In my Japan Trip 2012 vol. 1 post, I mentioned that we took Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) from Yokohoama to visit Kobe and Osaka in western Japan. My best friend was getting married in Kobe so our family trip to Japan was planned so that I could attend her big day. Also, my maternal side grandparents and relatives live in Osaka, so we extended our trip 3 more days to spend time with them afterward.
We stayed in Oriental Hotel in Kobe, where my friend had her wedding at. It was a nice newly remodeled hotel and we enjoyed our stay.
Our room, Breakfast Buffet, Bar (photo credit: Oriental Hotel)
At the hotel, I had the breakfast and wedding banquet course meal for lunch. I was very pleased with the quality of food they served. I was way too busy socializing during the wedding so I failed to take the beautiful course meal. The only photo from the hotel was the breakfast. For breakfast, guests can choose the Western-style or Japanese style, and to share pictures for my blog I picked Japanese style. All the basic Japanese breakfast dishes were served on the tray. Tofu, pickles, Onsen Tamago (hot spring egg), seaweed, Nimono (simmered vegetable dishes), rice, Gindara Saikyo Yaki (Miso Cod), and Miso soup (from left top to right bottom).
No, these are not the only thing that I ate actually. You can also go to a buffet section to get the various side dishes including two different kinds of Chinese dumplings, stir-fried vegetables, sausages, eggs, and so on. At another area, there were various kinds of bread and pastries. They also serve fresh fruits, yogurt, cereal, and several fresh juices at another station.
The afternoon, after we arrived in Kobe, was free so we booked tickets to KidZania Koshien in advance. KidZania concept was created and developed by a Mexican founder. It’s a child-sized replica of a city, including buildings, shops, banks, theaters, and there are vehicles moving on streets. There was one KidZania in Florida in the US but it is now closed. The first KidZania location in Japan was in Tokyo.
When a child enters KidZania, they are free to choose from any of the 80 occupations, from an airplane pilot to photographer. For our children, we booked EAP (English Activities Program) since they are not very fluent in Japanese so there were fewer job choices. However, the benefit of the EAP program is that kids in EAP don’t have to wait in line to work at the job they want. The jobs in the program are already pre-arranged so the teachers will lead the students from the assigned job to the next.
For that day, our children were assigned to work as a jet pilot (ANA airways), a factory worker at Coca-Cola bottling plant, a pizza maker at Pizza-La, a worker at Idemitsu gas station, and a photographer at SONY Photo Studio.
Our kids worked really hard from 4:30 to 8:00pm. After each job is done they get paid a salary (play money). For kids in the local area, they can save the play money in the bank. Since we don’t know when/if we’ll return to Kidzania, we told them that they can spend all the money they earned at the department store (inside the complex as well). I was going to help my kids pick their gift, but adults weren’t actually allowed to go inside the store. They were happy with small toy they could buy with the salary they had earned on their job.
While I was attending the wedding, my husband took the kids to Suma Aqualife Park Kobe (須磨海浜水族園). It was great because children were free and they got to see a lot of creatures and a dolphin show.
After the park, they stopped by for the traditional western Japan snack – Takoyaki (たこ焼き). It’s a popular street vendor snack in the Osaka area.
Takoyaki is a ball-shaped Japanese pancake made of batter. It’s cooked in a special grill with rows of semi-circles (picture above) and filled with diced octopus (tako), tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger, and green onion. After it’s cooked, they brush takoyaki sauce and customers have the option of mayonnaise, topped with aonori and katsuorubshi (shaving of dried bonito).
The wedding banquet was over by 3pm and our trip continued to Osaka that day. Kobe, which is known for Kobe Beef, is about a 25-minute train ride from Osaka. For the next 2 and a half days, we spend most of the time with my grandparents and my relatives.
While we were in Osaka, Sakura (cherry blossoms) were blooming everywhere. It was so pretty. My family took my grandparents out for Hanami (花見; flower viewing) in the neighborhood. We walked around a little bit and took family pictures. It was a clear sunny afternoon with a beautiful blue sky, and everyone looks up to see the full bloom Sakura.
We didn’t have much free time but whenever we had some time for ourselves, my husband and I took our kids on mini sightseeing trips in Osaka. We went to ride Tempozan Ferris Wheel at Tempozan Harbor Village next to the famous Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (one of the largest aquariums in the world). At the time it opened in 1997, the Tempozan Ferris Wheel was the tallest at 112 meters, roughly 35 stories tall.
Two of the cars were completely clear including the floor so we decided to take it for fun. Below is the famous aquarium, Kaiyukan.
And some views of Osaka Port.
The views toward Osaka downtown.
Later on that day my cousin and his wife took us for a walk to check cherry blossoms along the river near the Imperial Hotel.
During Hanami (flower viewing), a lot of people picnic under the trees and enjoy the scenery. Friends and family bring some food and drinks to get together to relax for the day. You have to get to the best spots very early in the day to claim them because there are literally thousands of people along the river.
Another afternoon, we went to see Osaka Castle. We often stop by Osaka Castle because our kids love seeing it. Here, the entrance to the Castle.
