Back in college I remember how we planned to see the cherry blossoms for our first Japan date (trip lol), but due to schedule changes we ended up going in autumn instead. It still turned out wonderfully since it was Patrick’s birthday week and we got to enjoy the stunning autumn scenery of Tokyo and Tochigi. That was five years ago though, and, just last week, we finally got to see the cherry blossoms together in Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara.
Touchdown, Osaka: Dinner in Dotonbori
We entered the country through KIX and stayed with his family for seven days in Osaka, with three days dedicated to day trips to the nearby prefectures of Kyoto and Nara. Since we wanted to arrive in time to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom (and honestly, to avoid the ridiculous crowds), we left for Japan exactly one week before Holy Week.
As soon as we arrived, we checked into our hotel then made our way to Dotonbori for some much needed food and drinks. Thankfully, the massive servings of ramen at Kamukura re-energized us after our hours-long flight. My order was smothered in scallions and had the most comforting, porky broth — which paired perfectly with their ice-cold Asahi beer.
Before heading back to our hotel, we took a quick stroll around Dotonbori to soak in the scenery. It was our first time in Osaka together and our first trip to Japan since 2018, after all! I also had my first taste of Osaka’s famous street food in the form of mitarashi dango skewers that were chewy, perfectly charred, and dripping in a sweet-salty soy glaze!
Osaka Castle: Thousands of Cherry Blossom Trees
One place that I knew I had to visit was the historic Osaka Castle, which used to be the largest castle in Japan at the time of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s rule. Even on the way to the castle tower itself, there are already so many sights to behold. Numerous gates, moats, and impressive stone walls surround the castle grounds, which also houses over 4000 cherry blossom trees!
While we didn’t go inside the castle anymore, I did enjoy seeing its grand architecture up close! Outside of the main castle grounds, we also took a short but lovely stroll through this pretty long pathway lined with hundreds of cherry blossom trees before making our way back to Dotonbori.
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan: A Seaside Visit
Osaka Castle sightseeing aside, most of our Osaka days were spent trying food, checking out cafes, and going shopping in Shinsaibashi, Den-den Town, and Namba. So our visit to the aquarium gave us a quick but welcome break from the city center. That day, we spent a chill afternoon enjoying the seaside view and refreshing breezes of the Osaka bay area.
Located in Tempozan Harbor Village, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is hailed as one of Japan’s best and most spectacular aquariums. It houses over a dozen tanks, each one representing a different region of the Pacific Rim and its inhabitants. We started our journey on the 8th floor and slowly spiraled down into the depths of the aquarium.
Most of the tanks stretch over several floors, so we got to watch all kinds of sea creatures from different depths in each tank. I ended up sitting by their 9-meter-tall central tank because I was so mesmerized by the interactions of all its inhabitants – from the schools of small fish to the massive hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and the lone whale shark.
Staying in Miyako City Osaka Hommachi
Since we basically explored three different prefectures throughout our trip, we ended up walking an average of about 20,000 steps each day. And, when you walk that much, nothing beats having a nice and comfortable hotel to come home to at the end of each day. Luckily for us, Miyako City Osaka Hommachi served as the perfect sanctuary for our trip.
The hotel sits conveniently in the heart of Osaka, so going to central areas like Dotonbori, Namba, and Shinsaibashi could easily be done via train or even on foot! Our daily breakfast spot was this 7-Eleven branch right across the hotel, where we’d also stop at the end of each day to get our midnight snacks and drinks.
Overall the room itself was nice and cozy, with two single beds that we just ended up pushing beside each other. I could not get over how comfortable the blankets were in particular! They did a great job of keeping me warm while not being too heavy. But, my favorite parts of the room would have to be the really spacious bathroom and the balcony, which offered a great view of the street below.
I also enjoyed sitting around, albeit shortly, in the chic and cozy guest lounge in the main lobby. Here, guests were free to enjoy unlimited coffee, juice, and even wine all throughout their stay — so I made sure to make myself some iced coffee in the morning before we checked out.
I’ve already got separate entries drafted for our adventures in Kyoto and Nara, because it would be impossible to cover everything that we saw and tried in just one post. I’m still on a high from finally being able to explore different prefectures in the springtime. Seeing the cherry blossoms with my own two eyes was an absolutely magical experience, so I look forward to sharing more soon!
curious elf 