Nagoya Osu Street
The Nagoya Osu street is famous for shopping. Like a traditional market back home, but they say it has lots of food, so I stopped by. But… it is hard to find. It is not near a station, and Google Maps was not accurate, so I asked locals and found it. I got off at Kamimaezu Station and tried exit 2, but that was not it either. When I asked a local, they were so kind. Even though they did not know, instead of just saying so and walking away like back home, they went and asked someone else to help me. I was touched by the kindness.
Anyway, asking around, I came out of Kamimaezu exit 9 and followed the road. Then a big shopping-mall-like building appears, and a small alley in between; follow that road.
Then a shrine-like building appears.
This way is the entrance!
There is a cat statue right in front.
Going through, the Nagoya Osu street appears. Did we come in the right way? Right?
Cheering as the shopping street appeared, I turned and saw a takoyaki shop.
In Japan, you have to try takoyaki. I could not read the Japanese, so I just ordered the top menu.
Ta-da! This is what you get. I expected dried bonito flakes, but I sprinkled on some flake topping myself. Oh, but it was tastier than expected. At 500 yen, it costs about the same as Korean takoyaki. In Korea, 6 pieces are 3,000-4,000 won; here 8 pieces are about 5,000 won.
Following the road, the 100-yen shop Seria appears. Seria!
It is fairly big with lots of goods. Being a 100-yen shop, most are made in China, but I bought this and that for the cheap thrill. Past Seria, Osu Kannon appears right away. Osu Kannon is a Japanese temple.
Japanese temples have their own distinct feel, a bit spooky too. Getting hungry while walking around, I decided to try miso nikomi udon in Nagoya and followed locals into a shop packed with Japanese customers. They sell miso nikomi udon!
My Japanese is poor, so I photographed the food outside like this!
Then showed the photo inside to order!
The udon my nephew had wanted.
This is miso nikomi udon. Miso udon! Delicious, with a deep broth flavor.
But in Japan, smoking is allowed inside restaurants, so people kept smoking. The person next to me smoked three cigarettes sitting there, seemingly not caring about the child nearby. Anyway, glad I found Osu Kannon. My planned Nagoya itinerary is succeeding one by one!
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in July 2016 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.