Osaka

Osaka in a soft, fluffy embrace 🍡✨

A city that makes us happily lose our way

Osaka is not the capital city, nor is it filled with grand landmarks.
But Osaka is one of the kindest cities in Japan.
It may not have a “wow!” at every corner, but it’s full of “smiles” in every heart.

This trip, we didn’t go to Osaka because of reviews or following anyone’s footsteps,
but simply because we wanted to… wanted to get to know the city that many say,
“It’s cute.”
And when we actually went, we realized that “Osaka” is not just cute,
…it’s super cute 🍥

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1. The first step into the scent of dried fish and laughter – Kuromon Ichiba Market 🐙

Starting the trip without overthinking, as soon as we arrived in Osaka, we dragged our luggage straight to Kuromon Ichiba Market,
a century-old market famous for fresh, delicious, and abundant food!

Walking in, we smelled grilled crab and buttery scallops from street stalls.
Vendors laughed heartily, and sellers shouted to customers rapidly in Japanese without worrying about accents.

We started with giant crab legs 🦀, sweet and crispy,
followed by hot takoyaki filled with whole squid pieces,
ate fresh wing shell sushi until we almost cried,
and finished with rich green tea ice cream that melted smoothly in the mouth 🍦

One hand holding a skewer, the other taking photos, sometimes smiling at strangers.
The warm atmosphere felt like strolling through a small festival where everyone was happy 💕

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2. Osaka Castle – Serene beauty in the heart of the city 🏯🍃

From the market, we took the subway to Osaka Castle.
The first feeling was “So beautiful…” whispered quietly but clearly.

The castle stands tall amid a wide garden lined with trees.
The day was nice, with cool breeze and warm sunshine.
We rested on a bench under a tree, watching children play, elderly couples holding hands, and tourists smiling while taking photos.

Climbing to the top of the castle, the view was amazing, seeing the whole city.
It felt like looking at Osaka through the eyes of a tiny bird.
It was a quiet spot… but made the heart beat a little louder 🎐

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3. A cute café hidden in an alley – A world for those who love all things cute 🧁☕

The next day, we chose to wander aimlessly around Amerikamura,
a Japanese youth fashion district that hides many adorable cafés.

After walking until tired, we found a small café with a bicycle leaning against the door.
Inside, it was decorated with dried flowers, postcards, and porcelain teacups with cat patterns.

We ordered a 3D bear latte so cute we didn’t dare drink it 🐻☕
and a fluffy strawberry cake that melted in our hearts.
Sitting there, eating, writing in a diary, listening to soft jazz music drifting in,
we told ourselves, “This is happiness enough” 💗

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4. Strolling along the Dotonbori canal – More than just photos with the Glico sign 🌃

In the evening, we walked around Dotonbori, a district that never sleeps at night.
The neon lights reflected on the shimmering water, like being in a candy city.

Many people but not chaotic, everyone smiling, taking photos, pretending to run with the Glico sign.
We didn’t miss it either! Posing energetically and laughing with friends,
then stopping for ramen in a booth that felt like a private safe box 🍜

Along the canal, boats drifted slowly with soft music playing.
We sat on the canal steps, nibbling dried squid, sipping hot tea from a vending machine,
watching people pass by, feeling grateful to be in Osaka today 💫

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5. Kaiyukan Aquarium – Gentleness beneath the water surface 🐠

In Osaka, there is Kaiyukan, a large aquarium.
It looks ordinary outside, but inside is another world full of amazing creatures.

A giant whale shark swims gracefully,
penguins waddle gently, sea otters seriously smashing shells with stones,
and glowing fish that seem to float in space.

We walked slowly, looking through thick glass, feeling that “humans are just so small,”
but so lucky to see such a beautiful underwater world 🫧

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6. Happily lost – No plans, but full of memories

On the last day, we had no plans at all.
Just picked a train station and got off wherever we liked.

We entered a secondhand shop playing 80s music,
bought a small Japanese book we couldn’t read but with cute illustrations,
found a street sign that said, “Nice to meet you today.”

It was a day when no one knew us,
but we felt that this city… understood us the most 💛

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💌 The conclusion in the heart: Osaka didn’t tell us to love it, but we just ended up loving it

This trip, we weren’t in a rush, didn’t check in at every spot,
but what we got back was “good feelings” that can’t be packed in a suitcase.

Osaka taught us that
traveling doesn’t always have to be thrilling.
Sometimes, “walking slowly, eating delicious food, and letting yourself get lost”
is the best rest in the world.

And even after returning,
Osaka still lives in our hearts,
in the takoyaki, in the laughter, in the cool breeze blowing in the evening.
Osaka… a city that doesn’t demand love, but we love it with all our hearts 💌🍡🌸

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