Travel for December 2017
I decided to go out of Osaka market with Tockey. In overseas trips, shopping malls, supermarkets and traditional markets are very interesting places for foreigners and one of the most enjoyable ways to travel. It is the place where I can see the most clear view of eating and living of locals, and where I can see both the familiar and different things. I joined Tockey's guided tour via Airbnb. Tockey suggested me a different date than I had requested. Because I could see more stores in the market the date Tockey proposed than the date I requested. It was the day I returned to Korea, but since it was my flight schedule in the afternoon, I accepted her offer.
I was late for twenty minutes! OMG!
Since I was supposed to meet her the day I was heading back to Korea, I had to leave my luggage somewhere while touring with Tockey. I could go to Tennōji station when I got on the nearby subway after tour with her. So I decided it would be better to leave my luggage in the coin locker at Tennōji station. And when I went to the airport, I thought it would be nice to stop at Tennōji station and board Haruka. By the way, I didn't know Tennōji station was that wide. And the coin locker at Tennōji station cannot handle 500 yen coins and bills. I was in shock. In addition, there was no a coin changer machine near the coin lockers. Eventually, Because of the process I was changing coins and finding the coin locker again, I ended up being late 20 min. Fortunately, I was the only one who had joined for her tour that day. She told me to come slowly, saying it was okay, but I was so sorry.
"I'm fine, but we had to consider the time to go to the airport so we couldn't go to some places we're going to look together. "
Wow! It's so delicious, Croquette!
The first stop of tour was to visit the croquettee house. I don't like croquette. Because It's greasy. And croquette's contents were not very tasty to me either. A long time ago, I went to Yufuin from Fukuoka. I bought and ate a croquette well known for being awarded a gold prize. Even then, it didn't taste good for me.
I headed about the croquette which is well known to Tockey and the locals. The croquette store was really small. I wonder if croquette is delicious. But after taking a bite of the croquette, I thinks that It was good! Just my style. Actually, the croquette here was not the kind of croquette we could easily think of. It was a crispy hash Brown style. I don't know what the ingredients were, but they weren't greasy and had a crispy exterior. After looking around the market and heading back here, I found a long line of locals in front of that shop. It is famous place!
TOCKEY SAYS
" Croquette here is very popular. Later, as it gets closer to lunchtime, people are in line to eat. Once anyone eat it, They can taste good and very crispy. "
Real OSAKA specialty, a souvenir shop
Enjoying delicious croquette, We started Tockey's tour. I enjoyed talking with her. She stopped in front of a shop. It was a small souvenir shop.
TOCKEY SAYS "Many tourists usually go to Dotonbori. and also buy many souvenirs there. Here is not well known to forein tourtist, but there are many genuine products or souvenirs here from Osaka. Various items are made in Osaka, and they are not for sale elsewhere. Of course, the craftsmanship is still very expensive compared to other souvenirs. But there are also many cheap products here. There are many cheap but unique products "
It was a really small place to look around. She stopped in front of a frame in the store. The frame was a map of Osaka long ago. It was very complicated, but it looked very different from the map of Osaka today. She explained the old view of Osaka in front of this map. In Osaka, where there are many rivers, many bridges. Now Osaka has modern road construction and some have covered rivers to make it easier to get around. So, we can not see many old bridges. When I looked at the map, I could tell the difference between the bridge in size and Tockey told me the hidden history of it.
P.S. Osaka was also famous for its wine a long time ago.
In the picture above, the shape of the bridge is maintained. Long ago, it was a bridge. However, it now appears to be an extension of the road, as the river has been covered up for a long time. That is, it was not a bridge on the road for design, but an original bridge.
The market that Tockey and I were walking that day was actually the place where I visited in the evening a few days ago. I happened to find this arcade on my way to the subway station. It was an old traditional market. Now, most traditional markets have made modern renovations. This allowed many people to shop conveniently regardless of the weather. (The same goes for Korea. Still, there are places that maintain the appearance of traditional markets from long time ago.) In front of the old kimono house I met while walking, I was impressed by the luxurious and beautiful kimono.
From modern scissors and knives to ancient tools.
We stopped again in front of a shop. We focused on the space displayed outside the store, not going inside. It was a specialty store selling scissors, knives, and more. (Left-handed tools were also sold.) Here I could see the tools that Japanese police used long ago and the various price knives. I didn't know exactly what the tools were. Thanks to Tockey, I could hear an explanation and learn how to use the tool.
A plum shop run by ten generations of family
The shop I visited was both modern and clean. It was not an old store for anyone to see. But the store's main office was founded in the 1800s and has a very long history. It's great to know that it's been running for 10 years. Various products related to plums were sold here. There were Umeboshi, plum juice, plum wine, plum vinegar, plum jelly, and plum tea. I thought about what to choose to enjoy with my family.
※ Umeboshi are Japanese pickled plums with an almost addictive tangy, sharp, sour flavour.
