Awesome Osaka 🍥

Shinsaibashi Shopping District in the heart of Osaka

Our first stop was Osaka. We arrived at Kansai International Airport at about 30 minutes after sunset. It was comfortably warm inside but, after stepping out, we immediately felt the cold winds embracing us like crazy. It was my first time to experience 12 degrees. Ironically, I was able to withstand the cold by just wearing my IBP jacket.

Took a selfie to prove that IBP jacket was enough for 12 degrees 😅

What can I say about Osaka? It's a huge metropolitan city. I thought it was just some city. It's actually so huge, it could be bigger than Metro Manila. I didn't check and compare the two cities anymore because I'm that lazy. What I'm saying is, Osaka is huge.

Train to Osaka from Kansai Airport

Because of this, I felt that I will not be a hundred percent here and I would not be in my element. I was simply reminded by my experiences in Metro Manila where the crowd and traffic drove me home. 

Osaka wasn't really like that. There was no traffic and, though there were many people, the streets remain quiet. However, I can still remember the pollution of Manila even though there was none in Osaka. Crazy imaginations, crazy memories. Regardless, as our tour went on, my opinion on "big cities" gradually changed.

An Origami inside the hotel room

We stayed at APA Hotel in the middle of the city's urban district; it was a few minutes walk from the train station. The hotel room was quite small but it makes up with cleanliness and comfort. Every little thing inside our tiny space of a room was brand new.

Videocall conversations as we greeted our father a happy birthday

The following day was our father's birthday. He and our mom would've joined us and the tour was supposed to be his birthday celebration but, unfortunately, he fell ill just few days before the trip, which was almost canceled because of the predicament. However, we still pursued our vacation even without our parents. 

It was a combination of many reasons. I couldn't exactly remember the specifics, but during that time, I just felt it was the right time to visit another country. I wanted to cancel too because I am trying to grow my wealth and the trip would just be a few steps back. In the end, I decided to join and felt that it was the right thing to do. 

Eventually, our father got better. We realized that it was his way of not joining the tour without actually saying 'no.' 😅 To make up for our father's absence, we decided to give him a new pair of shoes as a birthday gift.

Monkey doing tricks while standing on stilts.

We woke up late that day as we would if we're not in a hurry. It's vacation after all; there should be no rush. Our very first stop was the Osaka Castle. We hailed a taxi cab that brought us in the middle of the city. It was a huge park with huge spaces, far from what we usually have in Albay where there is obviously dearth in spaces.

On our way to the castle, we spotted a monkey doing tricks. He would run around, walk on his hands, and jump over several obstacles while holding and standing on stilts. It was a hot and humid early afternoon when we watched his show. It was fine and entertaining, to say the least, but it officially jump-started our vacation as the very first attraction we saw.

The Osaka Castle

The Osaka Castle itself seemed plain. Well, we didn't see its interiors and perhaps when Sakura trees begin to bloom, its beauty would be magnified. Many, many tourists were frolicking in and around though. There must be something interesting that we don't know...

Posing with white plum blossoms behind

Near the castle, we spotted what appears to be white plum blossoms. It looks very similar to cherry blossoms and we cannot distinguish the two. I suppose having plum blossoms will do. We were sure it was plum blossoms because it was still too early for Sakura Season, which begins at the end of March (we were few weeks early).

Behind me was the Umeda Sky Building

We continued walking from Osaka Castle. The weather was surprisingly hot and humid. I say "surprisingly" because it was still part of Winter, and yet, we were perspiring like crazy. The weather doesn't seem to feel any different from the Philippines.

After walking a few hundred meters, we entered a park with a good view of Umeda Sky Building. It is a nice skyscraper shaped like an inverted "U" where its two component towers are connected through glass bridges at the top.

I wasn't sure what was any different about this skyscraper until we got to use its escalator where I was slightly astounded as to how futuristic it feels.

An escalator on Umeda Sky Building

I always like pleasant surprises and the escalator gave us something slightly palatable to our senses. It feels like entering a space ship of a humanoid from the future. Though the patterns and designs were simple, it was easy on the eyes.

