osaka-kyoto-tokyo

Sunday, we woke up early to check out the Shishiden (Lion stage) on the grounds of the Namba Yasaka Shrine
 

I saw this on social media...and there were quite a number of foreigners out and about here too

It was something to see!

After breakfast, we checked out and made our way to Kyoto

On a previous trip to Osaka, I noticed this street art on the side of a building.

After looking it up, I learned that it was a mural of Taro Okamoto, a Japanese artist.

I'm glad I got a photo of it this time around...

Well, the AI site had sent us a message that they didn't have any item similar to Satoshi's cap...boo!

So, when we got to Shin Osaka, we asked the Shinkansen Lost and Found about Satoshi's cap

They gave us a number to call since the item would've probably been turned in at the final destination of the Shinkansen we rode…Hakata!

If you've been reading our little blog, do you remember the huge chocolate bar wall that is at the Meiji Chocolate Factory?!

I wrote about it here and I also uploaded a newer video of the wall here

After arriving in Kyoto, Satoshi checked out some things and then we went to visit our family grave

Lunch was at Mimikou...we have eaten here before

The curry was a little saltier than I had remembered and the serving looked a little smaller too

Satoshi had the ebi ten curry udon

After lunch, we bought our tickets for the Shinkansen and got these soft waffles filled with custard from Patisserie Hiroya, a shop that has been in business since 1956...so ono! with some coffee

It was a short trip, Satoshi got to refamiliarize himself with many areas

I hope you enjoyed this adventure too!

p.s. after we got home, we called Hakata about Satoshi's cap, they had it! they sent it to us and it arrived yesterday, “cash on delivery”

Satoshi was amazed at the lost and found system. 

We're thankful someone turned it in and we were able to get it back.

ippoutei

Ippoutei is a tiny shop that is famous for their shumai

They have been in business since 1933!

While waiting in line, I overheard many people that walked past say that there is always a line to get in

This shop was on a J-drama which is why I was interested in trying it

They have dining on the 2nd floor as well as some seats and a counter area on the 1st floor

I ordered the sweet sour pork set...1350 yen (tax included)

This comes with 5 shumai

Choose the size of your rice...I chose small

I also asked for no soup

This was delicious and the serving was super generous

Satoshi ordered the ebi ten (tempura shrimp)...1200 yen (tax included)

His dinner also came with a serving of 5 shumai 

He chose the medium amount of rice

And also ordered a large bottle of beer...700 yen (tax included)

The food took awhile to come out, but it was fun to listen in on other diners’ conversations while we waited

While we were eating Satoshi said he had eaten these shumai before at their other shop that was near his office when he worked in Osaka

The shumai was a little too soft for my liking, but I'm glad I got to try this place

Ippoutei

2-6-22 Nanbanaka

Naniwa, Osaka

Closed: Sundays

Hours: 11:30-20:00

*cash only

tokyo-osaka

Satoshi wanted to research some things for an upcoming tour, so on Friday, we headed to Osaka

This building, Osaka Shochikuza was slated to be torn down, but many people protested and has been saved!

We stumbled on this cute 3D screen right across of the big crab in Dotombori.

so much sensory overload...and tons of people...

we needed to wake up early for the reason we were here...will post about it tomorrow.

Osaka Teikoku Hotel

2-8-17 Nishi Shinsaibashi

Chuo, Osaka

epinard

Friend Hiromi, sent me these sweets from Epinard for my birthday

When we lived in Osaka, Epinard was in our area, Minoo

 

It was nice to reconnect with their sweets

And I look forward to sharing these truffles with Satoshi

Thank you Hiromi! I appreciate our friendship and your kindness

ojigi n style

Learned about Ojigi n Style from a television show.

The FIL of the owner actually makes mamegashi which translates literally to bean treats 

Not only are dried beans used but peas, nuts and peanuts too.

The original shop was called Shofukudo, a shop that was in business since 1933 

The owner then took over Shofukudo and changed the name to Ojigi n Style in 2021.

One of his latest creations is Takoyaki Nuts...instead of tako, peanuts are covered with a crunchy outside and topped with takoyaki sauce and aonori just like takoyaki

Love the packaging too!

Turcarri Kaajoo is apparently Hindi for the “highest flavor cashew”

The cashews are coated with a crunchy curry flavored coating.

Temari are balls that are covered with embroidery, they are colorful and take time to make

These are also called temari and are all sorts of colors and flavors

These use katsuo dashi, konbu dashi, usukuchi shoyu and koikuchi shoyu, they are also coated with different nori, and flavors

Fun to eat, some look like they would taste the same but each are different

Hatsusugata, literally the first appearance/shape is the original product that Shofukudo used to sell.

The owner of Ojigi n Style continues to make these and hasn't changed the way it is made or the flavor

I'm glad we got to try all of these, all except the cashews remind me of iso peanuts, which I grew up eating in Hawaii.

If I see these the next time I’m in Osaka, I’ll definitely pick some up

osaka & namba

The Osaka Expo is running from April 13 until October 13, 2025 

I think Osaka first bid to host this event while we were still living in Osaka

So much controversy & drama

Initially I didn’t really want to go and Satoshi thought he might go while I was in Hawaii 

But once we figured out how to use their website we secured our entrance tickets

Because everything was last minute, we couldn’t secure entrance to any of the pavilions

So we went just to absorb the atmosphere and mood

But first a walk around Umeda, so much has changed 

Lots of new buildings, shops and eateries

We had our second breakfast in the Eki Marche area, an area we used to go to often when we lived in Osaka, so much had changed here as well, but it was nice to see some shops that we enjoyed had survived the pandemic  

Afterwards, we made our way to the Expo, our entrance time was 11:00 and there was already people lining up

Your bag will be put through the x-ray machine, bottle with water and tea will also be checked

There is a list of prohibited items like selfie sticks, so be sure to read the rules on the website before going.

