13 November 2026
The old above and smoky below
Osu Shotengai
Tonight I went to the old shopping street, Osu. I mentioned this the last time I was here that the time before that I was here that I took a photo of myself wearing a maid outfit (this sentence actually does make sense). The facilities for performing such a delightful act are no longer available, so no maid outfit for me this time.
The covered shotengai is long and of the parallel variety, still busy, one side seems to be international food street, the other older and more beige.
From there it is just a short stroll back to department store land, and then I found a new underground shopping street, that was dark, dingy, and filled with smokey restaurants. There is a lot to see in Nagoya.
Earthquake bait.
Osu shotentai starts with a shrine.
They have rolled out the red carpet for me, as it should be.
All the flags of the world for international food covered shopping street.
You can get a kebab if you want.
Here is the other side, less colourful.
I really wanted to go into this giant toy store, but at my age and gender, I fear being arrested, or having my passport checked which I refuse to carry with me.
There was a long line for this place, actually there were long lines for many places.
Overpass time, always appreciated.
It is someones job to put all those lights in the trees.
Ramen again, not bad, not the best, cheap. It was the red miso variety, you can see the ball of red miso.
And here it is, the Fushimi underground shopping arcade. Very old and very smokey, not that you can see it in the photo.
Tomorrow as threatened, another repeat mountain. The weather should be great.