If you are too early for Sakura, why not Ume Blossom

In Osaka Castle Park, there is Ume (Plum) garden and will blossom about a month earlier than Sakura.

If you are too early in Osaka for Sakura, lets enjoy Ume blossm at Osaka Castle Park!!!

 

 

Season: Mid February to Earky March 

Where： Osaka Castle Park 

Entrance: Free

Please also join Osaka Hana Hostel's Castle Park Tour by Mikko and Mitchy on Monday ！！

Sold 1,500 cheese cake a day!! PABLO

Happy New Year! This is Masae from Osaka Hana Hostel.

We have many many guests come back from outside holding this bag in their hand.

It is a bag of famous cheese cake(tarte) shop called "PABLO".

The concept of this shop is
"To start revolution and movement in like Pablo Picasso did as an artist".

They have a various items, but the most popular one is
Fresh Baked Cheese Tarte.
A whole cheese tarte is 680yen, I think it's quite reasonable and of course it taste very good!

2type of cheese tarte they have
You can choose "Rare"or "Medium"
↑ This is Medium.
 

They make a fresh cheese terte everyday

I always wonder why they are so popular (of course because it's tasty), so I asked some guests why you bought them.

They said because this shop is on their guide books,
and some guests told me because they saw a long queue in front of the shop, so they wonder what it is and lined up as well.

I passed by the shop last night.... and WOW!!!




Can you see people line up in front of the shop?

Yes!! They are very popular!!!

The shop is located at Shinsaibashi Shopping Street,
and takes about 7-8minutes from Osaka Hana Hostel on foot.

●Shinsaibashi shop :
　2-8-1 Shinsaibashi-suji, Chuo-ku, Osaka
　Open 10:00- 23:00

Another Shop in Umeda (1station away from J-hoppers Osaka)
●Umeda shop : Whity Umeda North mall 1
　Open 10:00- 21:00

Please check this shop and try popular cheese tarte in Osaka!!

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)