Going down while the sun was setting...

It becomes even more beautiful when the setting sun's rays illuminate the escalator. Seeing the dramatic colors as we move down the next level really puts everyone on a good mood. It might be even better if there was a coffee shop nearby. Perhaps there is.

Umeda Sky Building at dusk

Umeda Sky Building looks spectacular at dusk. I'm not really fond of modern skyscrapers as I'm more enthralled by ancient infrastructures but taking last-minute photos of the building was simply irresistible. 

Glico Running Man

After Umeda Sky Building, our sister brought us to Osaka's shopping districts. We were walking endlessly but we went on without complaints. Sometimes I wasn't sure anymore if we were still on the right track or we were already partially lost. In due time, we reached Dotonbori and took pictures with the Glico Running Man behind us. 

Our brother

As a gamer, our brother is a huge fan of Nintendo so we went to the Nintendo Store in the middle of Shinsaibashi Shopping District. I bought several Zelda merchandise because I'm a huge fan of Zelda. I have played Windwaker, Breath of the Wild, and Tears of the Kingdom. Difficult, challenging games but intellectually stimulating nevertheless.

Sometimes we go to our brother's house just to play Nintendo games such as Super Mario Party Game and all those other fancy games. I hope we will be playing more games soon.

Another picture because the Nintendo Store is just so cool...

In the Nintendo Store in Osaka, we bought several merchandise. In fact, we bought Mario caps that we wore at the Universal Studios the next day.

Crazy Zelda Merchandise!

The Nintendo Store was right in the middle of Shinsaibashi Shopping District where we saw many shops and stores. Ironically, despite the many people, Shinsaibashi remains quiet. Japanese people are simply known for their manners. I've personally witnessed their courtesy during our visit there, and they do it without losing their authenticity. They're very nice without faking it.

Shinsaibashi Shopping District

Another thing we noticed was the cleanliness of Shinsaibashi. It was immaculate and organized. You will see empty water bottles all in the same trash bag. Their solid-waste management is superb.

Shinsaibashi Shopping District

You would expect that the Japanese people would castigate you for not following the rules. No, they would not lose their cool. Instead, they would politely remind you of the rules and say, "it's okay." Because of this, I fell in love with Japan even though it was not part of my bucket list. Architectures aren't everything. The culture of the people matter too.

At Universal Studios Osaka

The next day, we went to Universal Studios where we had so much fun with the exhilarating rides inside. Because our brother is a gamer and there is Super Nintendo World inside, Universal Studios should not be missed. 

Our brother and his wife

Only a true-blue fan will visit the Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Osaka. We stayed there for a good four hours. The rain showers and freezing temperatures didn't deter us from enjoying the theme park.

The Donkey Kong Country, my brother's favorite part of the tour

As a theme park, the Universal Studios won't be complete without doing the rides inside. At the Donkey Kong Country, we rode the Mine Cart Madness. It was so scary, my sister closed her eyes the entire time. I didn't close mine as I wanted to see the scary stuff in all its glory. 

Every two to three seconds or so, we witnessed what we thought would be an inevitable accident. It all went so quickly, I thought every second would be my last. What's even worse was that I almost forgot to put my phone inside my pocket and I still had shoulder injuries then. At the very moment the whole thing began, I was able to snag last few seconds to slide it inside my pocket. And then, BOOM. The maddening cart shot up left, right, up, and down.  🥶🥶🥶

Mine Cart Madness. The reactions were so funny 🤭

Aside from the Donkey Kong Country, we also tried Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge. Good thing, the Mine Cart Madness came in second as it was so much more frightening. The Koopa's Challenge had no fear factor and would've been a let-down if it was our second ride.

Our brother and sister-in-law at Bowser's Castle

Before making it to the Koopa's Challenge, we needed to go through a long line of excited customers. There were plenty of decorations based on the Super Mario games and characters.

Wearing Super Mario caps in the middle of Super Nintendo World

The Super Nintendo World occupies a huge swath of space inside Universal Studios. There were many attractions to see and experience. Since it was adjacent to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we also visited it...