When I ate Umeboshi at Dazaifu, I was surprised. It was too sour and too salty to get used to. Of course, there was bitterness in the taste. So, in fact, I was concerned about the taste of Umeboshi here. Tockey carefullly asked me if I would like to try it, and I thought that the Umeboshi here with a long history may be very different from the one I tasted at Dazaifu. So I decided to taste it with small piece. Having a bite to eat as a small piece, I realized that the taste of umebosI here was very different from the taste of Umeboshi that I ate in Dazaifu. Umeboshi here is sour but properly salty. I felt no bitterness here. I must have had a really poor Umeboshi then.
There were so many different kinds of plum wine. There were a wide variety of kinds, including orange plum wine, green tea plum wine, honey plum wine, rose plum wine, plum wine with sparkling rose, and citron plum wine. Among them, I had a taste of the original. I don't like liquor. However, the plums wine I tasted here was moderately sweet.
Tockey explained to me about this place, and when we moved to the next place, I said, " I want to buy some plum related products here, " and asked for more time. We still had plenty of time. Tockey waited for me here. I purchased the original wine that I had tried (less likely to fail) and the tea related to plums. I have happily finished the plum shopping for less than $25.
The owner of this shop looked cheerful. She gave me Umeboshi as a present. She praised me, saying, " Did you travel here alone?" I said the plums I had eaten a long time ago was disappointing and Tockey translated it to her. She told me it might be so. In particular, She said, " It tastes strong for foreigners. " When I said I would buy Fukuchanoume, she asked me if it would be okay to be the only manual in Japanese. (I told her I'd use the translator, but actually I was worried a little too.)
▶ What I bought.
Plum wine (Original taste) (= whisky, 300mL, 18 degree) : It was made using the best quality, plum
Fukuchanoume : Happy New Year's tea. Though it is usually brewed with dried plums and dried kelp, this also varies from region to region. Here sells tea with only dried plums.
Osaka Tenmangu Shrine Students and Parents Visit
We dropped by Osaka Tenman Shrine, the god of learning. I've visited Dazaifu Tenmangu a few years ago, so the Shirner named Tenmangu was not strange to me.
Sugawara Michizane, the nation's greatest statesman and scholar, died falsely, and was recognized and regarded as the god of learning. There are many Tenmangu in Japan. Osaka Tenmangu Shrine is famous for the remains of Sugawara Michizane. Listening to Tockey's explanation, I could look around inside Osaka Tenmangu Shrine. Many people visit to get good luck on their exams, and many parents of their students also visit here too. I could find Korean wish among the wooden tablets bearing the wishes of countless people. "Let me pass this year's recruitment exams!"
There is a order of prayer in Japanese shrine. I was confused when I clapped my hands first or prayed first, so I rearranged the order through Tockey that day. When I heard the explanation I could understand why I had to clap and the order was not complicated.
TOCKEY SAYS
"Every year, There are so many people here in the day of New Year. There are so many crazy people here. Last year, I didn't walk on my own ; I was pushed around in the crowd. I had to pray in front of shrine and put 5yen of coin in the wooden box, but it was impossible because there were so many people, so I just threw the coin to the wooded box. (What? You just threw a coin in the air?!) Uh, I didn't have any other choice. Haha, of course I threw it at the wood box. But the funny thing was, there were many people who got coins in their heads! I've been beaten once, too. Believe it or not, a lot of people come to Osaka's Tenman district! "
---------- INFO of Osaisen(お賽銭) -----------
Osaisen is a donation to pay tribute at a shrine. You throw a coin (or just put it in) into a wooden box, and the coins you use have different meanings according to their type. The most popular coin is 5 yen. Because, pronunciation of 5 yen is similar to pronunciation of fate in Japanese.
In an old soybean store, Let's have healthy soy milk
I like soymilk. However, most soy milk is too sweet. I want to drink real Soymilk which don't add anything (it's okay to have a little salt in it). But to make this happen, I just have to do it myself. In S.Korea, there is a snack trailer that I often use and only sell the soymilk in the morning, near the subway station which is 20 minutes from my house. When I leave on a trip early in the morning, I stop by that and buy soy milk. I wish there was a trailer anywhere I go. Then I will buy it very often.
Tockey and I went to a place that sold delicious soy milk. It has been a long business in the markets. The soybean milk here is made from only 100 % beans. It's perfect for me. This was my style, in fact, most people don't like this taste. So Tockey seemed a little bit concerned if I don't like it. But as soon as I took a sip of it, it was so delicious. You can taste the beans themselves when you drink it. It was very good! I said I will come back to have this soybean milk the next time I visit Osaka!
I visited this market a few days ago but I didn't think of getting into an alley when I went by myself, not knowing what was in it. But when I walked with Tockey that day through the narrow alleys, stores were everywhere on the roads like cobwebs. There were also many signboards on various characters. If I could not be here with Tockey, I could not ask questions about here.
