Japan September 24

Part itinerary part blog – this is the story of our 26 day adventure to Japan where we absolutely fell in love with everything and everyone. So much so that we would really like to try and make Japan our next home. We arranged a lot of our travel on the day before or actual day of travel and I planned the trip for many months in advance so we could do and see all of the things we wanted to. I’ve included costs where they were easily accessible.

Thursday 5 Sept’ 24

Left Nusa Lembongan on the 1pm Rocky Fast Boat. Lovely catch up dinner at our favourite Japanese restaurant in Sanur with friends from England

TOKYO Friday 6 Sept’ 24  Stay: Toyoko Inn Tokyo Nihombashi Ningyocho, (東横INN日本橋人形町) 103-0014 Tokyo-to, Chuo-ku Nihombashi Kakigara-cho 1-10-2 , Japan, Tokyo, JP (to pay 70,402JPY)

0100    flight PR538; 450am DPS -MNL flight PR428 0730 MNL-NRT

1300    Land Tokyo  TRAIN: Narita Airport Terminal 2･3 Station -Keisei Narita SkyaccessAccess-TokkyuHaneda Airport Terminal 1:2 1402 04 1442  Platform 1 · Stop ID: KS41 Continue on the same vehicle Asakusa Line Haneda Airport Terminal 1:2  10 min (6 stops) Ningyōchō Station walk 5 mins

Got Tokyo Subway Pass: ex 24/48/72hr pass. Really the whole arriving in Japan and getting to our accommodation thing was super easy. I had a fair amount of travel anxiety about how easy and smooth it would be and it was seamless. Things are well signposted. The hotel room was TINY. Clean but barely any room around the bed. The bathrooms were like sealed pods in the room.

TOKYO Saturday 7 Sept’ 24       Day 1   Stay: Toyoko Inn  Day in Asakusa

1055    Booked: Watashi paper making, 〒111-0032 1-32-11-2F Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo https://watashino.style – such a cool class, we were 4 in total and made 4 pieces of watashi paper each

3pm      Booked: Asakusa Sumo Heya, Asakusa 2-10-12, Sumo dinner, booking ref: 22248498 This was super fun, lots of tasty food to eat and a good experience if you cannot go to see the actual Sumo, we booked this when we did not have tickets for the Sumo but the actual Sumo was OUTSTANDING

Kakimori Make your own Stationary Store ; 1 Chome-6-2 Misuji, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0055, Kakimori.com Mon Closed Tue-Fri 12-18:00 Sat/Sun 11-18:00 – super expensive and not so interesting once we actually got there so we did not make our own pads

kotobukichashitsu (寿清庵 茶室)📍 1-40-5 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Matcha café

Kirakuya Asakusa Kimono Shop; 111-0032 Tokyo, Taito City, Asakusa, 1 Chome−22−3 MoriyaWORLDビル 1階10-18:00 Daily Affordable used Kimono – bought 4 gorgeous Kimono and JHubz bought some lovely shoes – we went back another day and I also bought a pair of sneakers

TOKYO Sunday 8 Sept’ 24        Day 2 – Stay: Toyoko Inn – Day trip to Kawagoe

Known as “Little Edo,” Kawagoe only about 45mins away from Tokyo preserves a charming townscape with traditional merchant houses and Kurazukuri warehouses, providing a nostalgic glimpse into Japan’s past. Freaking hot, ate at a totally Japanese soba noodle place. Cutsey town but hella hot and feet wreaked. Had sushi in the hotel room and more 7Eleven treats for dinner, the 711 food is awesome, ha!. Ordered flip flops on amazon Japan after failing to find them in shops here – we read a lot about not wearing flipflops here – everyone wears them!