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

I'm not really a huge fan of English architecture as it was all just dry and barren. The weather magnified it even farther as it was all clouds and gray skies that time. Nevertheless, the place evokes some kind of inexplicable magic that inspires me, draws me, and lures me to visit England some day. If only I could hop on a portal that automatically brings me halfway around the world...

I thought his name should not be spoken or written?

Inside the Wizarding World, we saw a shop selling wands used by different characters in Harry Potter. Unfortunately, they were a bit expensive for our limited budget, and since it was a few minutes after six, we needed to leave quickly because it might be too late for our next destination.

Donguri Republic!

Since we were in Japan, I thought it might be cool to visit anything related to Studio Ghibli. If you haven't seen any of its movies, you are missing out on a lot of things. It is essentially the Disney of Japan but its animations are far more complex and its characters are quirkier and more dynamic.

Right now, Studio Ghibli is experiencing a sudden rise in fame due to AI or Artificial Intelligence... so you might have heard about it. If you would just like to try, I definitely recommend watching Spirited Away (2001) for a start. The good news is, you can actually find it on Netflix.

In Osaka, we visited Donguri Republic, its official store, where we saw hordes of figurines, keychains, ref magnets, and all other fancy stuff featuring Studio Ghibli's beloved quirky characters...

Donguri Republic did not disappoint! I really felt I was a Studio Ghibli character myself and I am meeting all these quirky people and animals in person!

The Boy and the Heron (2023) won the Best Animated Feature Film at the Oscars

I was so glad I saw the mysterious heron from Studio Ghibli's latest film which had won best animated feature film at the Oscars. For the price of 18,000 yen, I bought one item even though it is a bit expensive. 

The Kodama or the tree spirits from Princess Mononoke (1997)

The Kodama or the tree spirits from Princess Mononoke deserve a picture. These beings are so addictive to look at that I would consider them as "eyeworms." 

Various characters from Princess Mononoke (1997)

Princess Mononoke is one of the films you would want to see if you're an environmentalist. It holds so many practical lessons you could apply in advancing your environmental advocacies.

The train from Spirited Away (2001)

Spirited Away is still, by far, my favorite movie from Studio Ghibli. It was simply entertaining all throughout and there was absolutely no dead air or dry spell. It is also the most unpredictable film I have ever seen where the ensuing moment would be the complete opposite of what you thought it would be.

Porco Rosso's (1992) hideout somewhere in Croatia 

If you're a guy, Porco Rosso would be the perfect film for you. Although it might be a bit uneventful for the most part, it has a climactic, impactful, and memorable ending.

Porco Rosso was a retired pilot who fought during the first World War.

Calcifer from Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

Howl's Moving Castle is my second favorite! It had so many quirky and endearing characters, and one of them is Calcifer!

The Catbus from Totoro (1988)

The magical catbus from Totoro appears whenever you needed a ride, especially on crucial moments or emergencies. So many kids have fallen in love with the catbus!

Some characters riding the catbus

Totoro welcomes visitors to Donguri Republic

Everybody had that imaginary neighbor or friend when they were just a kid, and Studio Ghibli created a common neighbor for everyone --- Totoro! This character has been existing since 1988 or almost forty years ago! Ever since then, Totoro has been Studio Ghibli's trademark or icon.

This well-loved character stands at the entrance of the shop, welcoming thousands and thousands of visitors from all over the world. Totoro has not spoken a word but it has captivated the whole planet by its charm.

Smaller Totoros

Beside Totoro are smaller versions of himself. These tiny beings are the ambassadors of Donguri Republic and Studio Ghibli. They are well-loved even by adults including those who have seen them well into their adulthood. Studio Ghibli is for everyone, not just kids.

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And that concludes our first half of the trip. Osaka was a daunting metropolis of so many skyscrapers and buildings. It is exactly the type of place I don't want to go to, but during our tour, it transformed my opinions and impressions about the idea of living in the big city. There were just so many things to do that you would not run out of ideas on where to go...

But while Osaka impressed us, we were not expecting that the next city would actually be a lot more fun! Find out soon why!