38 Thursday <strong>July</strong> <strong>27</strong> <strong>2017</strong> Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> C O M E O N I N A N D S E E T H E A L L N E W C H R I S T C H U R C H 6 5 E N T E R T A I N M E N T H A S A N A L L N E W H O M E
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Thursday <strong>July</strong> <strong>27</strong> <strong>2017</strong> 39 Travel NIGHTLIFE: <strong>The</strong> neon bling of Shinsekai strikes a contrast with the spectacular skyline of Osaka and the Imperial Hotel Mixture of history and escapism in Osaka • By Mike Yardley AS THE powerhouse of the Kansai region, Osaka struts its modern architecture, neondrenched nightlife and alluring street food with unabashed pride. <strong>The</strong> frenetic central city pleasure precinct of Dotonbori is primed for people watching, a head-spinning throng of shops, eateries and neon excess. <strong>The</strong> famous Glico billboard is Dotonbori’s essential photo-stop in the this canaI-side entertainment district. Brimming with pink salons, karaoke bars and pachinko parlours, I also strolled through the splendid Ebisubashi Shopping Arcade, a roofed shopping stretch bursting with kimonos, jewellery, cooking equipment, and fast food vendors. Don’t miss the centuries-old Hozenji Temple which features a statue completely covered in moss. <strong>The</strong> moss continues to thrive with the water that worshipers often pour over it. For pure sensory escapism, the neon bling of Shinsekai is worth a wander, in spite of its seedy overtones. <strong>The</strong> district was developed before the war as an entertainment zone, crowned by Tsutenkaku Tower, a nostalgic symbol and observation deck, inspired by the Eiffel Tower. <strong>The</strong> southern part of Shinsekai was modelled on New York’s Coney Island. A venerable Shinsekai snack is kushikatsu, which is composed of various skewered, battered and deep fried foods. Varieties on offer range from chicken and beef, to pumpkin and asparagus, to the banana and ice cream dessert varieties. Many of Shinsekai’s kushikatsu restaurants are open 24 hours, but only truly burst into life after dark. Osaka is home to a quirky little museum that traces the history of instant ramen, a national craze, which Japanese citizens once voted as their country’s greatest invention of the 20th-century. You’ll find a sprawling exhibit of instant noodles, the riveting tale behind the first cup of instant ramen ever created in 1958, an instant noodle “tunnel”, and a shed dedicated to the birth of chicken ramen. If you need a breather from all the bling and vertical concrete boxes, the expansive verdant embrace of Osaka Castle Park is a detox delight. It’s a gold-rated attraction in spring, given its home to 1200 plum trees and 600 cherry trees. Strolling through this immaculately maintained park, clad with artful statues and shady canopies, the starring centrepiece is the historic castle. Construction started in 1583 as a display of power by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, after he achieved his mission of unifying Japan. One hundred thousand workers slogged their guts out building this “impregnable” granite showpiece, which was subsequently destroyed three decades later by an invading army. It was subsequently rebuilt only to fall into disrepair, before being fully reconstructed in 1931. It miraculously survived the city-wide air raids during World War 2. Swathed in moats, stone walls, trees and gardens, it’s soothingly photogenic. I wandered down to the castle, on the riverside walkway from the glamorous Imperial Hotel Osaka. Gracing the Okawa River, this shiny, lofty hotel serves up spectacular skyline views and is fiendishly popular during cherry blossom season. I stayed in one of the deluxe Imperial Floor rooms with a dreamy view to lull me to sleep. Kimono-clad female attendants are present on each floor, to assist with any request. Guestrooms are decorated in a regal, elegant style with high ceilings, plush bedding, automatic curtains and intuitive light switches. High-tech robot toilets, deep bathtubs and fluffy bathrobes headline the commitment to pampered comfort. Foodies are spoiled for choice six different dining venues. Breakfast buffet and westernstyle favourites are served at the casual, convivial Flying Tomato Cafe, while Jasmine Cafe and Les Saisons serve high quality Chinese and French cuisine, respectively. Get your fill of authentic teppanyaki and melt-in-your-mouth Japanese beef at Kamon, Tokyostyle sushi made from the freshest ingredients at Kyubey or Japanese fine dining at the legendary Osaka Nadaman, which has 180 years of culinary excellence under its belt. It’s easy to see why the Imperial Hotel is consistently rated one of Osaka’s best hotels. With its restful riverside location, luxurious rooms, gracious staff and ultraattentive service, you can’t go wrong. www.imperialhotel.co.jp LEFT: <strong>The</strong> entrance to Osaka Castle. FAST FACTS •I flew into Osaka from Seoul, bagging a great deal through the leading global airfare comparison platform, Cheapflights. <strong>The</strong>ir website and app are brilliantly simple to use, highly intuitive and super smart, loading up all available flights and fares, for your preferred time, date and destination. Save yourself the hassle of searching multiple sites to hunt down the best available flights and fares. Let Cheapflights do the legwork for you – in a flash. www.cheapflights.co.nz •Book your Japan accommodation through Hotels. com, it’s fast, efficient and brimming with bumper rates. Hotels.com Rewards gives you one free night after 10 nights booked– which can be banked for future holidays. Rewards members and mobile app users also have exclusive access to Secret Prices. I found the Hotels.com mobile app to be a simple, fast and secure way to book your perfect hotel, on the go. www.hotels.com Visit www.star.kiwi anytime, anywhere! Breaking news, delivered to your pocket. •news •CTV •sport •districts •schools •lifestyle •opinion •what’s on Fire rages, homes at risk www.star.kiwi
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