TOKYO  Monday 9 Sept’ 24      Day 3              Stay: Toyoko Inn            Explore Ginza

Hibaya line to Ginza station platform 6, Loft Tokyo; Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 6-3-15; stationery shop then Ginza station to Daiso Ikukeburo Maranouchi Line Platform 4

Pastry and matcha latte at Choco Cro by the Ningyocho subway station.  Went to Ikeburoko for the biggest Daiso in Japan – not sure we found it but it was a good one, bought cool packing cube compression bags and lots of snacks, had an amazing bento lunch in a restaurant on the 12^th floor of the department store that was incredibly well priced. Went to Loft Stationery which was hella overpriced but we did buy some Maybelline mascara and some nice tweezers, so yo! Useful trip.

Went to Daiso and Uniqlo in Ginza then back home, feet sore but bearable. Booked Shinkasen tickets to Kanazawa in the JR ticket office attached to the station on the way back – sweet!.

730pm  Booked Mantensushi Nihonbashi 03-3277-6045 2-3-1 Nihonbashimuro-machi, Coredo Muromachi 2 1F, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0022 – really delicious and totally worth it, small place with 17-18 seats, the sushi chef makes one piece at a time and serves you what seemed like endless sushi. The seats were not so comfy and we were sat next to a very chatty American when we just wanted to talk to each other but the food was really really lovely – and we discovered a love for raw scallop which we both would have said was nuts beforehand! You have to try to know, yo!

TOKYO Tuesday 10 Sept’ 24 – Day 4 –  – Stay: Toyoko Inn –  –  –  –  –  – Tsukiji tour

900am – meet Veloce Café – Yo, Guide, Tsukiji Half Day Walking Tour 築地ビルディング Japan, 104-0045 Tokyo, Chuo City, Tsukiji, 3-chōme9１０ 築地ビルディング  crappy tour, Tuikiji – or what we saw is not a market at all but lots of so so food at vastly inflated prices and our guide just took us round to places he knew, we had some tuna on a stick, a big clam, a big fatty wagyu steak – we did not love it, some pretty gross salmon maki and a very tasty strawberry mochi, then went to a garden a ten or so minute walk away and had some cold matcha. Stupidly hot day and we then got a cab to Asakusa, enjoyed more fantastic matcha bingsu and bought a nice blue dress for a tenner, bargain!

TOKYO Wednesday 11 Sept’ 24 – Day 5 –  – Stay: Toyoko Inn  Explore Shibuya/Shinjuku

We took the train to Shimokitazawa and we had a ridiculous experience train station with this lady who worked there who was trying to tell us that it was gonna cost 900 to get there which was just ridiculous in the end and us like 300 because we just ignored her. She kept saying Please, please every time we tried to speak, was hilarious.   But a couple of trains away took us about 45 minutes I think super lovely little streets lots lots lots lots and lots and lots of retro stuff we wondered around we had a delicious Chinese for lunch and then some really thick fluffy pancakes, then we caught the train back to Ningyocho

Shimokitazawa South Exit Shopping Street: This bustling shopping area is lined with cafes, bars, and interesting little shops, perfect for an easy stroll.  – Shimokitazawa Ichibangai Shopping Street; Circle around to the north side of the station to explore Ichibangai Shopping Street, with a great mix of vintage stores, traditional crafts and cafés. Don’t miss the strong brews at Bear Pond Espresso, or take your tea while watching rabbits at Usagi no Ehon.

Super lovely little area to walk around in, bought new sunnies and a bunch of other little bits and bobs

TOKYO Thursday 12 Sept’ 24 – Day 6 –  – Stay: Toyoko Inn     Misc Exploration

In the day we wandered around the local area, I found another dress like my blue one, slightly more expensive at £15 (I know soo expensive, not! I love it. Had ramen for lunch at a little tiny place by the hotel.

