This entry will mostly be made up of photos as I spent the whole day walking, taking in the sights, experiencing some rides and snapping photos!
By this day, I was getting used to the weather and it has picked up a bit from our arrival. I was pretty comfortable with two layers of clothing. In order to make the most of our day, we spent the morning visiting Osaka Castle and in the afternoon proceeded to Universal Studios Japan.
OSAKA CASTLE
Osaka Castle is in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. It was a long walk from the station; but the destination was well worth it. So beautiful.
We decided to start at the roof top and go down to see the different exhibitions. At the top floor is a great view of the Osaka skyline from all angles. Too bad we weren’t there during cherry blossom season. Otherwise, we would have seen colorful blossoms all over.
Inside, there were certain floors that were off-limits to picture-taking. In a nutshell, the place had such a rich history and it impressed me at how well-preserved the relics, costumes and weapons were. I was still able to take pictures of some pretty cool stuff, though.
shogun costumes you could wear for a photo opa really cool diorama/projected imagery which narrated the history of Osaka Castle
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN
We stopped by for lunch at a nearby convenience store and rode a taxi to Universal Studios. Needless to say, it was a lot of fun. I wasn’t able to ride all the attractions; but I still enjoyed the scenery and the shows.
The only downside is the HUGE language barrier. Everything is in Japanese. I can’t really blame them. We’re in Japan, after all. Ron Howard (Backdraft attraction) spoke Japanese. Sarah Connor (Terminator 3D) spoke Japanese. Spiderman (The Amazing Spiderman), Doc (Back to the Future The Ride)… They all speak Japanese! A bit of the experience was lessened because I had no idea what they were saying. I felt like such an alien, not understanding anything. With this alone, I prefer Universal Studios Singapore over Osaka.
Other than that little detail, it’s still an awesome theme park with a lot to offer; so it’s worth checking out especially if you have children. Elmo and Hello Kitty alone would make them go insane!
the magnificent entrance
the Universal logo, a staple in all Universal Studios theme parks
random shot of a cute little kid… in an Elmo costume! awww…
my personal favorite: The Amazing Spiderman Ride
Rainbow Circus
Rainbow Circus
Rainbow Circus
Rainbow Circus
Rainbow Circus: first time I saw a person being shot out of a canon. Seriously.
I felt both excitement and dread for day three. I was about to go solo and check out Kaiyukan Aquarium. I’ll just meet up with everyone else for dinner afterwards. Despite all the horror stories of getting lost in Japan in my head, I just had to suck it in and do it. Thankfully, it wasn’t a traumatic experience.
KAIYUKAN AQUARIUM
I got off at Osakako Station and walked to Kaiyukan Aquarium. The weather was comfortably cool; so a couple of blocks walk wasn’t too much of a hassle. The streets were pretty much deserted… very few people with a number of stores that were closed. It was weird for me since it was a weekday.
looking towards Osakako Station. i took pictures in case i got lost on the way back. i know… paranoid.
Once I got there, I went straight to the aquarium and bought my ticket. Entrance costs 2000 Yen for adults (around Php800).
Kaiyukan Aquarium — a unique and beautiful structure
The place is HUGE, needless to say; and it housed thousands of species of marine life. They had dolphins, penguins, stingrays, sharks, turtles, giant crabs and so much more. What’s great is that these animals are encased in huge aquariums where they could swim freely, with coral reefs and rock formations that simulated the real ocean. Here are just some of the awesome things I saw:
i’ve always wanted to walk through something like this.
iguana on top. fishes underwater.
biggest rodent on the face of the planet, the capybara.
penguin! so cute.
caretaker feeding a dolphin
tako = octopus
kids playing with a sea lion
more sea creatures in the biggest aquarium inside Kaiyukan
the biggest aquarium simulating the Pacific Ocean
jellyfish
TEMPOZAN MARKET
It took me around two hours to explore the aquarium. After shopping for some souvenirs, I headed to Tempozan Market to have lunch.
