9th of December 2012.

Time: 9:30 ～ 17:00

Entry: 1,300 yen

Where: Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts @ Tennoji

Please enquire the Discount Voucher print out at the reception !! (1,300yen→1,200yen)

Halloween party

Are you ready for Halloween!?

Have you decided what you will be??

Here are some information of night clubs!

①Giraffe 

Oct 27th （Sat ）

19:00～25:00

If you wear full costume, you don't need to wait a line!

②GRAND Cafe presents HALLOWEEN PARTY

Oct 27th (Sat)

18:00～25:00

If you wear full costume, free entrance!

③ CRAZY PURE　☆HALLOWEEN SPECIAL☆ 

Oct 27th　（Sat）

22:00～late

All you can drink!

22:00～late

Have fun guys!

Osaka Hana Hostel Information board!

Hi, How are you? I'm Ranna :)
I have worked here for 6 months.

I make an effort to make information board for guests!
I believe this helps you to enjoy Osaka.
Hot and helpful information is on the board :)

When I had worked at J-hoppers Osaka, Kyohei, a recepcitoner, also wanted to put many info on the board. His information was also helpful.. like bars, beach or KOBE's stuff.
So it was Okay.
But he took my info awaaaay :(
I could not use the board as much as I want :(

Now I am doing as I want, he he :)

I put not only Osaka info, restaurants and useful tickets information is also up dated !
Please check it when you come to Osaka Hana Hostel!!!

Rokko Meets Art 2012

There is a great event called "Rokko Meets Art"where you can enjoy mountain hiking and seeing pieces of art all over.


 There is also a cable car you can use if you want to have a nice relaxing trip up the moutain.

You can have a picnic with the nice view of the city and watch the sun set.  And after that you can see special art that lights up.

It's a nice season for hiking and arts now.
You should go there^^

October Festa

It's an annual event here in Osaka.
October festa! It's always extremely expensive but you can enjoy the atomosphere!
If you are bored or nothing to do, why don't you go drink there? Have you ever tried real German beers? You can buy one at Seijyoishi(international supermaket) but it's really good to drink German beers in a nice festa! I'm sure you will have a blast if you go there!
You can try German food as well.


this is the access
http://www.gnavi.co.jp/prt/osaka/oktoberfest/access/

Sep 14th～ Sep 30th!

No border BBQ party!

One group which ic called cu-fu hold BBQ party in Naniwanomiya ato park!
They came to J hoppers Osaka to let us know about his event!

Cu-fu is craziest and bohemian group of Osaka,thats what they said:D

They hold some events like music event , language seminar.

Date: 22nd of September 
Time: 3pm～
Place:Naniwanomiya ato park(Tanimachi 4 choume station of Tanimachiline,subway)
Price:1000yen
You have to bring your drink!
It's good chance to see some people staying in guest houses and some staff of guest houses!
I am planing to go with my friends and my coworker!

Universal studios Japan

Universal studios Japan is one of the main spot for Osaka sightseeing.

A terrifying attraction themed on the movie  "The Mummy" has just been opened there.

Furthermore, the another terrifying attraction themed on "BIOHAZARD" has been opened too.
Zombies and monsters  will walk around the park and scare you!!

And also Jason Voorhees from " Friday the 13th" will be on the Halloween horror night.

You can experience the scary night there!!

Real Onsen in Osaka city!

You can enjoy real hot spring in Osaka city!
No boil , no put water, no reuse it !  So you can say it is 100% real Onsen :)


It is a pablic bath located near Universal Studio Japan.
If you wanna relax, I recommend it so much!

This Onsen makes you better. I am sure.
Fee is 700yen on weekdays.
From Nishikujyo station, please take free shuttle bus.
You can go there from J-hoppers, Hana hostel within 30mins!

This is their web-site ;)
 http://www.onsen19.com/

Trick art

The trick art is new kind of art and it's getting popular.

You can see many trick arts and take funny photo like this in Kyocera dome.

It's 800 yen for entrance fee.

If you don't have any plans to do, you can go there!

It's only 10 minutes by train from J-hoppers Osaka:)

minoh waterfall

this is minoh waterfall. beautiful isn't it?

this light up is until Sep 2nd.