Having not been able to get Sumo tickets when they were released we had resigned ourselves to not being able to go BUT as we were watching the tournament online J noticed lots of empty seats – so online we hoped and ended up buying 2 for 2 days away on Viator for like £35 each. 3pm Booked: Tokyo Sumo Tournament, Japan Wonder Travel, +817050801017 RYŌGOKU STATION, 1-chōme-3-20 Yokoami, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0015, Japan  @JR Ryogoku station WEST ticket gate. *It’s “JR” line. NOT “OEDO” line. *Your guide will have a green sign board saying “Japan Wonder Travel” LOVED IT, we caught a taxi to the Sumo, met the lady with our tickets, she walked us over to the entrance and we were on our own. Highest seats but it did not matter, we absolutely LOVED every moment, the pomp, the belly slapping,m the speed of the bouts, and also we bought the best souvenir for Ma – rock with sumo wrestlers on it! We walked the 30 minutes home afterwards stopping for some overpriced and mediocre tacos on the way to the hotel. Would recommend going to the Sumo to everyone!

 

Other things to do none of which we did:

• Azuki to Kor; i (Kakigori)151-0053 Shibuya City, Yoyogi, 1 Chome−46−2; https://azukitokouri.com/en/ Thur-Tue 11-19:00 Closed Wed
• Seafood Misakiko Shibuya East Exit; 3 Chome-17-4 Shibuya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0002; Sushi
• Luke’s Lobster, lobster roll
• https://maccha-house.com/1174/ 〒604-8026 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Komeyacho, 382‐2; Matcha restaurant Must go to one of them looks amazeballs
• Explore Kagurazaka?
• Yanaka Ginza, 3 Chome-13-1 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001 Area to visit
• KOTOBUKI SEIAN Crepe shop in Asakusa specializing in Matcha Brulee Crepe; Asakusa 2-7-21 Taitō ward; Open 12:00~17:00
• Buta Yarou (Grilled Pork Belly); 101-0062 Chiyoda City, Kanda Surugadai, 2 Chome−6−15 3F) @sumiyakibutadon.butayarou; Mon-Sat 11-20:30 Closed Sun (30mins hotel)
• Giontsujiri (Matcha Café); 131-0045 Tokyo, Sumida City, Oshiage, 1 Chome−1−2; https://www.giontsujiri.co.jp/en/Stores in Tokyo, Kyoto Open 11-23:00 Daily
• Old Town Style Japan; Chofu Ward; 2nd Oldest Temple in Japan: Jindaiji Temple(9-17 Daily)
• Kawaguchiko Mount Fuji- day trip? : Nestled near Mount Fuji, Kawaguchiko offers breathtaking views
• Toyosu Market, Meiji Shrine, Imperial Palace and East Gardens, Sensoji Temple
• Yanaka, Nezu, Sendagi (Yanesen) off the beaten path little gems

STORES/ SHOPS/ETC TO LOOK FOR: GU: more affordable UNIQLO OFFHOUSE 2nd hand cloths cheap Tokyu Hands: Cool

TRAVEL DAY TOKYO/KANAZAWA Friday  13 Sept’ 24 – Day 7 – Linnas kanazawa – (paid) Kanazawa, Owaricho 1-2-8

Check out 10am: Taxi to the station  1124 Train to Kanazawa from Tokyo station, arrives 14 something – got yummy bento boxes at the very very busy Tokyo station and then taxi from the station to the Linnas, super sweet hotel, very friendly staff and great location, walked around the cutesy old Higashi Chaya area a little walk and over a bridge away.

Explored Higashi Chaya districts, had some tasty matcha bingsu then booked at Kourin Sushi who luckily had a cancellation, then stocked up on all the goodies we like at 7 Eleven. We have been enjoying all of the Konbini food – the souffle dessert from Family Mart, the amazeballs crème brulee icecream from 7 Eleven, we will be in withdrawal from that one in Indo! The Sushi place was super small and the sushi was pretty fabulous with some eel and miso and vinegar thing which was the bomb! Nice hotel, friendly staff, slightly larger room with better storage options for luggage.

KANAZAWA Saturday 14 Sept’ 24     Day 8 Linnas Kanazawa Explore Kanazawa

Walked to the Omicho Market Public market, which is extremely close to the hotel, with yummy reasonable priced food!

