We stayed at the Swissotel Nankai Osaka, which is conveniently located above Namba train station, the end of the airport express line. Super convenient when you are travelling with a bike in a box and two panniers each! Dotonbori is the heart of Osaka nightlife.
I love these huge pedestrian crossings! Pedestrians and cyclists are definitely prioritized over cars.
Cyclists seem to be allowed to ride on the road or on the footpath. Riding out of Osaka was interesting, dodging thousands of pedestrians and other cyclists. Everybody is super aware and friendly. I have seen women on bikes carrying three kids and the shopping, old ladies with umbrellas, people talking on the phone or eating lunch while riding.
Kobe is one of Japan’s busiest ports and famous for the delicious Kobe beef. Definitely a must! We cooked our own in a tiny restaurant, full of locals. Hint: if there is a queue, it’s probably worth the wait!
The urban sprawl did not end until the southern end of Kobe where the mountains meet the sea.
A few impressions along the way:
Beautiful sewer covers in Osaka....
A festival near Kobe, where people pull a mikoshi (portable Shinto shrine)...
A small gym, claiming to make champions....
You really need to know the length of your driveway before you buy a car!
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