Dotonbori

The scenery at the shops at night, along with the tour guide's earnest explanation of the activities, made for a really great experience. However, it was a bit windy and cold at night, so remember to bring a hat!

It's very convenient to board in Kyoto and disembark in Osaka. Taking the chairlift to/from the Amanohashidate observation deck offers stunning views. The only downside was that the seatbelts on the tour bus couldn't be fastened; they might need to be checked!

I arrived an hour late because I transferred to the wrong subway. It was crowded because it was the weekend. It was a bit of a walk from the subway to the pier. I walked another 5-10 minutes and met someone wearing pink. People were waiting and riding with me, but it was very windy. It wasn't too cold, but I guess it can be cold on some days. They give you 5-10 minutes to take a photo in front of the famous Glico sign. The photo is free. There's a lot of fun in going all the way, coming back, and looking at the other side.

No need to queue at all, very convenient. The noodles are thick ramen, quite a generous portion; if you order the Usachi (large bowl), you definitely need someone to share... There are many clever little touches that echo from the anime, the most surprising being that the logo on the beer mug isn't a Qilin, but "that child."

The entire journey went very smoothly because the itinerary arrangements were all adhered to, and there was free time for all the included activities. It was well organized. The tour guide was knowledgeable, and the driver was excellent as well.