Then to this shrine, Oyama Shrine Shrine dedicated to the former feudal lord, Gyokuseninmaru Garden Reconstructed garden at Kanazawa Castle then to the Kanazawa Castle Seat of one of Japan’s most powerful feudal lords, it was a stupidly hot day so we walked very slowly and after exploring the Kenrokuen Garden One of Japan’s three best landscape gardens got a cab back to the hotel. Cabs are not expensive here.

Ate lunch sushi bowls at a lovely place attached to the market, mine was half salmon eggs and half salmon, freaking awesome! Had a nice matcha at a place around the corner and had the most amazing matcha parfait, it was out of this world, and bought some granola from there too.  We went back to the market later too realised it is MUCH closer than we thought it was, ha! and got big ole sushi bowls for dinner and made a couple of 7 Eleven stops for many snacks

TRAVEL DAY KANAZAWA/TAKAYAMA Sunday 15 Sept’ 24       Day 9 Hotel Wing International Hida Takayama      Travel Day

(ホテルウィングインターナショナル 飛騨高山 (to pay ¥39,658)

Quick trip to Omicho market for a sushi bowl for me and a matcha latte for both of us

Taxi to the bus station and boarded the 11:10   Booked From:Kanazawa Sta. West Exit Bus Stop No.4 number(予約番号) 08262008841 https://maps.google.co.jp/maps?q=36.5782720227044,136.64648877466&z=18

https://maps.google.co.jp/maps?q=36.141933,137.251443 (高山濃飛ﾊﾞｽｾﾝﾀｰ) Seat　Number (座席番号) 5B / 5A Operating Company(運行会社）Nohi Bus Co., Ltd. Bus was a beautiful journey, we were able to check in early when we arrived and then found a delicious local burger place – Evil Tex, for a late lunch, super yummy! Nice hotel – twin beds for more room, not massive but little chair and tables and better bathroom

TAKAYAMA Monday 16 Sept’ 24 – Day 10 – Hotel Wing   –  –  – Day trip to Shirakawa Go

Super touristy little village, was worth a visit for the forest alone, absolutely beautiful. Was another heller hot stupid day and we had a really awesome set lunch at a place a bit out of town (JHubz hit his head) it was a beef cook it yourself kind of deal and was freaking delicious. We did not need so long to do everything and also I booked the bus back way too late so we bought a new ticket and went back to Takayama early – went to Evil Tex again, this time for burritio and fish burger – excellent again 0820 – Booked Takayama Nohi Bus Centre to Shirakawa Go ■Reservation number(予約番号)< 08262007021 https://maps.google.co.jp/maps?q=36.141933,137.251443&z=18 (高山濃飛ﾊﾞｽｾﾝﾀｰ) ■Seat (座席番号) 11B / 11A ■Operating Company(運行会社） Nohi Bus Co., Ltd.

In the afternoon we ventured out to the big supermarket and on the way saw PlayB so decided to stop for some bowling! 4 awesomely bad games later we made it to the supermarket swiftly followed by the rain. My taxi app did not work so a lovely lady called a taxi back to the hotel for us. Taxis ARE expensive here – unlike the rest of Japan where we found them very well priced.

TAKAYAMA Tuesday 17 Sept’ 24 – Day 11 – Hotel Wing   Markets

Wandered 5 minutes up the road to Miyagawa Market, lovely shops browsing and bought a bunch of bits and bobs and a lovely wooden Japanese game, JHubz bought a tshirt we ended up returning the next day as it did not fit. We stopped at a place for sushi on the way back which was nice but pretty expensive. Took a taxi to Daiso at some point and found the elusive size 2 compression bag we had been looking all over Tokyo for and ended up costing us more in taxi than the pile of things we bought, ha! Daiso is a Japanese $ shop which sells everything!

