Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Day 1: Arrival in Osaka
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Morning: Departure from Hong Kong.
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Late Afternoon: Arrival at Kansai International Airport.
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Evening:
- After settling in, we took a walk to the vibrant Dotonbori (道頓堀) area, famous for its bustling nightlife and iconic Glico running man sign.
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Dinner followed our exploration:
- Restaurant: Unotake Kasu Udon
- Meal: Enjoyed a hearty bowl of Fried Tofu Udon, accompanied by oolong tea. The udon was exceptionally flavorful, and the tea perfectly complemented the meal, making it a delightful dining experience.
Day 2: Universal Studios Japan (USJ)
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Full Day:
- Spend the day at USJ, enjoying thrilling rides and attractions, including the Super Nintendo World. This section of the park brings the world of Nintendo to life, offering a surreal experience.
- Highlight: At one of the game booths, we tried our hand at a coin throwing game where the objective was to land a coin on a plate.
- Victory: My sister won a big Snoopy stuffed toy, adding a special memory to our exciting day.
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Evening:
- Dinner: After exploring USJ, we waited for about an hour at 花丸軒 難波・法善寺店. Around midnight, we enjoyed a delightful meal of ramen, beer, and fried dumplings.
Day 3: Shrines and Nara
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Morning:
- We started our day visiting two shrines in Osaka: Nanba Shrine (難波神社), which is conveniently located just across the street from our hotel, and Namba Yasaka Shrine (難波八阪神社), which is particularly iconic.
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Afternoon:
- After the shrine visits, we took a train to Nara.
- Upon arriving at Nara, we were greeted by the famous Nara deer. 🦌
- We bought a pack of deer cookies to feed them. These deer are so polite that they bow to ask for more cookies!
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Evening:
- After a day filled with historical sights and nature, we had dinner at 北極星 LUCUA大阪店, where we enjoyed delicious omurice.
Day 4: Visit to Himeji Castle (姫路城) and Evening in Osaka
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Morning: Depart to Himeji by train.
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Tour the Himeji Castle:
- View from Outside the Station: Right from the station exit, we captured our first glimpse of the majestic Himeji Castle from afar.
- Closer Look: We purchased tickets to get a closer look at the beautiful castle.
- Inside the Castle: Inside, the historical ambiance and structural designs were mesmerizing.
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Afternoon:
- Return to Osaka: After exploring Himeji Castle, we headed back to Osaka.
- Visit to Cat Cafe: We visited the Shelter Cat & VEGAN Café ‘neu’, a cozy spot where we relaxed with friendly cats.
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Evening:
- Dinner at 酒解: Ended the day with dinner at a local izakaya, where the menu was only in Japanese and handwritten. We had fun guessing and ordering, which turned out to be a unique and enjoyable experience. The food and beer were excellent. We savored delicious sashimi, enjoyed some freshly fried fish, and sipped on good beer, rounding off the meal perfectly.
Day 5: Exploring Kyoto
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Morning:
- Travel to Kyoto: We took the train from Osaka to Kyoto early in the morning.
- Lunch at 京うなわ本店: Enjoyed a delicious Unadon lunch.
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Day Activities:
- Visit Inabado (平等寺因幡堂): Explored the serene and historical Inabado. This shrine holds a special place for pet lovers, particularly known for its dedication to pets’ well-being. Here, visitors often acquire the famous 六猫御守「无病守」, a charm believed to protect cats and ensure their health.
- Nijo Castle (二条城): Took a tour of the impressive Nijo Castle.
- Matcha Dessert at 茶寮翠泉 高辻本店: Stopped for some exquisite matcha desserts in the afternoon.
- Kyoto Pokemon Center: Ended the afternoon with a visit to the Kyoto Pokemon Center for some fun.
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Evening:
- Dinner at Sou: Concluded our day with a delightful dinner at Sou, a local izakaya, where we had some tempura, fried oysters, fried chicken, and a croquette.
Day 6: Kyoto Landmarks
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Morning:
- Visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社): Started our day with a visit to one of Kyoto’s most iconic shrines, known for its thousands of vermilion torii gates. Here, I received my first Goshuincho (御朱印帳), a special book for collecting Goshuin (御朱印).
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Afternoon:
- Visit to Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社): After exploring Fushimi Inari, we visited Yasaka Shrine, another important cultural site in Kyoto. I received my first Goshuin here, marking a special memory of our journey through Kyoto’s spiritual heritage.
- Explore the Historic Slopes: Before visiting Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺), we explored the charming paths of 一年坂, 二年坂, and 三年坂. These streets are lined with shops selling a variety of unique items, perfect for browsing and shopping.
- Matcha Latte Break: Enjoyed a refreshing matcha latte at a local cafe, surrounded by the historic surroundings.
- Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺): Continued to Kiyomizu-dera.
- Art in Action: Captured the sight of an elderly man skillfully drawing the Sanjunoto (三重塔).
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Evening:
- Return to Osaka: We took the train back to Osaka in the evening.
Day 7: Osaka and Sukiyaki
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Morning:
- Visit to Tsuyuten Shrine (露天神社): We started our day with a visit to Tsuyuten Shrine. This shrine is marked by a tragic story of lovers who chose to end their lives here, similar to the tale of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
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Afternoon:
- Sukiyaki Lunch at Harijuu (はり重 道頓堀本店): Enjoyed a delicious sukiyaki lunch at Harijuu, renowned for its high-quality beef. The meal was a delightful treat, costing about 10,000 yen per person.
- Visit to Imamiya Ebisu Shrine (今宮戎神社): After lunch, I visited the Imamiya Ebisu Shrine.
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Evening:
- Journey to Tokyo: Took the Shinkansen to Tokyo. Enjoyed a bento on the way.
- Arrived at Tokyo Station at night.