Tempozan Market entrance
I had some karaage at the food court and it was delicious!
chicken karaage with rice, coleslaw and potato salad
Since I had a couple of hours to kill before meeting up with my companions, I looked around and found some more stores which sold great Japanese souvenirs. There were also a couple of unique shops that sold vintage items.
this store sold vintage Coca-Cola merchandise, among others
My last stop at Tempozan was the Giant Ferris Wheel. It offers an amazing view of Osaka at a maximum height of 112.5m. One ride costs 700 Yen (less than Php300), which is really worth it.
view from below the wheelview of Kaiyukan Aquarium and Osaka Bayview of Tempozan Bridge
Before heading back, I made one quick stop at Milky for some ice cream. I know it’s cold; but I just had to try this one.
choco chip cookie soft ice cream. yum!
SHINSEKAI: Three restaurants. One big dinner.
I successfully met up with my other companions (yes!) and we headed to Shinsekai for dinner. It was sort of the Old Osaka and it is said to have some of the best local food. We walked around first and took in the sights.
the sunset when we arrived at Shinsekai
the line of restaurants
hearts with locks that had names of different couples
view of Osaka Tower
Since we couldn’t decide on one thing to try for dinner, we settled on just eating all of them! I was in for the food trip of my life when we ate at three different restaurants, starting off with kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers), followed by sushi, topped off with some blowfish.
first stop.
kushikatsu. fried food to be dipped in sweet and/or spicy sauce.
second stop. sushi place which had the most adorable sign. the old man’s glasses actually goes up and down. cute!
sushi master at work.
i LOVE sushi
last stop. blowfish. didn’t taste like much without the sour sauce.
With full stomachs, we headed back to the hotel to rest. My solo trip was a success. I didn’t get lost in the craziness of the Osaka Railway system. As a bonus, I tried as much local food as I could in one night.
Next up, seeing Hello Kitty, Snoopy and Elmo at Universal Studios!
My first day in Japan mostly involved travel. We arrived at our hotel at almost 5:30pm. There wasn’t much time except eat dinner and do a bit of walking around. I was so tired… didn’t really feel all that well that evening. So DAY 2 was my first FULL day of walking, eating and sightseeing.
KOBE: Chinatown and Ramen!
It was a very cold two degrees outside. I wore between 2-4 layers of clothing; but it still felt a bit cold. We wasted no time and headed straight to Kobe to visit Chinatown (Nankinmachi and Motomachi areas). I saw an arch that is all too familiar in any Chinatown. Of course, I had to take a picture.
There were also a lot of shops lined up, ready to be explored!
We ate at a nearby Ramen place for lunch. It had a vendo machine outside where you could select then pay for your order. A slip of paper will come out; and that’s what you’ll hand in to the cooks inside. I ordered a bowl of pork chashu ramen and it set me back a mere 780 Yen (cheaper than some local ramen restaurants). The bowl was pretty huge but I finished it. It was so delicious! Perfect comfort food for the cold weather.
the vendo machine where we placed our orders and instantly paid for them. no need for waiters!the interior was just one deep hallway where customers sat next to each other.if you think this tastes as good as it looks, you’re absolutely right!
There was around two hours to kill after lunch; so of course I went shopping! First thing I bought (which I didn’t really plan on)… a Canon EOS M mirrorless camera. This is one of my wish list gadgets; and my brother suggested I check it out. The tag price had quite a huge difference already compared locally, the added discount for travel tax made it even cheaper! It was the right decision to purchase it right then and there. The seller gave me a free 4GB SD card to boot.
I bought the white Canon EOS M model with both lenses and flash attachment.the store where I bought the camera from
After doing a bit of shopping, we took a taxi and headed to Europe Town (Kitano Ijinkan Foreign Residences). As the name implies, the tourist spot featured a couple of Western-style houses and structures that are really pretty. We didn’t really have time to go in; so I just took pictures. It seemed like I wasn’t even in Japan!
We then walked to the station heading back to Osaka; and I saw some more pretty sights, including a really pretty set-up for a Starbucks branch.
cute Starbucks branch
MIDOSUJI: An Apple Store and A Beard Papa
Back in Osaka, we split up. My sister-in-law and I walked along the Midosuji Avenue, hunting for the Apple Store. We were buying an iPad Mini for my mom. Along the way, we stopped to buy Beard Papa Cream Puffs, which were absolutely wonderful (warm on the outside, cool and creamy on the inside). I don’t know why the franchise here in the Philippines doesn’t have the same quality.