Another look of traditional markets full of groceries
We entered a building in the market where they sold vegetables, fish, meat, side dishes, and so on. It was not unlike the smells that could be smell in my traditional markets. Some vegetables I met here were familiar to us, but many were unfamiliar to us, too. It was different from how I looked even though it was a carrot. There were various soybean paste(Japanese called theses MISO) and various kinds of fish. What's noticeable is, Fresh salmon eggs here were being sold at a discount! And Katsuobushi(かつおぶし, dried bonito in Japanese) was various. You could buy the fresh Katsuobush here as much as you wanted. As I approached the Katsuobush shop, I could smell the distinctive flavor of Katsuobush. I could see owner of this shop organizing the Katsuobush which the machines produce.
TOCKEY SAYS
" I often visit here. It's okay not to have to worry about what to eat or even know how to cook. When I stop by here before dinner time and just say, ' What's good today? ' If I ask mechantes, They here recommend good and fresh ingredients for me that day. If I ask them how to cook with that ingredient, They explain me how to cook the dish kindly. And the price is cheap here so I visit often. I like here because all the merchants are nice.
A small tea shop that sell tea, and You can also enjoy a cup of tea
We went to the shop sells tea. I thought this was the place to sell tea. However, That shop sells and customers can drink tea. I had to sit here and choose a cup of tea. What shall I drink? When I entered this store, I could smell good green tea. I could see the machine looked old, but it looked busy with good green tea. There are various kinds of green tea in Japan. Sencha, Okro, Bancha, Matcha, etc. So, I decided to taste green tea here. I could listen to Tockey's explanation about tea I asked about Japanese green tea which I usually wondered about.
I like Ochajeuke(お茶漬け) in winter. When I get up in the morning and feel uncomfortable to make things, bake the salmon roe and add green tea to the hot water. And put them together in rice. It is easy to make. I wanted to buy a simple tea bag here to make an Ochajeuke, But most of the items in the store were leaf tea. Tea bag's product was of few kinds. Among them, I chose a Sencha.
※ Ochajeuke(お茶漬け) is a Japanese-style rice soup with green tea mixed with rice, topped with dried seaweed or umeboshi.
Just in time, another customer ordered a cup of tea. I asked if I could take a picture of tea ceremony. She was pleased to say so. She whipped the drink up with a special brush to make foam. The foam make the tea have smooth taste. A cup of tea with a drink for 350 yen in an open shop, looked interesting. In the market of a small alley with many people passing by, a cup of tea and cold winter, It was a pleasant time.
Of course, her explanation, her episode enabled me to vividly understand Here.
In Japan, Tockey told me many families in Japan pray for a healthy every year and it is customary to keep umeboshi in a ceramic home as in the picutre above, which provides peace and health for the family. The ceramic cap that I have in the picture above is worth more than $1,000. I knew that in Japan, they eat Ozoni and Ocechi every year on the New Year's Day, but I never thought they would keep Umeboshi indoors. The yellow pieces on the umebosI in the picture are gold ... pieces.
Thanks to Tockey, I could meet people from marcket and hear stories about aspects of Japanese life. When I prepare for a trip by myself in Korea, reading books can also help me understand it. However, I could understand this place better by walking around with her, listening to the local people's explanations and listening to her related episodes.
※ I did not write the exact name of the place I and she visited in the above writing. Because each place is her own tour areas.
-------------------- INFO of Explore Local Osaka with Tockey @ Oasaka ---------------------
0. Explore Local Osaka! with Tockey Airbnb Trip
1. Who is Tockey?
She has an official certificate of qualifications for a tour guide in Japan.
She knows how interesting it is to meet local people through her many overseas trips. She hopes that tourists traveling to Osaka can enjoy her trip by introducing their favorite Osaka. I liked this trip, which was full of fun and energetic places I wouldn't have known myself and enjoyed meeting locals with her.
2. What is this program?
You will walk along Tenjinbashisuji, the longest shopping street in Japan. There are full of culture, history and her neighborhood. You can see lots of local shops and markets with Tockey's explanation and find the best local products. Also You will chat with locals there.
Some of these include: ① A 200-year history of a miso store ② A tofu shop's secret recipes ③ Significance of plums in Japanese culture
4. Departure point: Minamimorimachi station (※ She will let you know the detailed departure point before travel.)
5. Duration: 2hours and a half
6. Notes: Wear comfortable clothes and shoes!
7. Reservation: You can book directly at Airbnb Trip. You can make a reservation automatically by selecting the date and time of reservation via Airbnb Trip.
7. What is Airbnb Trip?
To provide unique experience and options for overseas trips, Airbnb launched Airbnb Trip.
Airbnb Trip offers a variety of workshops / tours / experiences that can only be done there. For example, it is impressive that many unique trips are available only from local people, such as making Easter breakfast, the secret of sumo culture, and traveling in the hiding places around the streets.