TAKAYAMA Wednesday 18 Sept’ 24 – Day 12 – Hotel Wing  -Markets and cycling

Went back to the market to return JHubz Tshirt, had a nice looking but too creamy matcha with odd jelly bits, wandered some more and went to the other market which was honestly just a few stalls, then hired bicycles, went to cycle to the castle ruins, after going up some very steep bits we gave up and cycled round town and then to Daiso for a proper leisurely shop – stopping on the way at a super cool chain resto Don Katsu which had robot waiters, we had a delicious cheap meal, After stocking up at Daiso we went to the supermarket to get dinner, and cycled home just beating the rain. Took the bikes back for 2pm had some matcha yumminess including a huge ball of frozen matcha and the most incredible white chocolate and matcha cubes, had supermarket sushi for dinner in the hotel room

TRAVEL DAY TAKAYAM/ YAMASHIRO Thursday 19 Sept’ 24       – Day 13 – Stay: Yamashiro Onsen Miyabi no Yado Kaga Hyakumangoku –  – Travel Day

Ishikawa, Kaga, Yamashiro onsen 11-2-1, Japan Booked and paid for breakfast and dinner

Up early and walked to the market again to ask about the wooden game we bought and ended up walking to a pharmacy, 7 eleven and family mart, I’ve had a bit of an upset stomach the last few days and we have no more domperidone, gah! Anyway no egg sandwiches or maple pancakes anywhere so have to make do with the fruit and snacks we already had.

Walked to the bus station just as the rain started spitting 1120  E-ticket/Confirmation e-mail ***購入済電子乗車票***Reservation number(予約番号) < 09072036001 >Route(路線) < 高岡・富山・金沢ー白川郷・高山線 > Takayama-Shirakawa-go/Kanazawa Line From:Takayama Nohi Bus Center

Nice big bus and we soon arrived in 1335  – To:Kanazawa Sta. West Exit Bus Stop No.4 (金沢駅西口4番乗り場) Car No.(車号) 01 Seat　Number (座席番号) 10B / 10A Operating Company(運行会社） Hokuriku Rail Road Co., Ltd.

Bought tickets on the shinkasen for the 2 stops to Kaga Onsen, expensive but easy, booked our tickets to Kyoto for Tomorrow while we waited the 10 minutes for the hotel shuttle to pick us up. Super HUGE hotel and incredibly lovely staff. All communication has been in Japanese s I thought it would be here but check in was all in English and very gracious and thorough. A huge room compared to everywhere so far and complimentary Yukatas – the casual kimono, with Obi and socks and sandals. We dressed in them and went and found the massage chairs for an hour. Bought some yummy and well priced snacks in the gift shop and watched the Sumo Tournament in our room.

We had paid for included dinner and breakfast – and this was one of the main reasons for coming here, to have the real Japanese meal experience and it was spectacular. No one spoke English, no tourists in sight, all of the other guests wore their Yakuta as well. We started with some sashimi and all manner of little goodies, then a hotpot, a teppanyaki – so much food and it was all excellent, so happy we did this. My stomach played up a bit afterwards but was thankfully ok throughout the meal.

TRAVEL DAY YAMASHIRO/KYOTO Friday 20 Sept’ 24  – Day 14 –  – Smile Hotel Kyoto Shijo

(スマイルホテル京都四条 (61.398JPY to pay)

Awesome breakfast at the hotel – as amazing as the dinner, then relaxed and were taken to Kaga Onsen Station at 1045, my stomach has been a bit tricky on and off for the last few days unfortunately but has not stopped any enjoyment yet, thankfully.

We caught the 1124 JR Thunderbird to Kyoto then took a taxi to the hotel where we were able to check in. Room felt slightly dated compared to others we have stayed in this trip and is definitely more worn but is very comfortable, clean and a good size. Had to ask the annoyingly loud Spanish neighbours to quiet down several times.

KYOTO Saturday 21 Sept’ 24  – Day 15 – Smile hotel Kyoto  — Market

Market Toji Temple 21st of every month caught a cab to the market – huge and awesome, my stomach is not happy and at one point had to make a mad dash for a konbini loo- eek!. Bought 2 more kimonos for 1,000 and 2 for only 500k each! Insanity! The fabric would cost more. I also found a really lovely handlefree pottery cup which I am in love with. Also ordered a new folding suitcase to take everything we have bought home in. We would have been ok but all the kimono definitely push us over the edge, ha!

