Universal Studios Osaka

Universal Studios Osaka is great for older kids and those young at heart, especially for roller coaster buffs. While I have been to Universal Studios in the States many times, I have not been to the one in Japan and I was exceptionally excited as they have Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I read all the books at least twice and watched all the movies so this was a definite highlight for me - and for hundreds of people that day. 

While not huge, the entire span from castle to Hogsmeade was pretty much true to form. Though we didn't take the rides, I heard from my friend it is pretty exhilarating! At least, I got to try frozen Butterbeer, which tasted like caramel root beer. And I can still remember how sweet it is =)

Chibo Okonomiyaki, Dotonbori

Okonomiyaki is synonymous with Osaka and Chibo is famous for serving okonomiyaki teppanyaki-style. Chibo has been around for more than 40 years so they definitely know what they are doing. While your meal isn't made entirely before you, a show and tell awaits you as your meal is prepared right in front of you fumes and all.

Just in case you don't know what  okonomiyaki is - they are fill-your-tummy savoury pancakes topped with ingredients such as seafood and meat, topped with a distinctive sweet sauce, kewpie and dried bonito flakes for the finishing touch. It is messy comforting food. It is not something I eat very often but when in Osaka, I can't help but crave for it.

Refreshing salad

Silkest omelette I have ever had in my life

Chicken gizzards - chewy and fun to eat

Yakisoba - not a very interesting dish till it is fried in front of you

Behold the showstopper!

Fancy drizzle of kewpie...

Let's not forget the kewpie art... 

Get in my belly now!

Delices du Palais, Namba Parks

In Japan, we enjoyed leisurely tea breaks every afternoon. While shopping around Namba Parks, we made a pit-stop at Delices du Palais, where they had an arresting display of fruit tarts. The two tarts we had - Mocha Chocolate Marron and Strawberry - delicious to a tee and I thought these were better than Quit Fait Bon. 

Russell pretty much dominated the strawberry tart while I found myself going back for the Mocha Chocolate Marron. It was arguably the best marron dessert I have ever had, thanks to the coffee flavour! 

Osaka 2016

It is always wonderful in Japan! Well, till you meet tour groups from the Middle Kingdom... That aside, we had a lovely time in Osaka, Kyoto and Nara (our favourite of the three). Of course, it was challenging at times with the kids but well, what can I say, it is a learning experience for us too. HAHA!

We kickstarted our first day with a trip to Osaka caste but as you can imagine, there were hordes of tourists so we didn't bother going in. In fact throughout this trip, we were pretty much adversed to the usual touristy sites, and preferred veering off tracks and discovering little alleyways. 

At Osaka castle, I picked up my first soft serve of the trip. At 10am in the morning. Jut frozen chocolate milk, no? This would surely not be the last soft serve.

I loved shopping at Family Mart, the convenience store. I know, I am turning into an obasan! Here are just a handful of goodies we had.

Blueberry yogurt

Creme brûlée pudding

Walnut bun

Because it is perfectly legit to eat instant noodles for breakfast in Japan.

Tubby x Pablo

Yeah, we tried Pablo cheese tart... It was O-K. There were queues at the Dotonburi outlets but luckily, on one drizzling afternoon, we picked up a mini cheese tart without having to suffer the queues. Oh, FYI, they sell Pablo cheesecakes at Kansai International Airport (before and after checking in), so you can always pick them up after there. 

A random red bean bun - just look at how thin the skin is!

We are such homebodies so of course, we had more than our fair share of depachika dinners... right by the lovely sunset =)

Mental Over Bentos, Japan

The joy of travelling increases when you have pretty bentos for company. I think this is the first time I actually felt excited about arriving extra early at any departure arena - all for the sake of having ample time to choose and scrutinize each micro-component within the bento.





The number of bento varieties vary with each station but at either Tokyo or Kyoto station, numerous acrylic bentos posed as mannequins on display, hoping to lure buyers with their varnish and brightly coloured facades.



My mum would have loved this as it came with a fried egg!

From Tokyo to Kyoto



One the ride to Kyoto, my sister had this sumptuous bento above while I went for the seasonal bento below. In my bento, there was a note stating the components - if only I had a Google translator chip in my brain.







I found it amusing that we were suppose to be admiring the scenery, the cascading greens, farmlands and occasional farm animals but our attention was a 100 percent transfixed on our bentos.

From Kyoto to Tokyo



On our way back to Tokyo, we again bought bentos, this time adding an additional boxed sushi since it was a speciality of Osaka-Kyoto region.





中央のちらし寿司にはズワイガニを使用し、煮物は冬を連想させるおでん風に仕上げました。焼鮭や出汁巻き玉子、牛肉煮など幕の内の定番もしっかりと盛り込みました。

寿司飯・ズワイガニのほぐし身・錦糸玉子・蕗・きぬさや・しいたけ・しょうが
焼鮭・出汁巻玉子・はじかみ・昆布巻き・焼板蒲鉾・海老団子
煮物（乱切り牛蒡・大根・人参・一口厚揚げ）・梅花蓮根・山芋磯辺巻
すき焼き風牛肉煮・グリーンピース・金平牛蒡

From Awajiya.com



(sang to the tune of Jingle Bells)
Oh what fun it is to ride in a Shin-kan-sen today!