Sometimes the best moments are the ones you don’t plan for! We decided to hit up our friends the Konos who just moved to Japan after spending over 35 years in the US. We figured we’d just grab some coffee and chat, but with the Osaka Castle just a quick 10-minute stroll from our hotel, the Dormy Inn Osaka Tanimachi, we decided to check it out. The park surrounding the castle is lined with cherry blossom trees, and as we wandered in, we were just surrounded by those vibrant pink flowers. It’s cherry blossom season in Japan, and it’s such a happy time that symbolizes fresh starts and new beginnings. The locals see it as the perfect chance to let go of any negativity and refresh their spirits. There were people lounging on blankets under the trees, enjoying their afternoon with sake and delicious bentos (convenience store packaged foods). Honestly, what a perfect way to soak in a lovely spring day! If you’re planning to visit Japan for the cherry blossoms, make sure to time it right because those blooms only stick around for about a week before they start falling. Typically, the season kicks off in late March and wraps up by early April.
Dotonbori is such a lively and exciting spot in Osaka, known for its delicious food! I stood in a long Disney-style queue for some Michelin-star takoyaki (seafood dumplings) at Takoyaki Wanaka—totally worth it! Right next door, a similar food stall had no one in line. Just shows you how popular Wanaka is. For just $4, I got six warm, savory delightful pastries. Each one had a tasty little cube of tako (octopus) right in the middle, topped with a yummy brown sauce and a swirl of mayo. Finished off with some shavings of bonito (fish flakes), it was the perfect afternoon snack. Just a short walk from Dotonbori is this charming massage place called Kori-Relax. With the yen being so affordable, we treated ourselves to a 2-hour massage for only $38! After a wonderfully relaxing shiatsu-style massage, we stumbled upon an incredible ramen shop that served the most delicious vegetarian ramen ever!
This is another must-do that we totally enjoyed. There are two teamLab Planets in Japan. It’s hard to describe what teamLab is, but here is my take. It’s an interactive and immersive museum experience that started in July 2018, and it’s so popular, it’s extended until the end of 2027. We picked the one in Toyosu, where you walk barefoot through water—how cool is that? As you meander through the rooms, each exhibit engages your senses in delightful ways. Expect a dazzling display of lights, mirrors, and vibrant colors that make it feel like there are no boundaries at all! It’s totally a sensory playground! Set aside about 1.5 to 2 hours to explore all the fun exhibits. Oh, and after your adventure, there’s a little kiosk outside selling vegan ramen and vegan ice cream. I didn’t get a taste of the ramen, but the vegan ice cream? Let’s just say it was a bit of a letdown. If you’re going to indulge in ice cream, it should be rich and sugary! The vegan option? Not quite a flavor explosion!
One of the coolest parts of our adventure was zipping around Tokyo traffic in street karts! Talk about heart-pounding and full of giggles! Before diving into the fun at Street Kart Akihabara, we needed to have an International Driver’s Permit. We snagged ours at the AAA office in the States. After a quick safety video, we slipped into our comfy (and super cute!) onesies and met our fantastic guide Melina. She was amazing and kept checking in on our little crew to make sure we were all in sync, using hand signals to direct us in and out of traffic. Zooming past semi-trucks, school buses, and all sorts of cars felt a little wild since our karts were hugging the ground and we had to speed up to keep with the bustling traffic. Thank goodness for those onesies, they kept us toasty warm and ready for action!
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