How about going to ONSEN hot spring in rainy season?!

The rainy season, known as Tsuyu in Japan, will begin soon here in Osaka.
Sometimes the weather is nice even in this season, it does not rain all the time.

To enjoy traveling around Osaka in this season, how about going to ONSEN nearby?! Onsen is, as you know, hot spring, which is nice to relieve your tired body during your trip.

The best hot spring resort around Osaka is Arima Onsen in Kobe-city, Hyogo.
It is just an hour and 1,330yen oneway from Umeda (Osaka) station
to the middle of Arima onsen by Hankyu bus.

You don't need to stay a night,
as there are some one-day hot spring places
for about 600 - 1,000yen for taking a bath,
and about 3,000 - 7,000yen with lunch.
My recommendation is GOSHOBO
with retro and modern flavor.

Also you will enjoy the nature and the old small
town with nice restaurants, souvenir shops there.

> Take a look of Arima onsen one day trip by one of Our staff Jun.


In Osaka-city, there are also some Onsen spots.
One is SPA WORLD in the middle of city center, where you can enjoy many kinds of hot spring.
They offer 1,000yen campaign oftern... or almost always.

Another is NOBUTA NO YU, which is about 30min from the hostel by subway.
There are chartered bath rooms with a small sitting space for a family for about 4,000yen/hour.

We are happy to help your ONSEN experience here!

Links
Arima Onsen : http://www.arima-onsen.com/index.html
Hankyu Bus : http://bus.hankyu.co.jp/highway/highway10.html
Goshobo : http://www.goshobo.co.jp/goshobo/
Spa World : http://www.spaworld.co.jp/
Nobuta no yu : http://www.nobuta123.co.jp/nobehatsuruhashi/family/index.html

(mineko)

New LCC between Osaka and Tokyo launched this summer!

The article about LCC has already been posted on this blog.
>>> POST Travel Asia with LCC take off from Osaka!


But this time I feel the need to write another article about LCC
as the big news comes in.

JETSTAR has announced that the domestic routes in Japan 
would be launched on 3rd July 2012, which includes the route
between Osaka and Tokyo!!!

from the top> Sapporo, Tokyo(Narita), Osaka, Fukuoka and Okinawa

The cheapest price from Osaka to Tokyo is 3,990yen by JETSTAR.
Peach Aviation has already served the courses between
Osaka and some cities in Japan.

Some might decide not to get JR PASS, or some might
have failed to do that in advance..

But, taking LCC is another option for traveling around Japan
more economically.

Have a happy flight :)

*JETSTAR
*Peach Aviation

HOSTEL 64 Osaka

(mineko)

//NEW//Another Music Place!

I guess some of you known well about Osaka already have heard about  the club situation here, like (n)-chan wrote on the previous article.
Some of you feels sad :( and some of you thinks its okay :)

Now another good news for sad ones.
the new music place is opening today in umeda!









Umeda club Quattro
http://www.club-quattro.com/umeda/

This club quattro had been in Shinsaibashi untill few years ago.
I remember I went to see some indie bands when I was highschool.

Now It moved to Umeda and start the new history as a young icon.
Please check time schedule and ask a stafff if you need any help!!


大きな地図で見る

Umeda club Quattro

10F PlazaUmeda,
8-17 Taiyuuji cho, Kita-ku,
Osaka city, Osaka.


(J)

//NEW// Music Places

Now, dance clubs in Osaka have to stop music for dancing at 1am because of the crackdown. Clubs can carry on business as a bar after 1am, but have to stop dance music by then anyway.
It made us little bit sad.

Still some new music places opened lately. I introduce those in this time.

http://epok-schedule.tumblr.com/

 

http://conpass.jp/

 








FIRE! Japan tour 2012 with Jim O'Rourke
8th MAY. 2012            etc...
-----------------------------------------
These 2 places are near by Shinsaibashi station.
It's 20-30 minutes walk, or 2 stops by subway from our hostel!

(na-o)

introduce new hostel staff

Hi, my name is Junco, a new front staff of HOSTEL64 Osaka.
I have been under the training since this January.


