Osaka

🎀 Osaka… a city so charming you want to keep it in your suitcase 🎀

If there’s a city that can make you smile the moment you step onto the airport grounds, with the lingering aroma of takoyaki in the air and people passing by with gentle smiles… that city is Osaka 💖

Osaka may not be the capital, but for the heart of a traveler like us, it’s the capital of pure happiness. Especially for those who love the real, cute, and warm side of Japan, Osaka is the perfect answer.

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🧸 Stepping off the plane… into a little world called “Osaka”

The moment we walked out of Kansai International Airport, it felt like entering a new world full of orderliness, friendliness, and pure Japanese charm. Just taking the train to the city center made my heart almost float away with excitement 😆

We chose to take the Nankai Airport Express to Namba, the neighborhood that became our temporary home on this trip. It’s convenient, has everything you need, and is filled with delicious food that brings tears of joy…

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🍡 Namba & Dotonbori – Fun at every step

Namba is truly the heart of Osaka. It’s a hub of food, cafes, neon signs, river views, and laughter from tourists around the world. Walking here is never boring.

A must-see is the famous Glico Man sign! If you don’t take a photo here, it’s like you haven’t really been to Osaka, haha 😍 And of course… if you come to Osaka and don’t try authentic takoyaki and okonomiyaki, it’s like going to Tokyo and not seeing snow!

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🧁 Eat, eat, and eat! This city is a paradise for food lovers!

The food in Osaka is the ultimate deliciousness without needing any extra seasoning! We tried many things, and everything was so good we wanted to buy crates to take back to Thailand:
• Takoyaki: crispy on the outside, soft inside, with chewy octopus bites—pure bliss 🐙
• Okonomiyaki: Japanese pizza loaded with cabbage, pork, squid, and cheese as you like, topped with rich sauce and plenty of mayonnaise
• Kushikatsu: skewered fried foods including meat, pork, chicken, and vegetables, coated in crispy batter and dipped in sauce (but never double-dip! 🍢)
• Japanese sweets like mochi, big juicy strawberries, and light milk-flavored pudding that’s sweet enough to make you smile like a well-fed cat 🐱

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🎢 Universal Studios Japan (USJ): A world of dreams and laughter

If Osaka is a sweet treat, USJ is the cotton candy that spins with the childlike heart inside us 💫

This is a dream amusement park with everything—rides, photo ops, and food. Walking into the Harry Potter zone felt like stepping right into Hogwarts. The “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” ride was so fun I laughed without realizing it~ 🎉

Minion Park, Super Nintendo World, and the evening parade are so bright and cute you want to dance along with the music! If you love fantasy, want to play, take photos, and smile at cartoon characters—don’t miss this for anything.

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🏯 Osaka Castle – Beautiful, elegant, and gentle on the heart

Osaka isn’t just lively; it also has quiet, beautiful spots like Osaka Castle, where arriving felt like stepping into a historical movie scene 🌸

The castle is huge and as beautiful as a painting, surrounded by gardens full of trees, ponds, and benches to rest your heart. There were tourists, couples, and elderly ladies exercising—all simple yet irresistibly charming~

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🐟 Kuromon Market – The charm of freshness

Kuromon Market is another must-visit. It’s a clean, organized fresh market full of fresh seafood, big fruits, and cute sweets 🍓

We ate grilled scallops with fresh butter, which was the ultimate smooth flavor, followed by fresh Japanese strawberries so sweet they made us smile nonstop. If you love seafood or want to take photos with giant fruits, this place is heaven~

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🛍️ Shinsaibashi – A shopping street full of charm in every square meter

This area is the ultimate shopping spot, with famous brands, local brands, stationery shops, trendy cafes, and very Japanese fashion stores 🛍️

We wandered into 3COINS, Daiso, Donki, and Loft without planning to buy anything but always left with hands full! If you’re addicted to cute little things, useless but irresistible items, be sure to leave plenty of space in your bag! 🧸💸

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🌇 View from Umeda Sky Building – Like being in an anime

To see Osaka in full view, you have to go up to the Umeda Sky Building, which has an open-air Sky Walk for 360-degree views 🌃

At night, the view is very romantic, with twinkling city lights. It’s like Osaka is smiling at us from above. It’s a peaceful, refreshing, and heartwarming moment.

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💌 The feeling of “missing” starts before leaving

After spending several days in Osaka, we realized it wasn’t just a trip but a “stay with yourself” in a naturally lovely city.

Osaka never made us feel lonely. Every sign, every greeting from locals, every smile from restaurant staff, and even the breeze by the river was warm enough to melt the heart of a traveler far from home 💕

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🎀 In short and sweet… Osaka is a city that’s “kind”

Kind to the lost, kind to your wallet, kind to your stomach, and kind to the feelings of a traveler wanting to discover something new.

And what we found… the cutest thing in Japan this time was “Osaka” itself ✨

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