Kansai

átoa Aquarium is highly recommended! We entered around 6:00 PM and it closed at 7:00 PM. I suggest staying until the evening; the rooftop night view is absolutely stunning! The aquarium has a wealth of facilities and many unique installations. The animals are all very well cared for; even my four-year-old wanted more! Bic Camera Namba store sells 31-inch suitcases opposite the redemption counter on the first floor. They also offer free old suitcase recycling. There are restrooms upstairs (closes at 10:00 PM). 298 BBQ, a 3-minute walk from Bic Camera, has an elevator and inexpensive set meals. The curry rice at the all-you-can-eat bar is delicious! (Last order at 10:30 PM, dine until 11:00 PM)

Thank you so much to the butler for taking such good care of us. He brought us small gifts, worried about us getting our clothes wet, and made all the necessary arrangements. Although we weren't assigned a Chinese translator, he tried his best to understand all our ideas using Japanese and the translator. If we had more time for our adventure, I think this would have been a very worthwhile choice.

It's a pity the weather was bad and we couldn't take the boat, but the little train and the horseback riding trails were beautiful. Our guide, Kelly, was friendly and gave detailed explanations. 👍👍👍

Aside from the slightly higher prices for dining inside the park, the restaurant staff were very helpful in finding seats and providing directions, which I appreciated! Everything else was great! The experience was excellent, but unfortunately, the zombie apocalypse was canceled due to rain.

Our cruise ship docked at Osaka port for the day. We were able to take the subway to Dotonbori in the morning, then returned in late afternoon to go to the aquarium and the small shopping area adjacent to the ship dock. This is the best aquarium we ever visited. You start at the top and walk in a spiral downward, around a large tank that houses both large and small fishes-sharks, manta rays and the largest sunfish I ever saw. There are many other tanks along the walls too where you can see otters and two displays for penguins (my favorite!). The jellyfish tanks are mesmerizing! Give yourself a minimum of 2 hours to see it all although at a very relaxed pace I think 3.5-4 hours would be just right. They do utilize strict entrance time frames according to time on your ticket. One of the highlights of our last Japan trip so don’t miss it!

Harry Potter and Don Quixote were so much fun! Buying time with money was such a good deal. Luckily, the crowds weren't too big this time, and we even got to see the Halloween zombies!

A teacher from Shandong came to teach Chinese. First, she ground her own matcha powder, then someone helped her filter it into a fine powder. Later, she moved to a different table, brewed the matcha with hot water, and then prepared the tea. First, she used a brush to stir it in circles, then quickly stirred it back and forth in straight lines to create foam, which carried away the bitterness. She was served a matcha sweet and chocolate, and finally a cup of genmaicha (brown rice tea). I learned some history and knowledge about matcha from the teacher. Matcha and tea preparation originated in China. Grinding it into powder allows you to eat the tea leaves, providing vitamin C. Good matcha doesn't have a bitter taste. Lei Jiayin (a famous Taiwanese singer) has also been to this shop. I heard he likes to come to Kyoto and often appears in Uji. The shop owner is a 16th-generation descendant, making it a rather traditional shop.

With e-tickets, a lot of paperwork is saved. I highly recommend them; they're also a money-saving helper and are friendly to foreign travelers. This was my first time taking a round-trip ticket to Ise Grand Shrine, and I truly felt the divine presence in my heart.