Osaka

After 10 days or so of non-stop sightseeing and walking up to 25,000 steps every day, we were quite tired and ready for a quieter day of doing our own thing, where we could just come and go from our accommodation near Dotonbori as we pleased.  

Jay and I had looked at going to a baseball game, but I wasn't sure if I would love it enough to pay $80 to go and wasn't sure if we would get frustrated sitting there and 'wasting' a whole day, so we decided not to buy tickets.  Jalen then joked that he might go to Universal Studios which we loved on our first trip.  I loved it on our last trip, but not enough to go back and spend another day at a theme park. 

Melissa and Harri went off and looked at the shops together and Kobe also headed off shopping on his own. I love just wandering around, people watching and although I don't love shopping, I love just looking around and seeing the different things that you can buy and comparing the prices with what we would pay at home.  I did end up buying a couple of things in Osaka as the price was just so much cheaper than home. 

Kobe and I met up and decided to get Sushiro (sushi train) for lunch. 

We then jumped on the train and went to Shinsekai which is a retro-styled, nostalgic neighbourhood.   

We had fun just looking around and Kobe played a couple of the games. 

Throughout the day we were all sending updates on what we were doing on the group chat and Jay sent a photo of him outside Universal Studios.  We knew that standing at that sign meant he was still outside and had a laugh as only Jalen would go all the way to try to convince us that he went without us. 

Not long after, he then sends us videos and photos of him in the park! He said he originally decided to just go outside as a joke, and then when he got there, he decided to buy a ticket and go in and loved just seeing his favourite things again. Kobe and Harri were both disappointed as they would've liked to have gone again with him, but we all had a good day, taking it a bit easier. 

I love the manholes all around Japan. 

We decided to meet up after we all got our own dinner.  Dotonbori is always busy, but especially busy at night. 

I don't mind eating on my own at all, so just wandered the streets and found a place where you could order ramen on the machine outside and then take your ticket in and they prepare it for you, while you sit and wait.  It was so good and I remember just sitting there eating it and feeling so sad that our trip was almost over. 

After dinner we all decided to meet up at a place called Round One.  We paid for 90 minutes which is unlimited play of all the activities in there which included darts, basketball, tennis, skating, bowling and baseball cages etc. 

I love all the little alleys which are close to Dotonbori. 

Melissa and Harri found a cute cafe close to our accommodation that made the cutest drinks. 

On our first trip we loved watching these buskers at Dotonbori. The woman was pregnant on our last trip and now they're busking with their baby! 

We love Osaka and Dotonbori, and it was so nice to just have a 'down' day where we could all do whatever we want and catch up later on.