Tacos at at LaFonda (Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
I have a random habit of saying “Osaka Osaka” when I’m visiting here and I enjoy exploring around and seeing what there’s to do.
As Japan’s third-largest city, there is plenty to do, see and especially eat. Don’t miss a trip to Osaka if you get the chance. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself returning here often, even for a day trip.
On one of my last visits, I managed to make a reservation for a nice onsen to soak in for the first time and also unexpectedly found a delicious Mexican restaurant. You’ll be surprised how much a good soak and tasty food can help you recharge.
Soaking the stress away at Nobuta123 onsen
I’ve always wanted to visit a Japanese onsen, but having tattoos has barred me from partaking in this must-do activity. Luckily in Osaka, Nobuta123 is an onsen that allows people with tattoos in their private baths. The only requirement is to cover the tattoos before entering the establishment. This was remedied with pants and a long-sleeve t-shirt.
Ahead of our visit, we made a reservation online. The calendar day opens three days in advance and rooms sell out within minutes, so make sure to be ready! I had to stay up late until midnight struck to reserve my time slot.
There are 11 types of rooms for reservation, I went with the Aoi room for a scenic feel. The cost for any room with a 2-hour reservation was 9,200 yen (about $59). The price is a bit expensive, but you have the entire room and bath to yourself for two full house, so it’s definitely worth it.
The room came also had a thermostat for adjusting the water temperature avoiding feeling like a lobster in a pot. All the private rooms were different from each other, so I can try a new one next time I’m back.
It was nice to relax and soak away the pains of active duty. This was my first onsen experience, although it wasn’t a public bath, I truly enjoyed bathing and boiling under the autumn sun in the privacy of my room. We went in the afternoon, which was a little busy but not too bad since we weren’t in the general bathing areas.
Our two hours flew by in the blink of an eye. I didn’t realize how easy it is to sleep in these areas. I wish we had stayed longer. If you try to extend, all I can say is good luck. This place is popular and rooms are strictly on a time schedule, so the chances are very low.
I would come back here again for a special occasion especially since the cost per hour did feel a bit pricey. If you don’t have tattoos, you can use the public onsen which, at 950 yen for weekdays and 1,050 for weekends and holidays, is considerably cheaper.
Things to know
Address: Tamazu, Higashinari-ku, Osaka 3-13-41
Payment: If reserving a private onsen, payment is made online. If you’re using a public onsen it can be done at the counter.
– Parking is available. You will need to give the staff your parking ticket during checkout for free parking validation.
– By train, it is about a 15-minute ride from Osaka Station to Tsuruhashi Station and then, a 5-minute walk to the onsen.
Nobuta123: https://www.nobuta123.co.jp/nobehatsuruhashi/
Mexican mood at Taqueria La Fonda
(Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
(Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
(Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
We were in a mood for some Mexican food during our day trip visiting Osaka. We got lucky and managed to find a restaurant online with good reviews near Osaka Castle, a main attraction in the city.
We entered the small restaurant with an equally small menu. We ordered a small bowl of birria soup, a tostada topped with Lettuce, onions beans and chicken, and my fiancée ordered a taco set. The set included Chicken and Pork tacos. They serve drinks but we stuck with water. They do serve Horchata and beer if you crave a tasty beverage.
The soup consisting of soft, slow-cooked tender beef and seasonings, was quite filling and had a mildly spicy touch that warmed us. The tostada was crisp, the toppings generous and did not disappoint. I was surprised that this was better than some of the Mexican food I’ve had back home in San Diego.
My fiancée loved her taco set and guarded her plate so I couldn’t steal a bite. Her occasional “umai”s gave a strong sense of how I should’ve ordered my own.
While we were there, we overheard the owner say he took special order requests with a week advanced notice. One patron ordered an off-menu enchilada plate which was promptly prepared.
Special dish requests may be accommodated with a week or more advanced notice, the owner said. Additionally, price and availability may vary depending by season and other factors. The regular menu items we tried made me nostalgic for my mother’s home cooking, so if you’re interested in something particular, you should definitely give it a shot.
On our next visit to Taqueria La Fonda, we made sure to reach out to the owner and requested Cheese birria tacos and birria Enchiladas. Fortunately, we were greenlit and were served the tastiest and most delicious tacos and enchiladas that I’d had in a while.
My only gripe was that the tacos were served with only one corn tortilla, I’m used to two per taco like in San Diego. Despite the personal preference issue, I will keep returning to Taqueria La Fonda whenever I’m in Osaka. Try it out for yourself!
Do note the restaurant is small, so they might not be able to accommodate large groups. They take reservations over the phone only, but you can also walk in or do take out.
(Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
(Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
(Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
(Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
(Luis Samayoa/Stripes Japan)
Things to know
Payment: Credit card and yen works at this establishment
Address: 2-14, Tokuicho 2-Chome Chuo, Osaka 540-0025
Hours: Sunday closed, Mon., 6 p.m. – 11 p.m., Tues.- Sat., 12 p.m.- 2 p.m. & 6 p.m.-11 p.m.
Phone: 06-6943-5657
Parking: There is paid parking available down the street if you drive
AloJapan.com