Osaka

Osaka… a city that makes us love it effortlessly

There are some cities that just hearing their name makes us feel at ease.
"Osaka" is one of them.

It’s not the biggest city, nor does it have the tallest skyscrapers,
but Osaka has something that feels like coming home,
even if you’ve never lived here before.

This is a city full of delicious food, charming cafes, narrow alleys with cats lounging in front of houses,
and people who smile easily, are kind, and ready to help—even if they don’t speak any English at all 🍃🐾

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Start the trip at Kuromon Market… a world of food that never gets boring

If you come to Osaka and don’t visit “Kuromon Ichiba Market,” you’re seriously missing out 😋

This place is a paradise for food lovers! There’s food from morning till night, from fresh seafood to delightful sweets.
We ate hot takoyaki filled with squid, round and bouncy balls that made us tear up from chewing,
followed by butter-grilled scallops bigger than a palm. It really made us tear up because it was so delicious 🐙🧈

Most of the vendors are very kind, speaking only Japanese but excellent at using body language.
One even turned around to write “Very delicious!” on a piece of paper and handed it to us—such a warm heart 💌

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Osaka Castle… beautiful, magnificent, and warm

After leaving the market, we went to “Osaka Castle,” the city’s symbol.

The castle stands proudly, white with gold trim, surrounded by a very large garden.
There was an elderly lady painting, children running around, and people cycling by gently 🍃

Climbing to the top floor of the castle, you get a full view of Osaka.
The bustling city turns into a quiet, beautiful postcard-like scene,
and the gentle breeze on your face makes you feel like “this is enough.”

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Stroll with penguins at Kaiyukan

Kaiyukan is an incredibly cute aquarium.
We were excited from the moment we saw a whale shark swimming in a giant glass tank 🐋
But what melted our hearts the most were the little sea otters floating on their backs, all playful plankton!

The penguins were just as adorable, waddling around without a care,
as if they knew they were the idols here 💫

The lighting is beautiful, the atmosphere peaceful, and walking around feels like a rest for the heart.
We still remember standing still in front of the giant fish tank, feeling like the whole world stopped right there 🐠

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Tempozan Ferris Wheel – lifting your heart up to the sky

Next to Kaiyukan is Tempozan, a white Ferris wheel almost touching the sky.
We rode it in the evening… the soft golden sunlight gently caressing the city’s skin.

The view showed the vast sea, the harbor, and reflections of lights just turning on.
Everything was calm, peaceful, and gentle, making us smile without realizing it ☁️

Sometimes… happiness doesn’t need much.
Just sitting quietly, looking at the city from above with your own heart is enough.

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Dotonbori… a city alive 24 hours

When night falls… we enter another world called “Dotonbori” 🏮

This is the district of food, lights, and the liveliest energy in Osaka.
The Glico running man sign stands out like it’s hugging the whole city.
Around it are extravagant shop signs—giant squid, giant crabs, giant ramen.

The shouts calling customers, the laughter of tourists,
and the smell of takoyaki blend in the air 🍜🔥

We secretly sat by the canal, watching the lights reflect on the water and thought,
“Osaka has its own kind of life.”
Not rushing, not stopping, but happy in every moment 🎵

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Shinsaibashi… a district for the warm-hearted

The next morning, we returned to stroll around “Shinsaibashi,”
a shopping district filled with cute clothes, cozy cafes, and trinkets lining both sides of the street.

We stopped at a shop selling pudding in glass jars,
visited a cream-white wooden cafe serving latte in bear-patterned cups,
and bought cat stickers from a small stationery shop where the elderly lady owner smiled brightly behind the counter 🎀

Everything looked simple but was so charming it warmed the heart,
as if everything was arranged to turn an “ordinary day” into a “special day” anytime.

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A small alley with a secret cafe you want to stay in forever

On the last day before leaving… we wandered into a small alley and found a wooden cafe.
There was a Japanese-patterned curtain fluttering gently at the entrance, and a little dog sunbathing by the door 🐶

The owner, an elderly man wearing a beige apron, came to take our order with a smile.
Inside, there were old wooden tables, warm sunlight, and the fragrant smell of freshly baked bread.

We ordered a cup of coffee and a slice of cake,
then sat quietly watching the clock that seemed to have stopped 🕰

There was no noise, no internet, no rush,
just a peace you can’t find in a big city.

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Osaka… a city that teaches us happiness doesn’t have to be chased

This trip didn’t make us feel wildly excited,
but it slowly seeped deep into our hearts… without us realizing it.

Osaka taught us that
happiness doesn’t always have to come from something new.
Sometimes it’s hidden in hot takoyaki,
in the soft laughter on the Ferris wheel,
or in the breeze that blows as you cross the street.

Osaka isn’t extravagant,
but it’s full of small feelings that blend into warm memories.

And we know for sure… we will definitely come back again 💕🍃

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