I am from Ibaraki city, is north side of Osaka. You can get there in 30 minutes by subway/bus→JR line  from hostel64. 
It is quiet city and easy access to Expo'70 com-memorial park and the Expo'70 stadium, is the home ground of "GumbaOsaka", a local soccer team. Expo park has a very beautiful japanese yard and has flea market sometimes, also the stadium is where you can feel Osaka football fan's enthusiasms. I think both are worth to visit! 


http://www.expo70.or.jp/e/

http://www.e-tix.jp/gamba/en/gamba_en.html






Through this new experience, I start to know more about fascinating Osaka. 

I help you as much as I can to make your Osaka stay wonderful.


Jun

Join our 2nd Annversary on 16th&17th March 2012!!!

It is our 2nd anniversary on 16th March! Wowow:::

imaginary

We're gonna have a small party at the weekend 64 bar.
Please join us and cerebrate the anniversary with us!

HOSTEL 64 Osaka 2nd Anniversary

7.30pm - 1am / 16th  March
7.30pm - 1am / 17th  March
at HOSTEL 64 Osaka / cafe&bar
*Free wine and foods are available. (over when run out)
*Special music set at night time.

Also we prepare petit gifts to customers who check in
on those 2days, 16th and 17th March.
A few rooms are available for now so
don't miss this time to stay at HOSTEL 64 Osaka.
>> BOOK NOW

We are all looking forward to welcoming you all:::

Hiking day trip from Osaka

Spring has come and also it is hiking season !
If you would like to see natures near city for a day trip,
I recommend these place.
Doesn't need special mountain equipment, just enjoy hiking.

+++Mt.Koya+++
http://eng.shukubo.net/

Surrounded by a thick forest of massive cedars, the area known as Okuno-in,
The approach to get there, hundreds of stone statues are standing
in line of both sides.
You will hear the sound of silence,when you walk there in the early morning.
You have a fun in Osaka then take some Zen meditation session at there to relax.

+++Mt.Yoshino+++ 
http://www.yoshinoyama-sakura.jp/english/index.htm

Mt. Yoshino is well known from old times for the best cherry blossom site.
It covers all over the mountain paths around 8 kms,
from the north end to the south of Omine Renzan mountains.
It is also a base of Omine spiritual mountain walk for decipliants.
A path between Yoshino-Omine and Yuya
is called Omine Okukudou and is still used for religeous training.

+++Mt. Rokko+++
http://www.mayasan.jp/rucksack/

March 17th flea market on the mountain!

It is the gorgeous view place in the Rokko mountain.
You can also enjoy hiking.
There is a rope-way and cable car from Kobe(JR Rokkomichi station).


+++Tenpozan+++
http://www5.ocn.ne.jp/~tenpo45/ (Tenpozan Mountain club in Japanese)

If you have climbed up Mt. Fuji as highest in Japan,

might need to go another challenge.

Japanese Lowest mountain in Osaka. take rental bicycle from HOSTEL 64,

then few seconds walk to the top. Near Osaka Kaiyukan aquarium.

Enjoy outdoors!

(k)

Akihiro Nakamura's new works in Kyoto.

Akihiro Nakamura 
((( tumblr )))


He is a collage and painting artist.

His exhibition was held in HOSTEL 64 last year. => click here

You can see and buy his new works and ZINEs in those shops below.

NOT PILLAR BOOKS (Kyoto)　<website>
Open　only Saturday and Sunday
Time　13:00 ~ 19:00
Access　in Kamoyanagi apartment　blog(in Japanese)  / google map
(Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Sakyo-ku, Tanaka, Kamiyanagi-cho, 21)

moire (Kyoto)　<blog>
Open　FEB/// 28th MAR/// 5th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 19th, 21st, 26th and 27th.
Time　around 15:00 ~ 20:00

Access　blog(in Japanese) / google map 
(Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Sakyo-ku, Jodoji Shimominamidacho, 101-8)


If you come around in Kyoto, please check these places, 
you might be able to have fun to see his works or other artists' works.


HOSTEL 64 Osaka


(na-o)

Let's have Kobe beef in Kobe!