Jackpot! found the Apple Store where we bought an iPad MiniBeard Papa: best cream puffs I’ve ever tasted (so far)
DOTONBORI: Sights and Food Food Food
We walked back to Dotonbori where we stopped by H&M, walked along the many shops calling our name, ate authentic takoyaki and waited for the Glicos sign to light up in the evening. Beautiful!
just one of the many huge and colorful shop signs around Dotonboriyummy shrimp takoyakiinfamous Glicos sign in the evening
Afterwards, we had dinner at a famous local restaurant. I had some beer and ate okonomiyaki. At this point, my stomach was really full with all the scrumptious Japanese food I had! It was a great final meal to cap off a tiring day.
okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake with a whole lot of stuff inside. you top it with sweet or spicy sauce and a drizzle of mayonnaise for added flavor. it really went well with the beer.
Next up, I’m venturing on a solo trip; and I promise to share the experience.
I would just like to mention that this is my 100th post… and my first post for the year 2013. A small hooray is in order. “hooray!!!” Now that that’s out of the way, you may read on…
Japan is one of the places that you just HAVE TO go to. I always hear about how different it is, how getting lost is common and how communication is especially difficult. It sounds both terrifying and exciting for someone like me who loves to travel.
When an opportunity to go to the land of the rising sun came, I knew I just had to take the trip (expenses and all). I promise myself to go someplace new each year and Japan is hands down my ULTIMATE destination for 2013. I plan to share as much of the whole experience as I possibly can; so my special trip is going to stretch across a number of entries. Let’s start!
Before I write about my day to day adventures, I would like to cover the basics of my trip… how I got there, where I stayed… That kind of stuff. From this, hopefully you’d get to pick up a couple of tips when you do plan to take your own trip to Japan.
THE TRIP: Osaka It Is!
I was tagging along with my brother and sister-in-law to a food and bakery expo in Osaka; so that’s where my trip centered around. I went around Osaka and areas nearby. Even with almost a week allotted for this trip, our itinerary was pretty packed! Tokyo is a long way away. Going all the way there would not be practical; so I’ll reserve that for another time.
THE PREPARATION: Avoid Panic Packing
Upon deciding to go to Japan, I had to research about the weather when I get there. March is the time when winter slowly transitions into spring; and so it’s significantly cooler compared to our tropical climate. Having never been to a country so far north from the equator, this meant I had to start from scratch and buy everything I needed.
I started building my fall/winter wardrobe early, scouring December and January sales at Mango, Forever 21, Aldo and Terranova. I also bought HeatTech basics from Uniqlo. Sweaters, turtlenecks, jackets, boots, gloves, socks and leggings are essentials for cool weather. It’s best to buy stuff little by little instead of plopping down thousands in one time. That way I won’t be overwhelmed by the clothing expenses on top of travel expenses.
From my Twitter: “this is PACKING awesome! #osaka2013” (March 2, 2013 1:33pm)
Two to three weeks before the trip, I started planning what I would wear daily. I did this to avoid packing unnecessary clothes that would just occupy luggage space. For a six-day trip, I prepared 7 days worth of clothes plus extra tops just in case. A week before, I started putting everything in my luggage. This allowed me a week to add or reduce clothes as I see fit. This way, I won’t pack like a maniac and forget stuff the day before I leave.
THE FLIGHT: Flying Cathay
Given that travel time to Osaka would take longer, I don’t regret spending a bit more money to fly Cathay Pacific. It was my first time with this airline; and we went on connecting flights from Manila to Hong Kong to Osaka. There is definitely a difference (as compared to local airlines) when it came to the plane itself, the food, the service as well as the in-flight entertainment. The seats were more spacious. We were given blankets. I also came directly from a shoot the day before; so I needed a flight that allowed me to sleep comfortably. It was well worth the few extra dollars.
THE TEMPORARY HOME: Toyoko Inn Nanba
Hotels aren’t really that big a deal for me. Since I will spend more time outside than inside, all I need are clean sheets, a clean bathroom and a comfy bed. I got all that at Toyoko Inn Nanba. My room is a small one; but it was for only about Php3,000++ a night. With free breakfast and free WI-FI, that’s a pretty good price point given the location.
My trip was from March 4 to 9; and in that week the temperature transitioned from really really cold to moderate.
I was practically freezing upon arrival at Kansai International Airport. I underestimated the weather, wearing only one layer of clothing. After checking in, I piled on the clothes but it still wasn’t enough! My feet were freezing in the two-degree weather. I ended up buying a thermal shirt and leggings. It really helped in the first few days. I’m just glad the temperature gradually progressed to a more comfortable 17-20 degrees as days passed by. It just goes to show that no matter how ready you might be, you may still be surprised once you’re actually there. But hey, it’s part of the unpredictability of travel.
