Osaka, 2024
As we flew to Osaka, I realized this corner of Japan was actually incredibly different from Hokkaido. Foods like okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and kushikatsu, were unique to Osaka, and I couldn’t wait to experience it all. Much more diverse and full of life, Osaka and its surrounding cities were full of sashimi to gorge on, animals to pet, videos games to play, and pedestrian streets to fall in love with all over again.
Nara
Come here to see deer everywhere! Nara has been getting a bad rep lately for the aggressive deer, but watch out for the male ones with antlers (who will bite your clothes and prod you) and you’ll be fine. We walked around historic wood construction Buddhist temples and grounds, and enjoyed a popular udon spot, Kamaiki, for lunch. The lines were worth it.
Osaka
Osaka was our home base, from where we spent more than half our week on day trips to other cities. But evenings we’d be back to admire to Osaka’s famous nightlife, including Dotonburi, Shinsekai, and Americamura. The Namba Walk Underground was our choice of commute home from Namba train station, where we’d stop at whatever restaurant caught our eyes. We also took day trips out to Osaka Castle (iconic and full of history) and Universal Studios (crowded, don’t recommend).
Uji
We set out to Uji to see the brand new Nintendo museum on its opening week (with tickets acquired via a complicated lottery) and spent a couple hours browsing and reminiscing about every Nintendo console, game, and franchise we’ve ever played, before getting to play ourselves on life-sized controllers. The museum could have use more description and moments of delight, but Nintendo is such a beloved brand we enjoyed it nonetheless.
Uji is also home to Byodoin Temple and matcha! After the museum and a late conveyor belt sushi lunch, we found our way to the temple to check it out right before sunset. The street leading up to the temple (Byodoin Omotesando) was full of shops selling matcha everything. Uji River was a gorgeous sight to behold around sunset.
Kyoto
We ended our Japan trip in Kyoto, still my favorite Japanese city of all time. After getting my first taste of it 5 years ago, we decided why not revisit our favorite places? With only the majority of a day to spend, we showed our first time visitor friend Gia all the greatest sights, donning kimonos to make every spot a photoshoot destination. Hot tip: wearing a kimono around town may look glamorous, but it’s miserable. Also, trying to eat a large tempura bowl with a tightly would, towel-stuffed obi belt around your midsection is a bit unsettling. The food won’t go down, and we found out the hard way. While we ladies got dressed, Simon explored his favorite Teramachi street and got lucky with some gacha games.
Japan Travel Tips
Suica card on iPhone wallet is super convenient for riding public transportation. Load up on your phone and tap in and out of the fare gates. The JR pass isn’t worth it anymore after the price hike, because you’re probably not riding a long distance train every single day.
You can easily buy bottled waters at any convenience store or vending machine, so no need to bring your own refillable bottle everywhere.
At a restaurant, you get the bill when your food arrives, and pay for it at the check-in counter when you leave. This way, you can leave whenever you want without having to wave down the waiter. Many restaurants also have water and tea stations for you to grab drinks yourself. Also, for some reason, napkins were hard to come by.
Borrow umbrellas from hotels. Rain was spontaneous but frequent during our October visit.
Subway stations are clearly marked to direct the flow of foot traffic. For example, people leaving the train take precedent over people coming into platform. I really loved this detail.
We don’t know Japanese but got around just fine pointing to things and using easy English words. Bow your head to say thanks. A smile never hurt nobody. And use Google Translate visual search to translate signage and menus.
Sashimi to gorge on, animals to pet, videos games to play, and pedestrian streets to fall in love with all over again.