Kobe is fairly close from Osaka.
You'll get to the city centre in an hour from our hostel.

Many of our guests take a day trip there and

we are often asked this question: Where can we eat Kobe beef?

Wow! Such a tough question. There're lots of local people who haven't had it!

So I did some reserch and found a few places look nice.

*The price is for a course with 150g of beef exept for Robata and Izakaya style.



char grilled kobe beef (c) Itoh Grill



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget and easy going
STEAK LAND KOBE

Lunch:about 3,000yen - , Dinner:6,000yen -

http://r.gnavi.co.jp/k205300/

long establised
MOURIYA
authentic steak restaurant since 1885 / about10,000yen -

http://www.mouriya.co.jp/indexp.html *international customer friendly

Robata-yaki style
MARIMO TEI

cooked on grill in front of you / course including Kobe beef: about 7,000yen -

http://www.marimotei.net/index.html

Izakaya dining style
SETSUGETSUFUCA
For tasting : a dish of Kobe beef steak for about 2,000yen-
http://setugetufuca.jp/

I will choose it
ITOH GRILL
Lunch:about 5,000yen - , Dinner: about 10,000yen -
http://www.itogrill.com/main.php

*added on 20th February / O-san, arigato gozaimasu ;)
I'll take this!
WAKKOKU
http://www.wakkoqu.com/index.html



Also you must try AKASHIYAKI there, a kind of TAKOYAKI (Octopus ball).

from tabelog

This is my favourite.

TACHIBANA

10piece/600yen

Say Ichi-nin-mae for 10 pieces.

It's located along the shopping arcade

from Motomachi to Sannomiya.



TACHIBANA shop card  kawai <3



 

Please tell us your favourite Kobe beef restauran!

mineko

Waiting for cherry blossom in Osaka!

Still little chilly in Osaka, but Sakura trees are preparing for the blossoms!
We will have Sakura(cherry blossom) season in the end of March to April.
Our future guests might think about watching beautiful blossoms.
and more about it, lots of people will have a outdoor party under the trees.
Join it! Yammy!

This is the nice photo site of Osaka Sakura viewing!

http://oasis.halfmoon.jp/other/photo-nature/sakura.html

Here are Osaka recommended places for SAKURA viewing.
Kyoto and Nara is also nice and accessible for 1 day trip from Osaka.
Highly recommended are those around the river in Osaka city.

OSAKA CASTLE PARK
There is thousand of Sakura trees the park around Osaka castle.
Enjoy walking in warm whether and take a photo with castle and Sakura.
http://www.osakacastle.net/english/park/index.html

MINAMI TEMMA PARK to KEMA SAKURANOMIYA PARK
These parks are along the OKAWA, a river running through on the north side of Osaka castle.
The east end of MINAMI TEMMA park leads to the west end of Japan Mint's walk through.
Refer the map below.

OFUNE KAMOME(Cruising Osaka river)
The best way to enjoy all above is taking a cruising boat along the river,
OFUNE KAMOME is our favorite! Cozy and private boat will make you feel like at home
floating on the water.
http://www.ofune-camome.net/*Japanese only, Ask our front staff for information

SAKURA NO TOHRINUKE(Middle of April)
The tunnel of cherry blossoms.
You will see hundred of different type of Sakura
From 14th to 20th April, in 2011.usually from middle of April.
http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/topics/new/page28.html

Outside of Osaka
Mt YOSHINO (2 hours from Osaka)
Japanese old saying "Before you die you must see the cherry blossom in Mt Yoshino."
Near Mt Koya. It is good to be in natures
http://www.yoshinoyama-sakura.jp/english/index.htm

EXPO PARK (BANPAKU PARK 1 hour from Osaka)
Can't miss the TOWER OF SUN with cherry blossoms in the park.
This is the Japanese artist Taro Okamoto's work.
http://www.expo70.or.jp/e/index.html

Please check the map below.

より大きな地図で sakura viewing map in Osaka を表示

UTSUBO PARK
Nearby the hostel and nice shops in its surroundings. good for jogging!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utsubo_Park

(k)