Ja-FUN in Osaka

We decided to take the night bus from Tokyo to Osaka.
We purchased our bus tickets online from Kosoku Bus for JPY4,000 each. We opted for the night bus so we could save money on a hotel and arrive in Osaka bright and early. From our Smile Asakusa Hotel, we strolled over to Asakusa metro station where we boarded the bus. Remember to arrive at least 30 minutes early to ensure you’re in the right spot because the Japanese are always punctual! The 10-hour ride from Asakusa Station in Tokyo to Tennōji Station in Osaka was a breeze.

OSAKA

we were raring to explore Osaka! We arrived at around 8am, excited to start our adventure but our hotel check-in wasn’t until later. We decided to have a delicious breakfast first to fuel our bodies for the day ahead.

We stayed at the trendy Hotel Links Dobutsuen-mae, which had a super cool vibe and was conveniently located just a 3-minute walk away from the metro station. While the room was a bit smaller than what we used to have in Tokyo, it was still affordable and definitely not a hostel. We knew to expect smaller hotel rooms in Japan, but it didn’t dampen our spirits at all. We were ready to embrace everything Osaka had to offer!

We still have our Suica cards to use as we explored Osaka.

On the first day of our Osaka trip, even though we were a bit exhausted from our 10-hour bus ride from Tokyo, we were determined to make the most out of our adventure. We didn’t let our fatigue hinder us from exploring the city and ticking off items on our itinerary. So, after we arrived at our hotel, we freshened up quickly and headed straight to the famous Osaka Castle, eager to witness its grandeur and history.

Continuing our adventure in Osaka, we made our way to the lively district of Dotonbori, well-known for its abundance of mouth-watering restaurants and bars. Our excitement peaked as we caught a glimpse of the iconic Glico running man, a famous landmark in the area. Yet, it was difficult to capture a good picture because of the hordes of other people fighting for the same spots.

We stumbled upon a great find – an affordable restaurant and bar – where we indulged in some delicious dinner and sake. Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying the traditional Japanese tempuras. It was fascinating to compare them with the ones we’ve had outside of Japan, and we weren’t disappointed!

Sake, the traditional Japanese rice wine, has a very thin texture and a subtle taste that can be difficult to discern… but oh man, it burns 🔥🔥🔥

After indulging in a satisfying dinner, we opted to walk off our desserts as we made our way back to the station. The streets of Osaka were alive with energy and excitement, and we enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds of the city.

We were very excited about our next stop! I, for one, because of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ⚡

We were bursting with excitement as we reached our next destination! Personally, I couldn’t wait to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ⚡️

Despite the long queues for each ride, we decided to forego getting the Universal Express Pass, which had been recommended by many. We believed we could manage without it, and we had a strategy in place: snacking while waiting patiently in line and prioritising rides with Express Pass.

Here are our top picks:

• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
• Jurassic Park – The Ride
• Space Fantasy – The Ride
• Hollywood Dream – The Ride

Jaws – The Ride was closed the day we visited.

We decided to try out The Amazing Spider-Man – The Ride. However, we couldn’t quite enjoy it since the language was in Japanese and we didn’t understand a word of it. But, for those of you who have been on The Transformers – The Ride in USS, it’s basically the same ride. It features the same exhilarating twists and turns, with impressive effects that are an exact copy. The only difference is that you get to experience a different storyline display.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

OH. MY. GOD.

I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter movies, but I must admit that I haven’t read the books yet.

However, when I entered The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at USJ, I was completely blown away! The feeling was indescribable, and I was left speechless. It was truly a dream come true, and I felt so ecstatic that I almost couldn’t contain myself. I almost died, OA, but, yes!! HAHAHAHA

I mean, seriously, it was like I was transported into the movie itself! Even though Iking wasn’t a huge fan, he was so supportive and made sure that I had the best time ever. And let me tell you, USJ didn’t disappoint – the attention to detail was out of this world. It was, without a doubt, the best day ever!

Sobrang galing!

Don’t forget to try the Butter Beer – it’s an absolute must! Despite its name, it’s not really a beer but a deliciously sweet and creamy beverage that will transport you straight back to your childhood. It’s like having a Peter’s Butterball, only better! Saya!