If you have not done anything this summer, why don't you go there?
Well, it's not special but you might like it.


entrance -free!
Access-　catch Hankyu to Minoh station. then you can walk( it's far though )

There are tons of candles lighting up too.

Piece of peace world heritage exhibit built with Lego

Piece of peace

We have an art event “Piece of Peace – World Heritage Exhibit Built with Lego” 

in Dojima River Forum.

 Many world heritages were built with Lego!

Place: Dojima River Forum(1-1-17 Fukushima Fukushimaku Osaka city, 06-6341-0115)

Entrance: Adults 300yen  Children 100yen

Time: 11am to 8pm

　　　　Jul 22nd to Aug 26th

Pieces of peace-the more, the better!

Shiki Theatrical Company

Shiki Theatrical Company

I went to see A DREAM WITH  IN DREAM on the 14th of July.

Actually I am a big fan of  Shiki Theatrical Company!
I watched CATS first time when I was a high school student an I felt OMG they are totally cats!
The way they move was CATS. I like songs and dance!

I also have watched MAMMA MIA! It was the story of a mom and a daughter. I was touched and laughed! It is my favorite.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

A DREAM WITH  IN DREAM　is the story about Piko, an adventurous girl, is guided into the haunted house there by a mysterious man, who calls himself Dream Deliverer. There, Piko meets Mako, a girl who was dead because of a traffic accident. Piko decided to let Mako return to the human world to see her mom and go to spiritual world instead of Mako.
They talked about the death like war,bullying so it was pretty real story.
But it was fun and I was touched.

I would like to watch beauty and beast at some point!

                   



　　

Suma Beach Party

It's an annual event! There is a big beach party in KOBE.

Almost 3000 people go there to dance!

It starts from 2pm to 10pm. it sounds super hard core...yest it is!
it's a crazy party!

If you want to have a blast this summer, this would be perfect!

The exhibition of King Tutankhamun

I went to a exhibition of King Tutankhamun last week

I saw dazzling burial accessories and artifacts which came from Egyptian Museum of Cairo.

I felt like I slipped back in time to the fascinating world of Ancient B.C. times.

The tomb of King Tutankhamun was found and excavated in 1922.

A great many items buried in the tomb were unearthed after 3000 years of history in almost perfect shape.

The exhibition of King Tutankhamun is held in Tempozan until the 16^th of July.

I really recommend you to go there while you are staying in Japan.

You don’t need to go to Egypt then.

And I also recommend to go to Turkish buffet in market place after that:)

Osaka Hana Hostel OPEN!!!

 

Osaka Hana Hostel opened in Shinsaibashi on the 30th of June 2012!








We cannot believe we could finally open. Thanks to everyone, we really appreciate it!





Compare to other guest house, dormitory rooms have enough spaces for each guests. We have wonderful living rooms and kitchens too!
Private rooms are also amazing. we guess it will be a good experience staying in a Japanese style rooms as above.
Small tables in the rooms are really nice. Japanese people used to write papers, diary or letters on this kind of small table on Tatami.

They are our second guest. Thank you so much for coming here!

We wait for your visit! Let's talk a lot!

Tenjin Festival

There is a big festival going on on the July 24th and 25th.

According to Wikipedia, Tenjin festa is one of the biggest festivals in Japan.
I have never been there yet, but I luckily got a morning shift on the 25th, I'm going go check it out!
It falls on Wednesday that Mr. Yano will be free at night. Well, he will be busy with the party though. Anyway, its still not sure but Mr. Yano is thinking of taking customers there for a change!

*it might be ending up going to an izakaya like usual though.

J hoppers Osaka will be on TV !!!

One Japanese TV program come to J hoppers Osaka on June 8th to interview us!
This TV program is called Puripuri , its broadcasted  Monday to Friday from 10:30 am, channel 4.

My co-worker didn't want to show up except Mr Yano!
Osamu Bonchi who is Japanese comedian and one announcer came to us  and talked to our guests! It was only 20 minutes but pretty fun!

It will be broadcasted on 14th Thursday, if we have something emergent news, it will be on 21st though.
If you have time please check this TV program out on the 14th of June!!!!!!