One guy had to put his selfie stick into a locker before entering the Expo that was gonna cost him 1500 yen for the day!

Satoshi was most interested in walking the ring that surrounds the Expo

Called the Grand Ring, this large wooden structure is 20 meters high (65 feet), runs 2025 meters (1.258 miles) around and takes up 61,035 square meters (656,980 square feet) 

The Grand Ring uses Japanese cedar and cypress and is built using the “nuki” technique which penetrates one element through another and can be seen in the Japanese torii at the entrances of Shinto shrines

The Grand Ring was designed by Sou Fujimoto and represents the Expo’s theme : “unity in diversity”

It was something to see!

Walking underneath provided lots of shade, the humidity was unfortunately pretty thick

The pavilions that represented different countries were unique and beautiful

Frustrating were the lines for food, shopping

Thank goodness there were no lines for the restrooms! (at least not at the restrooms we used!)

Also the line to refill your water bottle went quite fast

Since we had eaten before going, we just had snacks 

Satoshi had a grape soft serve...700 yen (tax included)

Kat had a pineapple slush...800 yen (tax included)

The whole event is cashless so be prepared to pay with a credit card or some kind of electronic payment 

While walking around we noticed some pavilions did not have lines or require reservations so we visited Chile & Senegal

Loved seeing all the different art pieces and paintings here and there.

One thing we noticed was even if you had a reservation for a certain pavilion, you still needed to wait in line to actually go in to experience it…some reservation lines were krazy long!

We had thought to stay until sunset but left at about 15:00 because it was just.too.hot

After checking in, we walked around Dotombori and went to look for okonomiyaki

We’ve been to Ootako with family and it was nice to revisit

We enjoyed the pork garlic kimchee yakisoba and pork tomato cheese okonomiyaki

It was a long day, but we were happy we got to experience the Expo and reconnect with Umeda and Namba

Grampus Inn Osaka

1-13-18 Nambanaka

Naniwa, Osaka

more videos and photos of the expo here

20167

Since we would be staying in Kyoto on Friday night to attend FIL's memorial service the next day, Satoshi let me go earlier to go holo-holo (gallavanting).

I was lucky to get to see Mount Fuji on the way.

It was my first time back in Osaka since we moved to Tokyo

My first stop was Chocolaterie Coco which I had only learned about after moving to Tokyo, apparently he has been in business since 2015.

Since Friday was the day after White day, choices were kind of slim.

Still I was able to pick out 6 bon bons to try.

Rocher praline (noir), truffes au calvados, pistache, champagne, coco no 8 and tanzania 75...1620 yen (tax included)

All were delicious, love!

I want to try his baked items next time

And then I walked through Honmachi to see all sorts of architecture that were featured on a J-drama

Stumbling on a lot of more things along the way.

In Kyoto, I went to Matsuhiro Shoten and bought a couple of gamaguchi purses

I'm glad they survived the pandemic

And had a very late lunch at Le Bac à Sable, it had been about 8 years since the last time I ate here.

They don't have a lunch menu anymore, so I just had a cheese quiche (which I heated up with their toaster), pain au chocolat and iced coffee...980 yen (tax included)

I'm glad they survived the pandemic too

And then I went up the street to Chocolaterie Hisashi

I picked out 6 bon bons (miso, caramel chocolat, sake, praline pistache, matcha and yuzu)...2700 yen (tax included)

All were delicious too, love!

Loved the caramel chocolat macaron too...475 yen (tax included)

And then I went to Nishiki Market, because I saw something online that said Torisei, which has been in business for over 100 years, sell bentos.

Unfortunately, they only had foods on sticks...(I actually think the info online was wrong)

These days Nishiki Market is definitely not the place to be...way.too.many.people.

I was able to get teriyaki chicken from Torisei that was pre-cut...800 yen (tax included)

super meaty and flavorful

similar to the teriyaki chicken I buy at Shinanoya

And then I walked down to our hotel

Which had a free 1 hour all you can drink, in the lobby (for guests) between 16:00-21:00

Luckily Satoshi arrived in Kyoto so we could try the 1 hour all you can drink

You need to make your own drinks, and drink them in the lobby, but I think this is a nice ammenity for guests.

You can also order food...cheese iburi gakko pizza did not look too good, but Satoshi said it was okay...1000 yen (tax included)

Thankful I was able to get out to Osaka and Kyoto, the weather was nice and I'm glad I was able to see everything I had planned to.

Chocolaterie Coco

1-5-15 Minami Kuhoji machi

Chuo, Osaka

Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

Hours: 11:00-19:00

Chocolate Hisashi

166-16 Ebisucho

Higashiyama, Kyoto

Closed Mondays & Tuesdays

Hours: 10:30-18:00

Torisei

186 Higashiuoyacho

Nakagyo, Kyoto

Hours: 7:30-18:00

Closed Holidays

Il Verde Kyoto

333 Yorozuyacho

Shimogyo, Kyoto

If you'd like to see photos/videos, please look here