8D7N - Osaka Kyoto Japan Day 1 | Pokemon Centre, Dotonbori & Kinryu Ramen

Hello! Our first family trip to Japan and we are boarding Scoot TR818 to Osaka. This time round, although I had plans to visit Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nara, but there are simply too many things to see in Osaka and Kyoto that hubs persuaded me not to include Tokyo (plus travelling time and me wanting to visit Disneyland) as we don't have enough time to do everything that I want on the itinerary. So it's Osaka first night, 2 days in Kyoto and the remaining 5 days in Osaka with 1 full day for Universal Studio Japan. 

Our flight to Osaka leaves Singapore at 615am so it was a very early flight. The kids were very very excited. I bet they didn't really slept the night before. So it's a red eye flight. hahah.

Me and Jade in matching t-shirts from Uniqlo (Hello Kitty!)

1245pm: Reached Osaka and immediately caught the children's eyes were these Gachapon machines and we let the children try it with the spare coins we have. They were quite ecstatic as this was the first try.

Went to collect our JR West Kansai 4 day pass from the JR ticket office (We purchased it from Klook before we went on our trip). The queue was very very long. Hubs went to queue for it while the kids and myself waited about 1 hour or so by the side. The weather in Osaka was very nice, 22 degrees, cooling and dry. 

Pro-tip: I read somewhere online that someone managed to obtain his tickets through a ticket counter machine instead like us, queuing just like the rest of the others.

Adult (4 day JR Pass) $64.15

Child  6yr to 11 yr (4 day JR Pass) $32.09 

Finally we got our JR passes and we bought sandwiches from 7-11 as the kids were famished as they hadn't had their lunch. I heard 7-11 is famous for their sandwiches! 

Mine: Strawberry Peach and Pineapple 410Yen

Kids: Egg Salad 280Yen and Pork cutlet sandwich with sauce 480Yen

While waiting for our JR ticket collections, Jade wanted to sit the Hello Kitty train and just nice, the timing for us to board our train was indeed the Hello Kitty Haruka! So Jade was very very pleased.

Once we reached Shin Osaka, we made our way towards the hotel which was selected because of its close proximity to the train station. We have plans to leave early tomorrow morning for Kyoto where we will be staying over for 2 nights.

However this Shin-Osaka station is so huge and long! we got lost and whilst finding our way, I found 551 Horai Pork buns and bought a box of pork buns, gyoza, siew mai and huge siew mai. Had to wait about 15mins for the gyozas.

Pork Buns 2 piece 420 Yen; Gyoza 10 piece: 360 Yen; Siew Mai 10 piece 750 Yen; Huge Siew Mai 12 piece 660 Yen

And after buying 551 Horai, we chanced upon Kukuru Takoyaki! Almost a famous chain in Osaka so I had to buy a box to try.
Finally 330pm, we found our hotel and checked in. We are staying 1 night at the Inn. Shin Osaka shomenguchi. 

Ate our pork buns and Kukuru Takoyaki in our hotel room.

After we settled ourselves in the hotel room, we went downstairs where there was a convenience store to look see look see. Typical Singaporean yah?

Brought the kids to Nintendo Store for some games and I bought some souvenirs here. There's also Pokemon Centre too where we bought packets of Pokemon trading cards for the children.

Next stop, Dotonbori and we tried the 10 Yen cheese bun, but it costs 500 Yen.

the amazingly cheesy 100 yen cheese bun

Dinner Kushikatsu Daruma

Considered an Osaka specialty, kushikatsu 串カツ (also known as also known as kushiage 串揚げ) are deep-fried breaded food such as meat and vegetables on skewers.

Along the Dotonbori River...and you can find a crema ice cream!

While hubs and the boys are queuing to buy our ramen from a vending machine. Me and Jade sat at a nearby stone bench and Jade was admiring her Pokemon Cards which hubs bought for them at the Pokemon centre.

Supper: Kinryu Ramen!

Open 24/7, Kinryu Ramen is the perfect solution to early morning or late night ramen cravings when in Dotonbori. They offer free flow garlic, Chinese chives, and spicy Korean pickled cabbage (kimchi) to spice up your ramen according to your taste.

11pm: time to head back to our hotel and good night Osaka!