Today was a much quieter day. I had to check out of the hotel by 11 AM and make my way to Osaka. I had a late breakfast, packed up, and headed to the station for a one-hour train ride. It was not one of the bullet trains, but it was still quite pleasant.
After dropping my bags at The Gala Hotel Umeda (check-in was not available until 3 p.m.), I spent some time sitting in the lobby, reading, and wandering around fairly close to the hotel.
Along the way, I came across what looked like a very interesting restaurant, Minori, where I could get a snack.
The restaurant had probably enough room to seat 15 people. It was about half full when I arrived, and I was the only guy in the building. It was filled with happy chatting young Japanese women. What was served? Açai bowls.
What exactly is açai?
Açai is actually a small, dark purple berry, which comes from a palm tree in the Amazon rainforest.
“Similar to blueberries, acai is high in antioxidants and fiber,” says Melissa Keeney, RDN, clinical nutrition manager at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. “Grown in the rainforest, they’ve long been used in medicine – but have recently become popular around the world for their benefits with immune health.”
Like broccoli, avocado and sweet potatoes, açai is considered a superfood, meaning it’s packed with nutrients and linked to countless health benefits. (Source)
That’s the official description. My unofficial description is that it’s a bit like a mullet. Business up front, and party in the back! All that healthy stuff is on top, and then all that delicious goodness is below. I was convinced that it had some Nutella mixed in there. I will probably have to stop by there at least once more before I leave.
Afterward, I came back to the hotel and sat out in the lobby to read my book, and then I remembered… Books. Not just any book, either. A very special book. A quick search in Google Maps found me a bookstore about a half mile away. I started walking.
I typed out my request in Google Translate and handed it to a clerk on the second floor. They read my request and immediately directed me to the third floor. The clerk there brought me to the correct section, but these were English language books. This will not do. Back to the clerk, and I revise my request. The clerk had an “Aha” moment. He brought me back down to the second floor, and there they all were. I can’t read a word of it, but it’s my favorite souvenir so far! A Japanese version of The Shining by Stephen King!
And for the record… I am not a nerd! I smiled all the way back to the hotel (not The Overlook!) and then some. It’ll go next to my Norwegian version of Carrie.
Tomorrow, I don’t plan to go far. I’ll step out for a bite to eat and all that, but I will take a day of rest and enjoy not moving too much.
I hope you all have a good day and that you are well. Thank you for following along on my adventures in Japan. I hope you are enjoying these block posts because I enjoy writing them.
Blessings to you all. 
Candle in a Cave 