Backpackers Hostel's Blog l J-Hoppers Guest House Lounge

Finally we did it ! The Crepe/Gyoza Party of J-Hoppers Osaka has been enjoyed by a small band of twenty merry fellows from the afternoon to late at night. Guests, staff, family and relatives cleaned up all together the 200 gyozas, crepes, ice creams, chocolates, appetizers, ... with some fresh beers and fruits juices.

Guests from all over the world swapping their experience.
"Do you know in my country Crepes are blue and Gyoza filled with chocolate ???"
"Stop kidding me ...!"

The Super-Gyoza-Team on duty.

Cheers !
We can't wait for next party !!
If you have suggestions of food to cook next time send us an email !!

The second Sunday in May is Mother's day in Japan - Yes, it's tomorrow.
I wonder who came up with Mother's day, but I think it's good day to say "Thank you" for our mother as you might know, Japanese are not really good at showing their emotion.

I went to Hankyu department (one of famous department store in Osaka) on the other day to buy a present and the mother's day gift sections were decorated with carnations (It's the symbol for mother's day in Japan) and are very crowded with girls, boys, children with their mother..
I stood in the LONG checkout line and of course I hate it.
But I thought while I was waiting,
"There are so many people come to buy presents for their mother.
That means they LOVE their mother. Filled with love!
Then I felt very happy to being there.


By the way, we are going to have a party tomorrow
We serve French style Crepe and Gyoza(Dumpling)!
Who cook French style Crepe? Pascal, of course!
Gyoza? We Japanese staff!
Who would like to join us? We still have a few vacancies for tomorrow and Anybody welcome!
Will you come with your mother??

We received yesterday a very pleasant message and package from Hostelbookers :

"Where can I get Cheap and Nice Japanese souvenirs?"

We're often asked by our guests, and I recommend them to go to "Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping street".
There are many kinds of stores, restaurants there and most of them are cheaper than Kita(North of Osaka city.
We call this Shinsaibashi and Namba area "Minami".) It's also a tourist spot in Osaka, and there are a lot of people include tourists everyday.

However, if you're getting fed up with typical sightseeing, I recommend you to go to "Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping street."
It's the longest shopping street（2.6km) in Japan, and there are about 600 shops.
However, they're not for tourists. There are a lot of local people who look like coming to buy their ingredients for dinner.

I walked whole street the other day after a long time( I used to go there when I was a student), and I took hours!
Used book shops, furniture shops,Japanese candy shops, stationery shops,100 yen shops,music stores, boutiques, beauty salons, drugstore, antique shops, Japanese tea shops,flower shops..Even a gun shop!
Japanese, Itarian,Chinese etc. restaurants, Udon, Soba, Sushi, Cafe, First foods, Okonomiyaki,Crepe etc stalls..
You're never in a trouble when you get hungry, and you can have a massage when you tired.


I promise you'd look and feel normal Japanese life though there aren't typical souvenirs shop.

It's been about 2 weeks since J-Hoppers Osaka opened.
It's still quite short time, but we've been having wonderful guests.

Some of guests left their messages on our guest book.
I'd like to report some of them today.


"We had a great stay here. Staff was incredibly friendly and helpful.
Would recommend to friends" 09/02 from Canada

"Great visit! It's the little helpful things that you do that will keep
your guests coming back and will get you recommended to other travelers!
Thanks for your help and kindness!" 09/02 from Canada

"It was perfect with beautiful sceneries in Osaka!
I would not forget everything in this place.
If I come here again, then see you!
Having fun!" 12/02 from republic of Korea


Sorry to guests who I can't report here today, but
Thank you so much EVERYONE who stayed with us!
We're so happy to know that you enjoyed here.
J-Hoppers Osaka will be more comfortable place, so
we're always waiting for your visit.


Thanks xxx

J-Hoppers Osaka hostel is now in the very final stage to the opening.

In the first place, we were going to open the hotel within the last year.
However, some of unexpected matters about licensing procedure and remodelling schedule have blocked the smooth progress to the opening.
What is most frustrating is the unclear attitude of the officials in charge of hostel license.
They are always equivocal and irresponsible to what hasn't been done before.

".... need to talk to my boss ..."
" ... might be all right but I am not authorised to make the decision .... "
They are unconscious as public servant.
Well, that is the bureaucrat way of all ages and countries and I know it is no use complaining, though ...


Anyhow, please wait just for a little longer.
We might be able to start it by the end of this month.
Well, just in case, I have to ask the manager in charge ...

Uh, oh.
I myself am getting bureaucratic, too !!