Went to Daimaru, a big fancy department store and it’s amazing food hall and bought bento for dinner. Watched the penultimate day of the Grand Sumo tournament on the TV

KYOTO Sunday 22 Sept’ 24 – Day 16 –  – Smile hotel Kyoto  PUBLIC HOLIDAY -Uji Daytrip

Walk to Shijo station, Karamsuma Line to Kyoto station platform 1 carriage 2, then Nara Line to Uji

Unfortunately it rained really badly and despite having umbrellas we were in a pretty exposed area and got soaking wet, so came back to Kyoto and got a taxi to Daimaru and bought some more yummy food.

Watched the final of the Grand Sumo Tournament on tv, Onosato won, despite losing his final bout pretty soundly.

KYOTO Monday 23 Sept’ 24 – Day 17 –  – Smile hotel Kyoto – Nakagyo Ward

920am  – Booked: Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Food Tour, Gion Shijo Station, right outside of Exit 5, in front of Izumo no Okuni Statue. Your guide will be holding a red/orange MagicalTrip sign – really awesome tour with Hikaru as our guide, tried tofu croquettes, strawberry mochi and a delicious meal at Nishiki Restaurant Onebashi – a mixed meal of lots of different delicious vegetables.

Afterwards we walked to the temple at the top of Gion and then though some of the small Gion streets and back to Nishiki market and had some kakigori and pancakes.so yum.

Then walked back to the hotel. J’s tea we ordered from amazon had arrived. We ordered stuff from Japanese Amazon all the time while we were there simply getting it delivered to the next hotel – every purchase went very smoothly

KYOTO Tuesday 24 Sept’ 24 – Day 18 –  – Smile hotel Kyoto –  –  –  – Hozugawa Daytrip

• Shijō-Ōmiya Station to lArashiyama Station then onto Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple Bamboo Forest

1pm – Booked: Booking ID: ARS_SAGANO_KANKO-20240826-PSP6 https://www.sagano-kanko.co.jp/en/ Train from [Torokko Arashiyama Station]

– If you use Randen (Keifuku Electric Railway Arashiyama Main Line), get off at “Randen Arashiyama Station.” After that, walk for approximately 20 minutes to reach your destination.

– If you are using Hankyu Railway, get off at Hankyu Arashiyama Line “Arashiyama Station” and then walk for about 30 minutes to reach your destination.

 3pm – Booked: Kyoto Kameoka Hozugawa River Boat Ride Ticket Boat Booking ID: ARS_HOZUGAWA-20240813-7YEE

This was a super cool experience. The train was a short walk from our hotel and when you arrive you are in a super cute little town, we had lunch and wandered around the little bamboo forest – if we went again there was a larger bamboo forest close by that I would definitely make the effort to get to but as we had a boat trip booked we did not really have the time. We wandered around before walking to the second station to get the boat. When we arrived at the next station we did not realise we were so far from the boat dock and had missed the shuttle, so rather than wait an hour for the next one we set off walking along. It was a gorgeous walk but blimey it was freaking hot. I had my umbrella up as a sun shade the whole way and by the time we arrived we were seriously flagging – my advise wait for the next shuttle which is a super cute horse and buggy. Anyway we arrived and did not have too long to wait until the boat was full and we walked down the very steep steps lining the river bank to the boat. Dinky boat and a really great experience. It takes a while – like a few hours to meander back down the river, through some rapids which felt totally safe but would imagine at certain times of year could be a bit overwhelming. It is a slow, relaxed journey on a hard wooden bench, take a bum cushion is my advice! Once back we had a delicious set meal before catching the train back to Kyoto central.

