I went to Japan and China for just under 3 weeks on the second week of March with my mum and dad. We did 3 nights in Osaka, 3 nights in Kyoto and 5 nights in Tokyo.
We flew from Manchester at 11:26am to Beijing. The flight was 9 hours and when we landed it was 8:33pm UK time 4:33am China time. I was on a row of 4 with another woman on the other end of the row and we both had 2 seats to lie down. I was too tall to lie down she was only short so was alright. I was so uncomfortable barely slept. We had a 3.5 hr layover in Beijing airport and I did not feel good.
Dinner - Pangasius fish with ginger and leek sauce, green peas, baby carrots, seamed rice
This wasn't good. I just picked at it and ate all the veg and the pasta side and a bit of the bread.
Breakfast - Congee with chicken and shiitake mushroom
This wasn't too bad but the congee was very watery and I wasn't feeling the food. Did mange to eat it all, the fruit, yoghurt and picked at the bread.
The second flight to Osaka took off at 8:55am. I felt so sick on the flight. Couldn't eat the food not that it was any good anyway. The flight wasn't great was bumpy. Landed at 12:35pm Japan time. (China was at the time +8 hrs and Japan +9hrs before the clocks went forward). I couldn't wait to get outside to get some fresh air. Just felt terrible. Never felt that bad before on a flight but think because I didn't sleep, didn't eat, drink enough water, didn't move enough and needed fresh air.
I couldn't even eat the food on this flight. Picked at the rice and ate the fruit that was it.
My need for fresh air had been delayed as my mum's case didn't make it to Japan it was still in Manchester so that took a while to sort out. We eventually made it out of the airport and it was cold and Japan didn't look like what I thought it was going to. I think it's because Osaka doesn't look like traditional Japan. We got a 45 minute bus then had to get a metro to the hotel. By the time we got to the hotel it was 4:51pm.
The hotel was cramped and a bit like a small apartment with a kitchen area. The good thing was we got detergent from reception and was able to wash our clothes then turned the heating on in the bathroom to dry it as there were rails. (We could have done this towards the end of the holiday and not they first day though.)
You could ask for pans from reception and ask them to turn the gas on to use the cooker.
After you flushed the toilet the sink would flow but the water was ice cold
Didn't try any of the special toilet functions was too scared to.
We put the bags down then went out to get mum some clothes as she could claim £50 for her lost luggage as she didn't have any spare clothes. We ended up in Dotonbori so had a quick walk through then went to Namada walks and bought some clothes from Uniqlo. If you spend over 5500 Yen (around £30) you can get 10% tax refund which they sort in the shop for you. Mum bought some clothes and I bought a Snoopy top which back in the UK costs £19.99 but was only around £9 in Japan with the exchange rate.
Like mochi but very dry
After wandering around we found a restaurant to have dinner.
Had to grill the fish yourself
Grilled eel was really nice
First taste of sushi in Japan!
Seafood noodles
Must have been to Universal.
We were sat waiting on this train for over 30 minutes for it to move. We could have walked and made it back within that time. By the time we got back to the hotel it was 11:26pm was so tired and ready for bed.
Day 1
We got up at 8:30am and got 2 trains to Osaka Castle. It's a bit of a walk through the park when you get off the train to the castle.
The castle doesn't look like the typical castle. Inside is just a museum with lots of information about it but nothing to see as it's been rebuilt so the inside isn't what it used to like. Get a good 360 view at the top of Osaka city.
It was very windy and cold even though it wasn't that high up.
Had a walk around and went to a 7/11 where I got some matcha snacks.
We then got the metro back to Namba.
Tried Takoyaki - a wheat batter filled with diced octopus, pickled ginger and spring onion then they put a sweet sauce and mayo on top. Wasn't a fan but glad we finally tried it.
Went for lunch at this fishing restaurant where you can fish your own fish from the tank and you eat the fish you caught. Watched people trying to fish and it was hard. We just ordered off the menu. The restaurant had a table charge that we had to pay per person that was a few pounds. (I can't remember exactly how much it was)
Not used to eating raw prawns or octopus
Should have tried one of these Spam sushis!
Matcha ice cream.
Day 2
Didn't leave the hotel till 12pm and walked to Tsutenkaku Tower which was a 15 minute walk.
Reduced supermarket sushi from the night before for breakfast. It actually wasn't that bad considering. Way better than the stuff we have here and I'm comparing it to restaurant fresh sushi we have here. Japanese sushi rice is so good even not in sushi. So now I know the "sushi rice" we have here isn't the real stuff!
We wandered around Shinsekai Market and Tsutenkaku Hondori Shopping Street.
Got a Maccies ice cream that was like 60p.
Janjan-Yokocho Alley (Nanyo-dori Shopping Street)
We queued for about 15 minutes for this sushi restaurant which this Hong Kong lady recommended. It was good, cheap and worth the wait. It was a 1 in 1 out.
Fish broth
Kasuga Gorakujo oldest arcade in Osaka
We headed back to Dotonbori
Got this matcha cream pie from some fast food place
We ended up at this fast food place that was actually alright as we got a set meal that had noodles, gyoza and fried rice. My dad got his own noodles. You just ordered it off the pad on the table.
We got up at 8:30am checked out of the hotel and got some food from the supermarket before heading off to Kyoto on the train. I forgot to take a photo of the food we got. It was really good for supermarket food. It was freshly made and still warm. Got salmon and rice with veg.
I've been back for just under 3 weeks and writing this blog feels mad because it just doesn't even feel like I've been away and that I went to Japan. It's so annoying as now my phone keeps showing me stuff on Insta and Facebook on stuff to do in Japan which is too late!
Next post Kyoto and a few more posts to come...