THE TRANSPORTATION: Confusing But Effective
The Osaka Railway System looks this crazy. Who wouldn’t get lost with that as a guide?
Our main mode of transportation was the subway/trains. We had a local accompanying us while going from one place to another, so he was a really huge help. But he himself still got a bit confused by the subway system, asking other people along the way. (I find the Hong Kong and Singapore Subway System easier to grasp and understand.) Still, you gotta hand it to the Japanese. Their transport system is very effective and efficient. All the trains have arrival times set to the minute. There are almost endless combinations to get to your destination; because everything is connected in one way or another. It’s confusing; but still brilliant. In Filipino, pinag-isipan nang maayos (well-thought of and planned well).
It’s also convenient. You just get an ICOCA card, load up (it reached around 4000 Yen or less than Php2000 for me for the whole trip) and just tap to get in and out of the stations. As a bonus, the stations each have their own personality (some are old but with character, while others are very modern), the trains have cushioned seats… sometimes even heated seats. It definitely made travel comfortable and hassle-free.
THE SIGHTS: A Really Photogenic Country
I believe Japan, as a whole, simply looks good in pictures. There are a lot of sights worth taking a snapshot of, even something as random as a walkway or a street. Case in point:
first subway station we went intoone of the many stretches of shops around Osakathis is an installation along one of the walkwaysanother stretch of shops, this one in Kobe
Even the food — real or fake — are so pretty! Can you tell which is which?
FAKE. food displays outside the restaurant.REAL. pancakes from 3 Brothers CafeREAL. expensive but oh-so-delicious strawberries.REAL. authentic karaage from Tempozan Market Food Court.FAKE. i have no idea what this is, but it’s some sort of dessert
Even at the convenience store, I couldn’t help but take pictures!
a display of drinks.one of the many food items available at Family Mart, a popular convenience store.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
It’s no wonder I had a great adventure in Japan. Almost everything I encountered is unique from other destinations I’ve been to. Simply put, the whole trip was just AWESOME!
Think of almost anything you can imagine; and you’ll probably find it there. Recently for me, two valuable tips I’ve found on the world wide web have helped me a lot. These are simple, everyday solutions to problems and emergencies that just might save you money and a whole lot of stress. I really want to share my experiences here; because I hope to teach you some stuff in the way these other sites aided me in certain situations.
CRISIS # 1: Tight Flats
Three months ago, I bought a pair of flats that fit fine when I tried them on in the store. However, after walking in them for less than an hour, the shoes hurt and bruised my ankles. It’s too tight for everyday use! They were then hidden away in the back of my shoe closet.
Thanks to Pinterest, which led me to Coffee Light & Sweet, I found my solution three weeks ago; and I’ve been sharing this tip with my friends ever since.
What you need: thick socks (or a number of pairs of socks) and blow dryer What to do:
– Put on the thick socks (or at least two layers of socks) and wear your flats.
– Aim the blow dryer in the tight spots, wiggling your feet as you heat the shoes so that it loosens up. Do this for a couple of minutes.
– Keep the shoes on as it cools down.
– Once cooled down, remove your socks and try the shoes on. Repeat process until shoes are comfortable for you. Other applications: This is a great technique to break in your shoes. You may also try it with your leather shoes and heels. I’m currently trying this technique out with a pair of rain boots I bought from the US, which is tight around the calves. (It has loosened up a bit; and I’ll try doing the technique again for the next few days.)
CRISIS # 2: Wet iPhone
This is probably the most common emergency that may happen to anyone with a mobile phone. I am one of the recent victims. Let me share my story first. The other day (on my birthday nonetheless), I had an accident and my precious iPhone got soaked. It was in the water for about 2-3 seconds before I fished it out. Common sense told me to turn it off at once, which I did. I then immediately shook the phone for excess water and used paper towels to dry it off outside. In the back of my head, I know I read something about using uncooked rice or silica. I ran to my computer to search for a solution and got my confirmation.
These sites popped up in my quick search: CNET and Appstorm. They also suggested the uncooked rice trick; so I rushed to get some and immediately put my phone in it. A few minutes later, I also found a paper clip, removed my SIM card, then put the phone back in the rice. All of these were accomplished in less than 20 minutes.
