Osaka (JP)
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I really, really loved Osaka and not just b/c of the IH store. For future travelers I recommend the Candeo Hotels Osaka Namba. Reasonably priced and very new/clean. I think it just opened a few months ago so everything is brand new.
I also recommend checking out the spots on this Osaka Craft Beer Crawl from the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/travel/a-craft-beer-pub-crawl-in-the-kitchen-of-japan.html?_r=0
We went to Beer Belly Tenma, Yellow Ape Craft, and Garage 39. (Dig Beer Bar is now closed.) In each of these places we were the only Westerners and eventually someone from the staff asked us how we found the bar. None of them seemed to know they had been written up in the Times. All serve great beers and are super welcoming. If in Osaka you definitely need to find Beer Belly Tenma (there's another more accessible location, but you have to experience the nightlife in the Tenma district).
I mean, definitely go see the Castle and Dotonburi and America-mura and all the temples/shrines, but also drink plenty of beer in Osaka.
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@Madame Buttonfly - Now I need to go back and hunt for beer…..
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I really, really loved Osaka and not just b/c of the IH store. For future travelers I recommend the Candeo Hotels Osaka Namba. Reasonably priced and very new/clean. I think it just opened a few months ago so everything is brand new.
I also recommend checking out the spots on this Osaka Craft Beer Crawl from the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/travel/a-craft-beer-pub-crawl-in-the-kitchen-of-japan.html?_r=0
We went to Beer Belly Tenma, Yellow Ape Craft, and Garage 39. (Dig Beer Bar is now closed.) In each of these places we were the only Westerners and eventually someone from the staff asked us how we found the bar. None of them seemed to know they had been written up in the Times. All serve great beers and are super welcoming. If in Osaka you definitely need to find Beer Belly Tenma (there's another more accessible location, but you have to experience the nightlife in the Tenma district).
I mean, definitely go see the Castle and Dotonburi and America-mura and all the temples/shrines, but also drink plenty of beer in Osaka.
I've never been to Western/Southern Japan despite having lived in Japan. The only exception is that I lived on Okinawa for 5 yrs when I was a young 'un. My old man was in the military so we moved around a lot. My mom lives in northern Japan in the middle of nowhere, so it's hard for me to justify a visit when there's nothing to do. One of these days it'd be nice to hop on the shinkansen and take a trip south.
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@Madame Buttonfly - Now I need to go back and hunt for beer…..
@Giles you wouldn't need to twist my arm too hard…
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Potentially a dumb question @Giles - but I assume your EU stock is somewhat different to JP, right?
I'm in Osaka right now, before heading back to Tokyo, and was considering popping in to look at 555 models but wasn't sure what they had (e.g. regular indigo versus indigo/black versus -03 for example). Do you have this information or shall I contact Osaka directly?
Thanks!
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IH international constant items are very different from Japan. They do stock a couple of models of the 555, but not the 01 or 03. You'd need to contact Kenta at the Osaka store to check what they do have.
"OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011
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@Giles said in Osaka (JP):
IH international constant items are very different from Japan. They do stock a couple of models of the 555, but not the 01 or 03. You'd need to contact Kenta at the Osaka store to check what they do have.
Hi @Giles I’m currently planning a trip to Japan, that includes a few days in Osaka. I’m definitely planning to hit up the IH store while there, as it seems much more accessible than the store in Tokyo.
I know what they carry has probably changed quite drastically since this thread was started, but I want to have a good idea for what I can expect when I visit.
Can you recommend the best way to contact the Osaka store? Thanks!
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@Giles awesome. Thank you so much!
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@alexxedge i also went to Y2 leather, which is pretty close to the IH store. You need a reservation but the experience was very wonderful.
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@jfk1117 nice. I’ll look into it!
