5D4N osaka trip

A successful impromptu trip. Scooted to Osaka. Decided and booked 3 weeks prior to the date with sales fare. Expected that will not be able to see sakura, as the full bloom period was at mid-april. Glad that still able to travel light with 2 kids around. Packed in just the diapers beside clothings and toiletries in a 25" luggage making it 3/4 full :)

As it is the golden week in Japan and the last minute booking, manage to book a hotel stay within budget but a small room (14sqm) thou. However, the stay is still acceptable. The staffs are friendly and the hotel located in Shinsabashi area, a shopping district near subway station. Clean room with the exact number of towels placed in the room without having to request for it. For the past trips, most hotels only place 2 towels in the room and always have to request for 2 extra towels for the kids. It does not have a wide spread of selection for breakfast, but the varieties are acceptable. Western type breakfast with mini crossiant and toasted bread which are my kids' favourite. Room not recommended for people who prefer luxury or spacious bathroom and people of big build.

Itennaries for 2 adults and 2 kids (age 34mth and 4+yrs old):
Day 1
- check-in Hotel Villa Fontaine Osaka-Shinsaibashi
- snack at Luke's lobster Shinsabashi (closed at 10pm)
- shop at Disney Store (closed at 9pm) and drug store
- dinner at Ichiran (closed at 630am)
- off to family mart to get some mineral water behind heading back to hotel

Day 2
- head to USJ after breakfast (Universal City station on JR Sakurajima line)
- lunch at USJ and tried the butter beer
- back to Shinsaibashi
- dinner at Gram cafe and pancakes (closed at 10pm) and Jinen Shimizucho (sushi) closes at 12am
- shop at Gap (closed at 10pm)

Day 3
- head to cup noodle museum (Ikeda Station on JR Hankyu line)
- lunch at Ippudo
- shop at Pokemon Center Umeda (Umeda station)
- back to Shinsaibashi for dinner
- dinner at McDonald Shinsaibashi
- walk down to Dotonbori and take photo at Glico Man sign and Ebisu Bridge (a been there done that activity)
- shop at Don Quijote (open 24hrs)

Take JR at level 3F platform 4 or 5 (look out for express train which will skip alot of stations and reach Ikeda station in approx 10min)

International standard

Day 4
- head to Osaka Museum Housing and Living (Tenjimbashisuji 6-chrome), rental of Kimono (500 yen per person) be there early as there is quota, children with minimum height 110cm
- visit Osaka castle (Tanimachi 4-chrome station on Chou subway line)
- lunch at food street just outside castle
- head to Legoland (Osakako station on Chuo line subway) a small indoor playground which I find it more suitable for primary school and below children.
- back to Shinsaibashi Diamaru for Kimono rental at Wargo for my youngest girl who does not meet the minimum height requirement at Osaka museum earlier of the day
- dinner at Gyu-Kaku japanese bbq restaurant

Day 5
- head to Namba OCAT bus terminal for airport limousine bus to KIX airport
- lunch at KIX airport

The kind of breakfast food we prefer especially the granola

Last japanese meal in japan before we head home

Please be expected to queue for the above popular food. Blessed with nice weather throughout the trip. Though it rained on the day we touched down, but it was already evening time. Rained on Day 3 morning, but our itennary was indoor kind so not that greatly affected. Weather was at 12deg on rainy day and below 20deg in the morning and night. 21deg in the afternoon on sunny day. Happy to have japanese cruisine for most of the meals. Flight delay for 30min on retuning back to sg, but touched down 30min earlier on arrival at Osaka.

~Home sweet home~