august-2011

HOT SPOT
060
a lifeline in the heat. However,
the summer drink of choice (not
found in vending machines) for
many people is kakigori (shaved
ice). Pour on a fl avoured syrup of
your choice and let the freezing
concoction slide soothingly down
your parched throat.
The temperatures by the sea are
usually a little easier to bear, and
the beaches of Kansai are packed
at weekends if the weather’s good.
One worth checking out is Suma
beach in Kobe, a lively aff air for all
ages; and the fun usually continues
long after the sun goes down.
Try some tasty unagi (eel). It’s
packed with nutritious, staminaboosting
properties and the
You can avoid the
heat altogether by
shopping indoors,
of course
Japanese swear by it during the
summer months. There’s even a
special day — Doyo No Ushi No
Hi — usually in late July, for eating
it. Try unajuu — eel on a bed of
rice topped with a slightly sweet,
soy-based sauce. Any restaurant
serving unagi will also serve icecold
beers, using glasses kept in
the freezer. It’s one of the seasonal
highlights — an ice-cold beer in an
ice-cold glass.
You can avoid the heat
altogether by shopping indoors,
of course. In summer they turn
the thermostat dial down to
refrigerator levels.
The latest addition to Osaka’s
shopping map is Osaka Station
City; opened in May this year,
the enormous complex includes
a huge concourse above the
platforms of Osaka station and a
new tower (North Gate Building)
across from the existing South
Gate Building. This major new
complex, situated in Umeda,
comprises shops (including a
Mitsukoshi department store), a
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:
Cool off at Suma beach;
ice cold local beer; Osaka
Station City; kakigori
(shaved ice)
cinema, a sports club, roof gardens
and more.
Beat natsu-bate (summer
lethargy) by getting up before
the sun (and the semi) to catch an
early train to a tourist spot such
as Higashiyama in Kyoto, and
walk the empty streets before the
tourists and temperatures build
up to unbearable levels. Then
head back to your hotel for a postlunch
nap.
Or for more hustle and bustle,
check out the Osaka Central
Wholesale Market. Unlike
IAMGES (RIGHT & ABOVE LEFT): PHOTOLIBRARY; BEER IMAGE: TREVOR MOGG