The Harry Potter and The Forbidden Journey ride was definitely the highlight of our day at USJ! We were completely immersed in the magical world of Hogwarts – it was truly a surreal experience.

Next up, we tried the Flight of the Hippogriff ride which had a similar feel to the Enchanted Airways ride at USS.

What really made USJ unique were the interactive spots where you could cast spells using wands. We didn’t purchase any wands ourselves, as they were a bit pricey, but it was still fun to see others casting spells.

After a day filled with excitement and adventure, we headed back to our hotel. Lucky for us, we stumbled upon a small fast-food eatery nearby where you could make your own bento box. It was a great way to mix and match different foods according to our preferences, and the price was very affordable. We also noticed that they had pre-made Japanese food options which were just as delicious. Overall, it was one of the best food options we came across during our time in Japan.

KYOTO

One of the most popular day trips for tourists in Japan is a visit from Osaka to Kyoto, due to its convenience and ease of travel.

We decided to do something different and woke up early to make our way to Nara Park. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we made and became one of the highlights of our Japan trip, plus it’s completely free!
It was one of our best decisions and one of the highlights of our tour in Japan, and it’s free.

From our hotel in Osaka, we hopped on the Sakaisuji Line at Dobutsuen-Mae Station and got off at Kintetsu-Nara Station, using our trusty Suica cards. It was only a short 5-minute walk from the station to Nara Park, where we were greeted by some friendly deer.

If you’ve heard about the friendly and respectful deer in Japan, it’s absolutely true! It was such an amazing and entertaining experience to see the deer bow their heads to us in Nara Park.

We couldn’t resist buying them some deer biscuits for JPY200, but be careful as they will try to snatch it from you! They’re harmless, but it’s better to be cautious. I even got bitten twice in the butt, but it wasn’t painful and made for a funny encounter!

After our deer encounter, we hopped on a train from Nara Park to Fushimi-Inari Station, where we visited the Fushimi-Inari Shrine.
Many blog posts suggest going as early as possible, even before 7am, to avoid the crowds. However, we found that going before 10am was also a good option, and the crowd wasn’t too bad. If you can’t make it early in the morning, just be willing to walk a little further up the trail, as not many people can endure the hike.

After visiting Fushimi-Inari, we made our way to the charming Gion District in hopes of spotting a geisha. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side as it was about to rain and perhaps it was still too early for them to make an appearance. Nonetheless, we enjoyed wandering through the quaint streets and soaking up the traditional atmosphere of the area.

After our Kyoto tour, we returned to Osaka to wrap up our trip. We still had some time to spare before our flight back to Singapore, so we decided to check out the Cup Noodles Museum, which is a unique and interactive museum that allows visitors to make their own cup noodles.

We boarded a train from our hotel to Ikeda Station, which was a quick and convenient journey. After disembarking at the station, it only took us about five minutes to reach the Cup Noodles Museum on foot.

It was an exciting and hands-on experience, as we got to customize our own cup noodles with our preferred flavours and toppings. The museum also showcased the history of instant noodles and how they became a staple food in Japan and around the world.

we decided to keep our customised cup noodles as souvenirs rather than eat them. It was a unique and fun way to remember our time at the museum.

As we were making our way back to the train station, we stumbled upon a quaint beef restaurant. To our surprise, it turned out to be the tastiest meal we had in Japan! It was an impromptu decision to try it out, and we were blown away by the delicious flavours. The restaurant had a charming ambience, reminiscent of the funny anime shows we grew up watching!

After enjoying our last meal in Japan, we dragged our feet back to the airport to retrieve our luggage and head to Osaka International Airport. It was a bittersweet moment because while we were excited to share our experiences with friends and family back home, we were also sad to leave such a wonderful country.

All good things must come to an end.

It’s tough to say goodbye to a place that has captured your heart. We still had so much left to explore, so many more sights to see, and delicious food to try. But alas, reality calls, and we have to return to our daily routine in Singapore.

However, we vowed to ourselves that we will be back in Japan someday soon. We have a long list of destinations waiting for us, and we’re determined to make the most out of it. We also need to invest more time and effort into saving up for our next trip to Japan.

We dream of witnessing the majestic Mount Fuji up close and personal. It’s a sky-high goal, but we believe that anything is possible if we set our minds to it. Fingers crossed, we’ll make it happen someday.