Osaka: A Cute Travel Review 💕

"Osaka, a city that warms the heart for reasons unknown 🌸🍙" こんにちは~ Hello everyone! This trip, we’re taking you to explore "Osaka," a city that holds a special place in our hearts. It’s filled with delicious food, adorable cafes, kind-hearted people, and picturesque spots that will melt your heart 💖. We planned a relaxed 5-day, 4-night trip, taking our time to wander, get lost, and fall in love with Osaka bit by bit 🎐. ⸻ 💼 DAY 1: Journey to the dream city…Osaka. A little chilly but heartwarming 🛫💕 We departed from Suvarnabhumi Airport on a night flight and woke up to find ourselves at Kansai Airport! The chilly air made for a cozy flight, and as soon as we landed, our hearts were brimming with excitement 🍃. The weather in Osaka was cool and refreshing, no air conditioning needed! From the airport, we took the Nankai Line into the city and got off at Namba. We then dragged our luggage to check in at a small hotel near Dotonbori—a perfect location close to everything 🎒. After a short rest, we strolled around Dotonbori. Of course, we didn’t miss the iconic "Glico Sign," a landmark where everyone poses like a hero with arms raised 🤸♀️. After snapping photos, we enjoyed hot takoyaki right next to the sign—so delicious it brought tears to our eyes 🐙. Before heading back to the hotel, we stopped by Ichiran Ramen, the famous "exam ramen." Each booth is private, and you fill out an order sheet before sending it in. It felt like eating ramen in your own little world, and it was absolutely delicious 🍜💕. ⸻ 🎠 DAY 2: Dive into Universal Studios Japan, a dreamlike world of fun 🎢💫 We woke up early without needing an alarm because we were heading to USJ (Universal Studios Japan)! ✨ Dressed in a Minion hoodie and bunny ear headband, we were ready to embrace the cuteness 🐰💛. We arrived early to queue up and make sure we could experience everything. The first stop was Super Nintendo World, which felt like stepping into a Super Mario game! There were mushrooms, tunnels, and blocks to jump on—it was irresistibly adorable 🎮🍄. Next was the Harry Potter zone, which was absolutely stunning. The Hogwarts castle was grand and lifelike, and the photos we took on the bridge were postcard-worthy 🏰. We also tried "Butterbeer," a sweet, fizzy drink with a caramel-like flavor—unique and tasty 555. Of course, Minion Park was the ultimate in cuteness! Bright yellow everywhere, Minion-themed food, lunch boxes, baked goods, plush toys, and souvenirs. We brought home a round Minion keychain 💛. We ended the day with the Flying Dinosaur ride, which had us screaming at the top of our lungs! It was thrilling to the point of feeling like our hearts might leap out 😂. ⸻ 🏯 DAY 3: Explore history at Osaka Castle & visit a super cute character cafe 🧁📸 Today was a relaxing day as we strolled around Osaka Castle. Its golden-white structure contrasted beautifully with the sky, like a poster! 🍁 The paths around the castle were shaded by large trees, perfect for a leisurely walk. We even took photos with a sakura tree (though it wasn’t fully bloomed yet, the vibe was still there!) 🌸. In the afternoon, we visited Moomin Stand, a bubble tea cafe we had our eyes on since Thailand. The cups were shaped like Moomin characters, and there were many flavors to choose from! We opted for strawberry milk with chewy pearls—sweet and refreshing 🍓. Before heading back, we stopped by Shinsaibashi again because it’s so big we couldn’t finish exploring it in one go! There were tons of clothing stores, including cute Japanese brands like WEGO and GU, as well as ceramic shops with irresistible trinkets 🛍️. ⸻ 🍃 DAY 4: A day in Kyoto wearing a kimono~ Reliving the past like a Japanese lady 🎐👘 Today, we took a train to Kyoto, a charming old city. Upon arrival, we rented kimonos near Gion Station, complete with Japanese socks and geta sandals. Dressed up, we wandered adorably to Fushimi Inari Shrine 🧡. The bright red torii gates lined up in thousands were breathtaking! The photos we took felt like scenes from a fantasy world, so beautiful we didn’t dare over-edit them 📷. Afterward, we strolled through Higashiyama, a quaint street filled with Japanese snacks, bamboo lunch boxes, hot oden, and chilled green tea. We tried grilled mochi brushed with soy sauce—it was fragrant, sweet, salty, and utterly delightful 🍡. Kyoto is a city that calms the soul…everything moves slowly and gently, yet it’s so charming 🫶. ⸻ 🐟 DAY 5: Kuromon Market & souvenir shopping spree! 🎁🍣 On our last day, we visited Kuromon Ichiba Market, Osaka’s famous fish market! 🐟 It’s a paradise for food lovers, offering grilled scallops, fresh oysters, king crab, wagyu sushi, Japanese sweets, and premium fruits like giant strawberries 🍓. We chose grilled scallops with butter and soy sauce—oh my, they were tender, rich, and melted in our mouths! Then we followed up with wagyu sushi, perfectly seared with a fragrant, juicy flavor 😭💕. Before heading home, we stopped by Don Quijote (Donki) for a shopping spree—snacks, cosmetics, Japanese rice, face masks, Minion plushies, and all sorts of knick-knacks filled our bags to the brim. We almost couldn’t fit everything in our luggage 555 🎒🎀. ⸻ 🌸 Final thoughts…Osaka is unforgettable cuteness 🫶✨ Osaka made us feel like kids in a magical city 🧸. From the smiles of the Japanese people, the waves of train station staff, the taste of takoyaki, to the music in Super Mario—it’s the "little joys" that filled our hearts every day 🍥. This trip may have lasted only 5 days, but the warmth of Osaka will stay in our hearts for a long, long time 💌. See you again soon, Osaka…we promise to return! 🛫💕 ⸻