When I got home, I found the packs of silica I saved up and added them in the container where my phone was drying out. I also briefly blow dried the phone (in cool setting) before putting it back in the container.
Next thing I did was wait overnight. (It was one of the longest nights of my life!) By the time morning came, my phone has been in the uncooked rice and silica for approximately 15 hours. I plugged in the phone while praying for a miracle to happen. About 8 minutes passed before I finally heard the sweet sound of the iPhone booting up with the Apple logo appearing. At this time, angels were singing in my head.
Next step was to try out the functions. Thankfully, I found no glitches! I only saw some fogging in the lamp and the front-facing camera. To be safe, I put silica packs in my iPhone case for the rest of the day. I also put my phone in uncooked rice again overnight. In the morning, the fogging was gone and the phone still works! Hallelujah!
What you need: paper towels, uncooked rice (or silica packs), lots of patience! What to do:
– Turn off your phone immediately. Shake it out to remove excess water, then dry with cloth or paper towels. Don’t forget to remove the SIM.
– Put your phone in uncooked rice and leave it there for at least 12 hours. Depending on how soaked your phone gets, others suggest leaving it there for 24 hours to 3 days.
– After waiting, remove any uncooked rice that got into the nooks and crannies of the phone. Use a pin or brush to get them out.
– Plug the phone in and wait.
– If it turns on, test the functions of your phone immediately: battery, screen, touch screen function, home button, sending and receiving calls, texting, speakers, earphone jack, Wi-fi, 3G, camera, games & apps. This will help you determine the extent of damage to your phone. Since getting wet will void your warranty, you might as well get your phone repaired if any problem pops up.
– If it doesn’t turn on, try to put it back in the rice for a longer time, maybe weeks, before trying it again. *Side note: This technique doesn’t guarantee that your iPhone will spring back to life. This is just one of the most effective ways to dry out and possibly salvage your water-damaged phone. It really depends on the extent of damage or the length of time that the device has been in the water. Other applications: This can be applied to most electronic devices. If you can remove the battery, be sure to do so and dry it out before putting all parts in uncooked rice.
It’s only been a day or two since the accident; and I have yet to see any problems with my iPhone. I’m really thankful. It was just a matter of acting fast and finding a solution as soon as possible… thanks to the Internet.
I have recently reacquainted myself with the awesomeness of this virtual pinboard. In the past week, I have been pinning away like there’s no tomorrow. It’s now one of the pages I immediately log into every time I’m in front of the computer… right up there with the likes of Facebook and Twitter.
Pinterest is absolutely wonderful. Everything I like is arranged visually right in front of me — simple and useful. Scrolling through so many pretty things has never been this fun. I get to discover new brands, products and styles. I learn new recipes and pick up tips about everyday life.
It’s also a great social app. I get to see what my friends pin on their boards. In turn, I could repin anything they post that catches my eye. I learn more about their tastes and if they’re similar to mine. Aside from your friends, your pins are also shared with other users; and they too can repin your pins, regardless of who you are or where you’re from. It has allowed the world to seem even smaller. Sharing my interests has now given me a sense of community. I’m just amazed at how much people have in common. It’s pretty cool.
pinning
I like pinning the usual stuff… favorite shows, movies, books and music artists. This giant online cork board would never run out of space for what I love; and I have a lot of them. Believe me. In TV shows alone, I could pin one series after another. Movies? Don’t even get me started.
I also spend most of my time on Pinterest just pinning and pining away. I keep on pinning stuff that I WISH I had. I spot some cute luggage — PIN! I see an amazing indoor pool in a house I won’t ever own — PIN! I catch sight of a gorgeous dress that probably won’t look good on me — PIN! Pin this. Pin that. Every single beautiful thing… without even blinking… PINNED!
pining
Pinterest is genius, actually. It leads me to products that I now want to buy. Looking at my pins every single day creates this desire for a product. Here are just some of the things I actually covet and want to buy at the moment:
Unhealthy, right? So far, I haven’t really bought anything… Thanks to my amazing self-control (ha!). But it’s only a matter of time before I click that “Buy Now” button. It’s what I both love and hate about Pinterest. Still, I can’t stop pinning and pining.
There were also a lot of shops lined up, ready to be explored!
These photos of 
Life Behind The Scenes 