Adventures with Jack and Julia

Boy, were we ever excited to finally land in Japan! We loved our time in the heat and it really allowed us to learn how we like to travel. We had a packed schedule planned for our time in this country, but always left time for some breaks and made lots of time to ensure we savoured every last second.

Japan’s train system is famously excellent while also being notoriously difficult to figure out. Luckily, technology’s come a long way and we can rely on Google Maps to tell us which train system, train line, platforms, entrances exits and directions to go because the map of the subway system is so complicated and you’ll often be wandering down long corridors underground to get where you need to go! It also took us a lot of time to figure out which tickets to buy from but once you have it all down it’s all pretty digestible. Plan for lots of time whenever you need to get somewhere is the big take away here!

What was immediately obvious when we got off our plan was the major temperature shift into the throes of winter Japan was facing. Having come from 30 plus degree weather for the past 4 months, the shift to below 5 degrees was a shock to our system to say the least. After an hour ride on the train, we arrived at our first hotel in Osaka, and calling it small would be a major understatement. The entire room consisted of two tatami mats, our bedding, a small fridge, a small table and a bit of empty space for our bags. This was the coziest hotel room we’ve ever stayed in, but it ended up not being so bad since we were out for most of the day and only in the room to sleep despite it only being about 60 square feet.

One thing we loved about Japan was how clean everything was. Whether on the streets, the subway, or even in public bathrooms, there was no garbage or graffiti anywhere, and all the hotels were pristine. This made our experience in the tiny hotel totally fine since the bathrooms, showers and the communal area were so clean. Because Japanese people really take care of their belongings and public amenities, it’s not uncommon to see train cars, restaurant chairs, or machinery that’s still in great shape after 50 years. It sounds kind of random to mention this, but it really did stand out to us compared to how we treat things back home and also made us really conscious of how we’ve been respecting our stuff.

First stop on our first day was immediately to Uniqlo to buy another warm layer to wear. We both got some jackets and toques that would carry us through our time in the country and should serve us well in South Korea too. All geared up, we were ready to explore! All in, we walked an average of 20,000-25,000 steps a day while in Osaka and although we had sore feet at the ends of the days, we just loved exploring all the side streets filled with hidden cafes and shops.

You could easily spend weeks in Osaka and the surrounding regions – there’s just so much to see and do! It was also pretty easy for Julia to find delicious gluten free food in Japan. While in Osaka, we tried takoyaki, which is a popular Japanese street food specialty from Osaka. It’s usually made from wheat flour but we found a dedicated gluten free spot and it did not disappoint. We also found a gluten free restaurant to have another Japanese specialty called okonomiyaki, which is a savoury pancake made with a flour-based batter, shredded cabbage, eggs and various fillings such as pork or seafood. Both of these were absolutely amazing and must-tries in Japan if you can or even back home.

The konbini (Japanese convenience stores like 7-11 and Lawsons) were a staple for us throughout our stay in Japan for breakfast, snacks and treats. We stopped at a local konbini at least once every day to stock up on delicious cheap eats. As a result, we were able to spend a little more on dinners and experience some top notch Japanese cuisine. A usual konbini visit consisted of an onigiri (Japanese rice ball wrapped in seaweed and some kind of meat or veggie filling), smoothies, soft boiled eggs and some fruit. A pretty solid breakfast for around $10-15 CAD and would fill us up for the better part of the day.

Osaka’s home to many different areas to explore but one that stood out to us was Dotonbori. This area was vibrant, loud and full of people. From the food stalls lining the walking streets to the clothing and local artisans selling goods which have been prepared in the same way for centuries, there’s so much to discover. Dotonburi is home to a long stretch of ginormous neon signs including the famous Glico sign, symbolizing local pride and Osaka’s vibrant culture. You can also find Kuidaore Tarō in Dotonburi who’s another mascot in the city.

While staying in Osaka, we took a couple of day trips to neighbouring cities. The first was to visit Nara Park which is famous because over 1,000 wild sika deer roam freely throughout the park! They are protected as a natural treasure and known for “bowing” to visitors in exchange for food. Upon first glance, all of the deer looked very sweet and gentle, but we quickly found out that if knew you had food, they would become rather aggressive. Julia bought some biscuits near the front of the park and was quickly surrounded by about 8 deer, all impatiently waiting for their food. She even got head-butted a couple times by some deer that just could not wait their turn. We learned that it was mating season for the deer, so the males were extra feisty and they had some funny signs all around warning visitors. We enjoyed exploring the park, spotting all the deer, and purchasing more biscuits to feed the more calm deer who were wandering deeper into the park. Definitely worth the short train ride over there as the park is huge and if you manage to get further away from everyone is both quiet and beautiful. Nara Park was a highlight for us for sure, but also be sure to stop at at Yoshikien Garden nearby to see the beautiful zen garden and old tea house.

When planning the Japan leg of the trip, we added extra day or two in Osaka to give us time to return to anywhere we wanted to explore further. This allowed us time on a whim to take a day trip to Kobe to try the world famous Kobe wagyu beef! It only seemed right that we should make the trip over there for world-class beef. It would’ve been a huge “missed-steak” to not have gone if you ask Jack! Japanese wagyu is world-renowned for both its incredible flavour and premium pricing to match. And us being on our shoestring budget simply couldn’t justify spending hundreds of dollars for a meal as much as we would’ve loved to so we were thrilled when we found a food stall selling Kobe nigiri at a much more affordable though still pricey $7 a piece. We both agreed, however, that it was absolutely worth it as it was the best beef we have ever tried and it really does melt in your mouth. We spent the rest of the time walking around the market in Kobe and admired all the seafood, delicious snacks and cute souvenirs. It’s very hard to not buy everything, but we don’t have room in our bags to bring home too many souvenirs. One thing we really enjoyed about the markets in Japan was the quality you can find versus some of the others we’d been to. While some so far on our trip have been people selling knock-off designer clothes and stuff off of Aliexpress, you can find a lot more higher-end restaurant stalls, local delicacies and interesting souvenirs in Japan. It made for a much more interesting daily walk especially as our step counters continued to set new high scores and our feet were pushed to their limits.

Another big highlight was our trip to the Osaka Aquarium. The Pacific Ocean exhibit was especially impressive as it was home to many species of sharks including hammerhead and whale sharks, manta rays, and many different schools of fish. While at the aquarium, we saw penguins, a turtle, seals, dolphins, sea lions, jellyfish, and an octopus.

For us, Osaka was the perfect introduction to Japan as we got our bearings on a new country, new language, and efficient but high complex transit system. We’re so excited to continue exploring this country, eating amazing food and seeing all the sights as we continue on to Kyoto next!

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