We started to see the castle.
Behind them, it’s the single biggest rock that makes up the castle’s wall. Look at how tiny our children are.
There were lots of tourists because of the cherry blossom season. Some people enjoy the gardens but our focus was checking the castle so we continued to walk. Osaka Castle is one of Japan’s most popular castle to visit. If you are curious about this castle, you can continue reading about it here.
Now here we are!
It makes a huge difference when there are cherry blossom trees in front of it. We went up to the observatory in the central tower. Just one picture from the top.
On the way down to the main entrance to the central tower, we also quickly went through Osaka Castle Museum (as our kids were too young and impatient to understand the history).
The miniature figures show the scenes from the folding screen depicting the Summer War of Osaka.
After seeing the samurai worriers, my son wanted to take a picture with the cannon.
Lastly, I’ll just show the lunch boxes we had on Shinkansen on the way back to Yokohama from Osaka. Anago (sea eel) Sushi on the right is very famous in Osaka.
Next Thursday, my husband will be a doing restaurant review at Japanese Teppanyaki dinner. We had high-quality Wagyu (Japanese beef), lobster, and more! This was an unforgettable meal, so make sure you don’t miss it!
Continue reading Vol. 3 of Japan Trip 2012.
This second part of your trip looks even more extraordinary! You know I have once seen a tv program about Kidzania and thought it was so wise, educative and useful! I love the idea. The hotel breakfast looks so gorgeous! I am sure I would always choose the Japanese option (I hate sweet breakfasts and even more the müsli or cornflakes…). Oh, and takoyaki… My dream dish!
The hotel room is so big and beautiful! I have heard so many times that Japanese hotel rooms are tiny, but maybe only in Tokio.
I think I will take trains in Japan only to be able to eat gorgeous ekiben 😉
These photos look beautiful and it makes me want to go to Japan even more! I’ve never been (even though I’m Japanese American) but the cherry blossoms and that ferris wheel look simply amazing! Great post 🙂
Wow Nami – more stunning pictures and the hotel looks incredible. And not just the food either, but the decor as well… I’ve never heard of Kidzania before, but that’s such a cool concept and it looks like the kids had a great time (which learning)… I think my favorite photo is of the Tempozan Ferris Wheel all-glass car – that is so cool.
Beautiful pictures Nami…you brought so many memories of my visit to Japan a while ago…love the sakura blossoms…thank you so much for sharing all these precious pictures.
Hope you are having a great week 🙂
Nami the photos are incredible. I was just loving all the pics of the cherry blossom trees. We actually put in two Kwanzan trees a couple of years ago because I love them so much. We have apple blossoms in the back yard too that are about 40 years old. They bloom white so they look great with the pink from the Kwanzans. Your kids are so adorable. Love the place for them to play. We don’t have anything quite like that here in Canada. Love seeing photos of your trip.
And a huge thank you for doing the interview for me. I am very honored and touched. xx
なみちゃんのお子さんたちって、すごいかわいいね。こんな写真を見てると、すっごく日本に帰りたくなるのよねえ。 この間、なみちゃんの肉じゃがを作ってみました。 私のよりも、上品な味で、美味しかったです。次回は2倍作って、残り物ご飯で、簡単な夕食を次の日にしようと思いました(すぐ食べきれたのでした)。 いつもブログにコメントありがとうございます。ココナッツカレーも美味しそう!
What a memorable trip, Nami..love those cheery blossoms..glad that you enjoyed your time!
Thank you for sharing more pictures. It only makes me want to go back to Japan even more. We didn’t get to Osaka when we lived there but visited Matsumoto Castle when we were on a trip to Kyoto – it was quite amazing! I’m so gald you had a good time!!
~Susan
Such a wonderful post! So lucky you saw the sakura in bloom, and your children had a marvelous time at KidZania! What a fun concept! The food looks fabulous–especially the anago sushi! I’m drooling…..Thank you for sharing your trip photos with us!
Hi Nami – I thoroughly enjoyed the visit to Kobe and Osaka.
Would have definitely picked the Japanese breakfast too.
Love the photo of the kids at the castle wall.
Looking forward to your husband’s restaurant review.
LL
Wonderful experience and great photos! I’ll keep this as reference for our next family trip to Japan. Kobe and Osaka are beautiful! Thanks for sharing, Nami! Glad to have you back.
hi Nami, really enjoyed part 2 Those pics of the children at Kidzania are just too adorable – what a charming idea. Those lunch boxes are a work of art. How your family must have enjoyed seeing the little ones. Thanks for the great post.
Morning Nami!
I was just over to Kim’s blog, and your Teriyaki beef looks so so good!
How wonderful that you have been a guest there :~D
Have a Joyful Day
Charlie
Nami, I enjoyed this part 2..What a beautiful photography! You brought Japan closer to us! Thank you!
Btw I checked your guest post and it rocks! Loved it!!!
The city of Osaka looks so very modern! I loved all the pictures you shared, but I don’t think I could bring myself to ride on that ferris wheel!!