Family Trip to Osaka, Japan

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Day 1 of our 6-day trip to Osaka, Japan with a family of five.

We departed from Incheon at 3:05 PM and arrived at Osaka Airport in just two hours. After retrieving our luggage and visiting the restroom, it was already 6 PM and getting dark.

Air Busan arrives at Terminal 1 of Osaka Airport. The floors of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are different. Seeing the signs made me realize I was in Japan, and thankfully, there were signs in Korean.

To get to the subway station, we had to cross a bridge-like area. Following the subway signs, we walked without much thought.

To reach our accommodation at Ocean Tsutenkaku, we needed to take the Nankai Line (thanks to Google Maps). It was a relief to have Korean signs!

Oh no!!! I forgot to withdraw cash! I completely blanked out. In Japan, subway tickets can only be purchased with cash.

At the information center, I asked, "Where is the ATM machine?" and was directed to a nearby Family Mart.

The staff spoke Korean very well—what a great international airport!

The fare from Osaka Airport to our accommodation was 970 yen. Youth fares are the same as adult fares, while children pay half. I heard that Japan's subway and rail systems are privatized and expensive, and it really is true. A 30-minute subway ride costs nearly 10,000 won per person.

Since we were unfamiliar with the area, we decided to go directly to our accommodation without transfers. It was a wise choice, especially since it was dark and we could have gotten lost.

Upon exiting Shin-Imamiya Station, we immediately saw Maruhan. I thought it was just a simple shopping mall, but Don Quijote only occupies one floor and is a pachinko parlor with a smoky atmosphere.

The walk to our accommodation took about 8 minutes. Our place is close to the Tsutenkaku observation tower, and following Google Maps made it easy.

Seeing Shinsekai Street in person was fascinating, reminiscent of the area around Konkuk University.

We finally arrived at Ocean Tsutenkaku. The clean exterior was appealing.

Check-in was done via a tablet at the entrance. I had already received the entrance password and check-in instructions via email, which I printed out. Amenities like combs, toothpaste, toothbrushes, cotton swabs, cotton pads, and tea were available next to the tablet, but no coffee.

There was a small lounge on the first floor, but I never saw anyone sitting there.

We stayed in Room 201. After entering the code, I realized I only encountered another person in the elevator once during our 6-day stay. It was a very quiet accommodation.

I mistakenly thought I had booked a room with a sofa, but it was very clean and the mattress was comfortable. The only downside was that the heating was done by a hot air system, making the room quite dry.

As always, I feel that ondol (heated flooring) is the best!

Just in case, I brought five towels to use as disposables, and we never ran out since we washed them daily.

The kitchenware and dishes were set for five people, but they weren't very clean, and since we didn't cook, we never used them.

For our first meal in Japan, we left our luggage at the accommodation and headed out for dinner. It was past 7 PM, and I wondered how hungry my kids were. The bright lights ahead indicated a food alley, and it was great to have many dining options and convenience stores nearby.

We had our first meal at Kura Sushi, a sushi restaurant known for its value. We didn’t have time to search for other restaurants, so we went for something close and easy. At around 8 PM on a weekday, we were seated immediately without waiting.

Installing Papago is a must. In places where only Japanese is displayed, it was very helpful.

You can order from a tablet or pick up from the conveyor belt. The base price is 130 yen.

My second child loved the egg sushi and devoured several plates. He gave me a thumbs up. Throughout this trip, he kept saying how delicious everything was. I think he expressed that more than twenty times, while he usually says it less than ten times in everyday life!

The youngest enjoyed udon, which he had been looking forward to, and he ate well, likely due to his hunger.

I had ramen. The miso ramen was better than the soy sauce ramen, which was too salty.

My husband and son seemed to find their paradise at Kura Sushi. We've been to other locations, but the Shinsekai branch was the best.

After our satisfying dinner, we explored Shinsekai Street, which was bustling with tourists. With so many visitors, we felt completely at ease walking around.

There were Billiken statues everywhere. Rubbing the soles of its feet is said to grant wishes, and my youngest was earnestly making wishes.

The neon signs were truly dazzling. It was fun to explore the various signs.

In the opposite direction, the Tsutenkaku observation tower was visible from anywhere. Osaka felt safe to walk around at night, even with many foreigners.

Shinsekai has plenty of food options, but it also has many souvenir shops. My second child loved the gacha shops, where prices range from 300 to 500 yen and can only be played with coins.

There were also claw machine shops with a variety of toys. Our family has no luck with claw machines.

There were several souvenir shops with cute and quirky items that tourists likely buy as gifts.

The atmosphere was reminiscent of a modern market in Korea, with some shops closed and others still open.

What surprised me the most was how incredibly clean everything was. There were no odors from drains or food, and the streets were litter-free.

There were delightful little sights everywhere, and it seemed like no sign was made without care.

We found an arcade with Tetris and Bubble Bobble, games I used to see often in my childhood.

Afterward, we stopped by Family Mart to buy snacks and easy breakfast items for the next day. Having quick breakfast options like bread, cereal, sandwiches, or onigiri saves time and allows us to move quickly.

To be continued...