19th October 2008
landed in japan finally, and I started taking pictures even before we reached custom... until I saw this sign that says “don't take photograph”. :(
we did the usual thing, paper work, pick up luggage, custom, and then walk straight to the train station outside kansai airport. The others has purchased the JR pass from melbourne. I didn't so I have to take normal train service.
KIX AIRPORT Train station
ticket machines!
JR and Nankai railway company side by side... i took nakai.
I took the Nankai KIX express service to Sin Immamiya station (890 yen) which was the cheapest option there. On the way there, I was too busy taking pictures that I missed my station! Haha, I ended up in namba, which luckily only 1 station after sin immamiya.
So I took the train back to sin immamiya and get off there. I exit thru west exit and walk to the Doubutsu enmae subway station. Took me 15min along with quick stop at local 'lawson' (equivalent to 7-11) to buy cigarettes and ask few locals for direction. Costed me 200 yen to get from doubutsu enmae to tennoji.
million bikes :P and the first homeless i saw. this guy must have had a tiring day at work... 
From tennoji, I changed to another service line to get to tanimachi 4 chome station. It supposed to cost me 230yen this time, but when I get to the paying gate, the officer let me pass for free! Maybe coz he can tell i'm a tourist, which look abit lost, cant speak proper japanese language and full on sweating from carrying my luggage around. I said thank you so many times to him haha.
my first railpass ticket in japan and my trusty 'lonely planet' guide book
I use exit the number 3, next to the mcdonald (makudonaru), so I decided to get a big mac since im starving and my stomach doesnt really feel too adventurous that time. The staff at makudonaru is so friendly and always smiling – typical japanese. I get my takeaway meal and ate it just outside this 7-11. I was gonna wait until I get to the accomodation but my stomach started screaming :P
silas otemae temporary dinner base camp :P
finally I arrived to the accomodation place – weekly mansion osaka at otemae and regroup with the others that has reached there 30min before me. The first night we all squeezed into one big room for 7. tomorrow, jally gonna come to join us from hongkong and 10 ppl in room of 7 is pretty squashy, so me and another 2 people will book another room of 3 for the next 2 days. the view from the balcony... not much but its good enough... the room are quite small but its comfy the toilet is really small. and there is a sink on top of the toilet for space saving. so the water that you use to was your hand can be reused for flushing. pretty cool idea. the main cooridor the bathroom
as the first night in japan, we all tired from walking and changing trains, so we took shower and went to bed right away. Can't wait till tomorrow.
