Local Guide ~ An Original Japan Travel Guide by Hoshino Resorts' Local Staff

Local Guide

Haruhi Shimomura

Fluent in both English and Kansai dialect!

She is a Bali native who grew up as the daughter of a yakiniku (barbecue) restaurant owner. She is fluent in English and also speaks fluently in Kansai dialect. On her days off, she is the type to go out and soak up the sun. If you entrust her with a tour of Shinsekai, you can be sure that she will guide you around with lots of love.

OMO7 Osaka by Hoshino Resorts: The hotel, which looks like it is covered by a ship's sail, offers a view of the city of Osaka. The area with trees and lawns is bustling with people and a moment to relax in the bathhouse. This is Osaka's new heaven. The hotel offers a wide variety of classic delicacies in vibrant dishes, and is waiting for your visit. It is very interesting to get to know the deep town of Shinsekai and the water city of Osaka. You will surely fall in love with Naniwa, which you may think you know, but you don't.

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Local Guide FAQ

What do you recommend (places, experiences, food) in the area?: Minoh Falls. It takes about 40 minutes from the foot of the waterfall to the place where you can see the powerful waterfall. There are stalls selling grilled sweetfish on skewers and plenty of benches by the waterfall. The deep green of the forest will soothe your stressed eyes and body. The retro atmosphere of the Yamamoto Coffee Shop on the way to the waterfall is worth a visit for that reason alone.

Please sneak in some hole-in-the-wall places that you know because you live there.: Isshinji Temple is located near OMO7 Osaka by Hoshino Resorts. It is a place with a serene atmosphere that one would not expect to find in the midst of the bustling city, and sutra chanting is also available. There is a live camera, which is rare for a temple, so you can check the main hall and the precincts of the temple. It is interesting to see people coming and going and monks cleaning the temple grounds.

Tell us about your most memorable trip, with whom and where you went!: In the spring of my junior year of high school, my family took a trip around Europe. My father, who loves trains, stared at a thick local timetable book and made the trip with all his might, taking trains by the minute. It was a trip full of happenings: we almost got pickpocketed at a train station in Austria, we were scammed and couldn't find a place to stay, and we had to stay in the wild at a train station in Marseille, France. We stayed in a hotel for only one day, and the rest of the time we stayed on the sleeper train. The water pressure in the shower was surprisingly weak, and I remember being in despair.

What do you do on your days off?: I always go out even if I have no plans. I force myself to schedule "reading somewhere" and read a book in a different place every time. Osaka has a lot of commercial facilities, cafes, and nature, so I never run out of places to go.　Recently, I have finally reached an age where I can financially take care of my parents, so I secretly plan to take them somewhere.

Is there anything you always take with you on a trip?: Notebook! I write down my memories of the destination and draw pictures of the scenery and things that were memorable that day. When I look back at it later, it brings back happy memories of the trip. It is fun to see the growth of my drawing skills.