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Join us for a fun-filled day in Osaka's Shinsaibashi! From the bustling Pokemon Center DX and adorable Kirby Cafe to a refined Michelin French lunch at Grand Rocher, discover top spots.
Hello everyone! It's Yappi! 😊
Following up from last time, I'm back today with the
11th installment of our May Osaka trip with my husband!
Can you believe it's already the 11th part? Time flies, doesn't it?
Today, I'll be sharing everything from shopping at Daimaru Department Store
to a Michelin-starred French course in Osaka, so get ready for an exciting read! 💕
1. Osaka Pokémon Center DX & Kirby Cafe
✅Daimaru Shinsaibashi 9F
✅Hours: Daily 10:00~20:00 (Kirby Cafe until 19:00)
It's no secret that Pokémon card popularity is absolutely huge these days,
spanning both East and West!
As soon as we arrived in Osaka,
my husband Yappu exclaimed, "We absolutely HAVE to go to the Pokémon Center!"
While there's also one in Umeda, we headed straight to the
'Pokémon Center Osaka DX' branch, located in Daimaru Department Store Shinsaibashi!
When we went up, it was absolutely packed... 😱
The most striking thing was the incredibly long line for checkout!
Honestly, I never had much interest in Pokémon,
but as soon as I saw the real-life Pikachus and all the merchandise,
I couldn't help but think, "Oh my gosh, I HAVE to buy this..." ㅠㅠ They're just too cute!
I've been really enjoying Pocopia on Nintendo lately,
and if I had been playing Pocopia back then,
I probably would have bought at least one Ditto plushie, no questions asked, haha! 💜
By the way, for those whose main goal is to get Pokémon card packs
like Yappu, a word of caution!
This DX branch primarily sells merchandise rather than card packs.
If you're looking for card packs,
I recommend visiting a specialized Pokémon card store
in Dotonbori or Namba! 👍
📍 Kirby Cafe Osaka
Japan 〒542-0085 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Shinsaibashisuji, 1-chōme−7−１ Main Building, 9F Daimaru Shinsaibashi
And right on the same floor, we also found
'Kirby Cafe Osaka'!
While browsing through Pokémon,
you'll naturally see it connected, and honestly,
the visuals are so incredibly cute, my heart just fluttered... 🌸
While we couldn't go inside the cafe,
I spent quite a while just looking at the menu.
The Kirby omurice I'd seen on YouTube and
those incredibly detailed cakes... 🥹
They were almost too cute to eat!
The Pokémon Cafe always has an insane wait,
but the Kirby Cafe seemed relatively
easy to get into right away,
so I definitely want to try it next time!
2. Michelin French Cuisine
Grand Rocher
✅Lunch 12-2 PM, Dinner 6-8 PM (Closed Wednesdays)
✅Menu: Lunch Premier Course (~$67 per person)
✅Reservations: Advance booking required ⭕
📍 Grand Rocher
1F, 4-chōme−3−９ Fushimimachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 〒541-0044, Japan
Every time my husband and I travel to Japan,
we always make sure to seek out
French or Italian restaurants!
Did you know you can enjoy high-quality cuisine
at much more reasonable prices than in Korea? 🍷
Japan historically adopted Western culture early on,
leading to highly developed French cuisine!
With fierce competition, quality has gone up
while prices have come down, so there are
truly many Michelin-starred gems to discover.
On my last trip to Sapporo,
I had such a satisfying experience at 'Le Gentilhomme,'
so for this Osaka trip,
I made sure to book and visit 'Grand Rocher,'
which was selected for the 2024 and 2025 Michelin Guides!
Stepping into the luxurious space adorned with natural marble,
the city noise completely faded away,
and it was pure bliss!
The tableware, from luxury brands like Hermès and Christofle,
made it feel like all my senses were truly indulging,
both visually and gastronomically!
My husband thoughtfully booked us seats right in front of the open kitchen,
allowing us to watch the chefs work their magic firsthand!