KYOTO Wednesday 25 Sept’ 24 – Day 19 –  – Smile hotel Kyoto –  –  –  –  – Market

• 25th of month market in Kyoto Kitano Tenmangu Shrine – we were very lucky to be in Kyoto for two great markets – lots of the same satall as at the previous one so you don’t really need to do both but we loved it. Lovely meal at a very local Japanese restaurant by the market.

Spent thew afternoon wandering around Kiyomizu-Dera to Yasaka Shrine, lots of little streets, lots of tourists but not oo many

TRAVEL DAY KYOTO/OSAKA Thursday 26 Sept’ 24   Day 20  Seiryu, Osaka Seiryu 通天閣 Seiryu 通天閣

Extended check out for 2hrs at Smile – left bags at hotel and went back to Nishiki Diner for lunch which was fantastic again. Cab to the hotel, collected bags and to Kyoto Station where the very helpful lady corrected my ticket buying mistake and we were on our way to Osaka. Too much walking with awkward bags convinced us we will be getting a taxi to the airport and I booked it as soon as we arrived in our new digs. Bit odd but clean and seems like another good location. We had booked an apartment in Osaka and it was in a very bland block but close by the tube station. Osaka is noticeably grubbier than the rest of Japan where you do not see any trash anywhere. Here there is the same amount of litter as a western city.

• Osaka Prefecture, Osaka, ３−３６, an, 大阪府大阪市浪速区恵美須西3丁目, JP 50352744131 (38,430JPY paid)

OSAKA Friday 27 Sept’ 24     Day 21   Seiryu, Osaka   Tenma and Kita Ward

Walk to Dobutsuen-Mae Station, Sakaisuji Line LocalShojaku 13 min (8 stops) · Platform 2 · Stop ID: K19 to Tenjimbashisuji 6-chome Station. Covered market all kinds shops, Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street, Tenma District, starts around Tenjimbashi-suji Rokuchome Station on the Tanimachi and Sakaisuji subway lines Shops open 10-20:00

Fun wandering and stopped for a set meal lunch of sushi and tempura which was fantastic.

Never made it to this place – next time – Xiaolongbao, 1-chōme-11-15 Higashitenma, Kita Ward, Osaka,530-0044, Go to corner of street for address at the red awning. Hours unknown.

5pm   Booked: 3-Hour Osaka Local food Hopping tour in Namba, Reference #: 1177627435, Dotonbori Glico Sign, 1-chōme-1 10-4 Dōtonbori, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071, Japan mediocre tour with only two stops, luckily the first stop was for extremely tasty and filling okonomiyaki. The second was for tempura and sake and we sort of made him get us mochi afterwards. – would not recommend and would look for a different tour.

OSAKA Saturday 28 Sept’ 24 Day 22 Seiryu, Osaka Castle, TenjinBashi and exploring

Osaka Castle with beat the queue prebought tickets. Very cool coin and photo experience and not expensive to get in. Met some lovely Japanese who offered to help us and practice their English and gave them our card as a good penpal option for Bell. Then back to Tenjinbashi for another fab lunch and then to the little souvenir store. Supermarket, Don Quijote then back to the apartment for a well deserved rest

18:30    TeamLab Botanical Garden Osaka Ticket, 1-23 Nagai Koen, Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, 546-0034 – this was just blah and we wished we had visited the teamlabs in Tokyo instead which seems way better on the way there we had sushi at a well recommended tiny place, Sushi Doraku. No English spoke, quite pricey but very tasty

OSAKA Sunday 29 Sept’ 24   Day 23  Seiryu, Osaka  Self guided walking tour?

Umeda Sky Building Patisserie Grenier Osaka (next Hep 5 Building) Brule Patisserie – this just took us forever to find but was pretty damn yummy

• Kuromon Market, Historic public market and gourmand paradise 50 minutes
• Hozenji Yokocho, Historical district with restaurants and an interesting temple 20 minutes

FLY HOME Monday 30 Sept’ 24  Day 24

We were picked up at 1015am by our Klook arranged driver and whisked to the airport where we hung out until our 1515 flight to Manila and our onward flight to Bali, landing at 1955