My last post from J-Hoppers Hiroshima !
Yes, I'm going back home to Kyoto. Quite strange to say that for a foreigner actually but ... If you're looking for the french guy of J-Hoppers you will now have to book at J-Hoppers Osaka. I will join Yamaguchi San and Manabe San to prepare you a new wonderfull place to stay and discover the marvels of Kinki area (^_^)
What about my year in Chugoku area ? I've seen of course a lot of places and tried various foods or matsuri, among them here comes my ranking (highly subjective and controversial :-) ).
1) Miyajima Island. Number one of course ! I went there almost once per month !!! What did attract me there ? The famous Tori in the sea, one of the three most beautiful places of Japan. Don't think only about going to see it at low tide, it's also fun to reach it by foot at low tide. And do you what you'll find at its foot ? eh eh secret ... The Itsukushima shrine in front of the Tori. This one must be seen at high tide when it appears floating on the sea. Lot of matsuri here, check for that. Especially the waterscreen spectacle and the huge firework in august. Then the Daishouin, a really wonderfull temple atop the old village. Another secret ? Look for the little stairways that lead under the main hall of the temple ... and try to reach the end before being scared ! If you're a 'buddah in love' you won't have any difficulties. In the old village there is also a traditional artcraft museum which is quite interesting for such a little place. And the Miyajima aquarium has a wide range of funny fishes, and pinguin you can even play with or turtles you can feed. Except the village you can climb up the mountain either by foot, there is several course well indicated, count around 2h to get up and 1h and half to get down, either by ropeway, very impressive ! At the top you may see monkeys even if I've always missed them ... And finally on the opposite side of the island there are wonderfull beaches but you will need to rent a bike and merit them with few kilometers on a steeply road.
2 ) The Peace Museum and the Peace Park monuments. Of course too, unmissable. Emotionally very strong but you HAVE TO go there to spread the Peace culture all over the world.
3) Mitakidera temple. My favourite temple in the Hiroshima area.
4) Okonomiyaki. The delicious "japanese pizza" ! Egg, bacon, lot of vegetables, noodles (soba power ! forget udon ! :-) ), various topping, ... I will never be able to defend the Osaka okonomiyaki, the Hiroshima one is just so good !
5) Peace Festival. So sad but so important. Please go to hear the testimonies of A-Bomb survivors and transmmit what you've heard. The lanterns on the river at night, the Peace Declaration in the morning, ...
6) The Fuchu City Camping Ground in the Mikumari Gorge Forest. It's just so near from the main station, you have no reason to miss it if you're looking for some hiking in nature around Hiroshima. For example climb the Takao mountain and enjoy the wonderfull view on Hiroshima and the islands.
7) The Food Festival. So many good things to eat in this wonderfull festival in the Chuo Park. It introduces the local food and of course you can try a lot for free ! Go there with empty stomach is a better option ... ;-)
8) Shukkeien garden. The most beautifull garden of Hiroshima.Very unexpensive.
9) Hiroshima Insectarium. Quite uneasy access (look for a bus from the bus center) but the insectarium is quite wide and the butterfly room so romantic ... More over it's inside a huge park with several activities organized in summer.
10) Asa zoological park. Well organized, lots of animals and smart installation that let you get really near from almost all of the animal.
11) The chococro of St Marc Cafe. Well what ? Not Japanese culture, not specific to Hiroshima, ... ? Yes ! But anyway that's here in Hiroshima that I've discovered the top of the top of the croissant banana ! :-) I assume entirely what I'm writing :-)))
12) Sandankyo. A very entertaining hiking course in the mountain at west of Hiroshima. Not so easy to access but rewardable. The main spot of the area is said to be the three waterfalls. Personnally I had much more pleasure in walking the course than looking at these waterfalls.
13) Prefectural Art Museum. Allways a lot of interesting exhibitions...
14) Ujina Island. The easiest place to go to the beach in Hiroshima in summer. Perfect for a picnic too in case you don't feel like swimming in the Seto island sea.
15) Look at cherry blossom (Hanami) in the Peace Park at night. It's full of people eating on the ground under the pure white flowers ...
16) Garasu no Sato, the glass village. A glass factory that opens its door to everyone. You can even blow your own glass cup !!!
17) Fude no Sato, the village of the calligraphy brush. Here this is a brush that you can create yourself under the command of a real master. After you can see what you will be able to do of it ... after some years of training !
18) Gokoku shrine. The main shrine of Hiroshima, near the castle. Several matsuri here of course. I particularly enjoyed the one in January when they burn the past year omamori ...
19) Hiroshima castle. Surely not the most beautifull in Japan, but you still can enjoy viewing Hiroshima from the top of the castle, wear a real samurai armor, or learn some secrets about the construction of such a building.
20) Hondori. If you want to make some shopping you will find it here for sure.
21) Peace Museum Library. At the opposite end of the building. It's free of course and a good place to have a rest, read the english newspaper or even go on internet.
22) Veloce cafe. Chococro has a concurrent : chocoroyaru ! The cheapest coffee in Hiroshima and a wonderfull big chocolate bread full of butter !!!
23) Molly Malones irish pub. Well it's true I'm definitely not a 'party boy' but I went to this pub twice and I had good time there so ...
24) Shimanamikaidou. A road crossing the inland sea by jumping from islands to islands with 7 huge bridges. Do it by bike is a big challenge (80km) but you're so happy when you did it.
25) Hiroshima Children Science Museum. Dedicated to children of course, but you may still have some part of childhood inside you. And there is a small planetarium on the last floor.
26) Yuhua garden. Another garden in Hiroshima. A chinese style garden that suffers from poor maintenance. Go there to appreciate the differences of style.