Let's travel to Osaka

Osaka…
This city has a certain charm that made me fall in love from the very first step 🏯✨ Although it’s not a huge capital like Tokyo, it has its own unique appeal—the warmth of the people, incredibly delicious food,
and an atmosphere that is both lively and adorable at the same time.

We started our journey with a pounding heart
because we were so excited! Kansai Airport in the fresh morning,
people seemed rushed but friendly, the Japanese announcements sounded unfamiliar yet strangely familiar. Getting into the city was very convenient,
whether by JR train or Nankai, both smoothly took us into the city.

We chose to stay in the Namba area because it’s convenient for travel, close to shopping spots,
and full of food! Just stepping out of the hotel, the aroma of takoyaki hit our noses 🍡🍢

Of course, the number one landmark to visit is
Osaka Castle 🏰. Walking around the castle grounds, the atmosphere was very shady and peaceful, with big trees and beautiful flower decorations. Strolling and taking photos felt like being in a Japanese movie scene.
Inside the castle, there’s an exhibition about Osaka’s history. Anyone who loves samurai stories will definitely be impressed.

Then we headed to Shinsaibashi
and Dotonbori, a paradise for shoppers and food lovers! 🍜👗 Fun Japanese music played softly from the shops,
restaurants lit up brightly and dazzlingly, with giant crab signs, takoyaki dolls, and the Glico neon sign that everyone must take photos with 😆

Speaking of food, Osaka is truly a food lover’s heaven!
We tried takoyaki from several places, but the one we loved the most was near the Dotonbori canal—soft batter, bouncy octopus, very fragrant sauce, sprinkled lightly with katsuobushi.
Pure bliss for three days 😋 There’s also okonomiyaki (Japanese pizza) that’s crispy outside, soft inside, topped with rich sauce, and ramen so delicious you want to take the broth home.

Another activity we loved was walking around
Universal Studios Japan 🎢🎡.
It felt like another world! The Harry Potter zone was truly magical. Walking in felt like stepping into Hogwarts.
Drinking butterbeer, watching the sparkling snow castle, our hearts swelled with joy 🧙‍♂️🍻

There’s also the super cute Minion zone with bright colors,
and the Super Nintendo World zone that felt like playing Mario games for real 🍄⭐. Walking through pipes, bouncing coins, taking photos with a giant Mario.
At night, the lights were bright and beautiful, just like in a cartoon.

After all the fun, we refueled at Kuromon Ichiba Market,
a fresh market full of fresh seafood and beautiful desserts! 🍓🦀 There were big strawberries that melted sweetly in your mouth with the first bite, and giant crabs grilled fresh by the vendors, with perfectly sweet and juicy meat!

Besides city attractions, we also took a train to Kyoto
(just a few hours away). We walked at Fushimi Inari Shrine, with endless rows of red torii gates, feeling like we were in an anime 🍁, and stopped by Arashiyama
to ride a rickshaw, see Togetsukyo Bridge, and enjoy classic mountain and river views.

Another very special day was our trip to Nara,
to visit the local deer who are both cute and mischievous at the same time 🦌💕.
We bought senbei crackers to feed the deer, but they seemed to know we had treats,
and lined up neatly following us (though staring intently, haha).
Taking photos with the deer felt like being a Disney princess in a magical forest.

Osaka isn’t just about attractions or food,
it’s full of good feelings that make our hearts soar.
Everyone we met in shops, restaurants, or on the streets smiled warmly and was very friendly to tourists like us. Sometimes, Japanese people with broken English asked, “Do you need help?”
That alone was so cute it melted our hearts 💗

On the last day of the trip, we strolled around Tennoji Park,
enjoyed city views from Tsutenkaku Tower,
and visited Shitennoji Temple to pray for a chance to return to Osaka again… because our hearts are truly left here 🎐✨

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Osaka is a city that gives you smiles, warmth, deliciousness,
and wonderful memories to fill your bags.
If there’s another chance, I will definitely come back and have even more fun 🇯🇵

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