🍷Lunch Premier Course Lineup
1) Amuse-bouche
Beet Gazpacho & Straw-Smoked Bonito
2) Appetizer
Sardine Stuffed with Eggplant and Tomato
& Edamame Hummus
3) Middle Course
Fried Kinmedai (Splendid Alfonsino) with Cheese Espuma, Ashitaba Genovese
4) Main Course
Yamaguchi Prefecture A5 Wagyu Tenderloin Steak
5) Dessert
Kiwi Matcha French Rice Pudding
6) Mignardises
Coffee/Tea & Canelés, Financiers
We kicked off the course with a refreshing ginger ale and red wine🥂
The first dish, a charming mini hot dog,
brought a smile to my face with its adorable plating,
making me feel like I was on a camping trip!
Next up was the sweet and sour beet gazpacho,
a delightful mix of seasonal vegetables, fruits, and jelly that truly awakened my palate,
and the accompanying bread, perfectly crispy outside and soft inside,
with its rich butter flavor, was pure artistry!
The sardines, filled with eggplant and tomato in a hummus-style sauce made from mashed edamame,
were incredibly light, savory, and utterly delightful – truly a continuous string of delights!
The fried Kinmedai snapper and cheese espuma, made with a red snapper popular in Japan,
had an incredibly tender flesh that was absolutely exquisite.
And now for the highlight:
the A5 grade Wagyu beef tenderloin from Yamaguchi Prefecture! 🥩
I was so glad we opted for the Premier Course instead of the Standard one;
the doneness was absolutely perfect, and it just melted away in my mouth...
The accompanying pumpkin and bell peppers beautifully
cut through any richness, making it perfect right to the very last bite.
For our grand finale, the dessert:
a kiwi matcha French rice pudding that felt just like savoring gelato.
A refreshing kiwi dessert that perfectly cleansed the palate after such a rich meal.🩷
And to top it all off, financiers and canelés that were the ultimate champions of crispy-outside-soft-inside!
If you're visiting Osaka for an anniversary or a special date,
absolutely seek out a Michelin French restaurant!
You'll find many more fantastic places than you expect,
adding another layer of joy to your trip.
Grand Rocher Tabelog Reservation Link
↓↓↓
3. Simple Joys of
Osaka Streets & Shopping
After a wonderfully satisfying lunch,
we wandered aimlessly through the charming alleys of Osaka,
letting our feet lead the way!
When we eventually felt tired from all the walking,
we re-energized with a refreshing melon soda and an iced coffee.
And don't forget to refuel with something sweet!
Passing by, we were drawn in by a delicious, savory scent,
and ended up savoring some Okonomiyaki and grilled oysters!
And of course, a trip to Japan isn't complete without
a stop at Don Quijote, where we filled our baskets to the brim
after some intense shopping!
Sadly, it's no longer there, but
the Chrome Hearts store in Osaka that I visited back then
had such a beautiful, tranquil, and antique atmosphere.
It was truly lovely, but I heard they recently
closed down operations 🥹
Osaka truly is a city with endless delicious food
and countless sights to explore.
I hope today's post offered a little help for your
Osaka travel plans,
and I'll be back with Part 12 next time! 👋
Pokemon Center Osaka DX operates daily from 10 AM to 8 PM. The Kirby Cafe on the same floor operates until 7 PM.
Pokemon Center Osaka DX primarily sells merchandise rather than card packs. If your goal is to purchase card packs, we recommend visiting a specialized Pokemon card store in the Dotonbori or Namba areas.
The Lunch Premier Course at 'Grand Rocher' costs 10,740 JPY per person. Advance reservations are essential before your visit.
'Grand Rocher' operates for lunch from 12 PM to 2 PM, and for dinner from 6 PM to 8 PM. It is closed every Wednesday.
The main dish of the Lunch Premier Course is A5-grade Wagyu beef tenderloin steak from Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is perfectly cooked and characterized by its melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
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Grand rocher - Higobashi/French/Reservations Available | Tabelog
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