Traveling the World with Guang Ge: A Sweet Date with Sakura in Kansai
Goethe once said: 'The love of travel is not for reaching the destination, but for enjoying the pleasures along the way.'
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page. I want to read the whole book.
Every trip is unique, and every encounter with a destination is fate.
My love for cherry blossoms has been long-standing, but if I hadn’t missed the blossoms at Yuantouzhu last year, I might not have had this pink date with Kansai this year. Often, the fate of travel comes from an unintentional joke or a disappointing miss.
After failing to convince friends to join, I decisively went with the same travel companion as last time in Singapore. The cherry blossom season in Japan is even busier than Chinese New Year at home, so booking flights and hotels in advance is a must. I booked two months ahead on Ctrip—not too late but not early either. If you want to experience some unique Japanese inns, I recommend booking half a year in advance. I had heard that Japanese hotel rooms are generally small; I had originally wanted to try local guesthouses, but considering the child, I chose more convenient hotels.
1. Booking flights and hotels.
This time, I impulsively booked the flights and hotel before even applying for the visa—so confident about the visa application, and it turned out without any issues. I booked a flight and hotel package on Ctrip again, including round-trip tickets, three nights in Osaka, and three nights in Kyoto. The round-trip per person cost less than 3500 RMB, which I found acceptable for the cherry blossom season in Japan, especially with ANA (All Nippon Airways), offering 2 pieces of 28 kg baggage each, so no worries about overweight luggage. The flight times were excellent, departing from Hangzhou as I prefer.
Hotel selection was mainly for convenience. In Osaka, I chose the Dotonbori Hotel, located near Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori. For shopping, besides the famous commercial area, there are Daimaru, Takashimaya, Bic Camera, etc., all within a few minutes' walk. It was also convenient for transportation—just five minutes to Namba Station. I want to especially praise the hotel's service—it was truly warm. The hotel offers free ramen after 10:30 pm, free coffee and massage chairs in the lobby, free drinks from the minibar (replenished daily), bicycle rental, and free kimono experience. I would choose this hotel again. In Kyoto, I chose the Grand Hotel, which also excels in transportation—directly opposite Kyoto Station, the city's main transport hub. Inside Kyoto Station is Isetan Department Store, and across the station you can see Kyoto Tower and bus stops. Next to the hotel is Don Quijote. It’s a major hub for shopping, dining, and transport. Getting to the airport is super convenient; there is an airport limousine bus stop right at the hotel entrance, and tickets can be purchased from the machine next to the hotel.
2. Applying for a visa. I had heard that applying for a Japanese visa was troublesome, requiring proof of deposits, income statements from employers, etc. Later, a friend recommended an agency with very simple requirements—just a passport, which pleased me greatly; no one knows how difficult it is to get an income certificate from my workplace. The visa was issued in 8 working days after submitting the documents, and the service was surprisingly good.
3. Buying local SIM cards. I generally don’t like renting pocket Wi-Fi (EGG), because although sharing one EGG among several people saves money, everyone must stay together to use it. If separated, there’s no way to contact. I prefer to buy local SIM cards; the price is reasonable, over 40 RMB for 7 days of unlimited data, but only for internet, no calls. With WeChat voice and video calls, the calling function is not that important.
4. Buying local transportation cards. Before going, I heard that Japanese transportation is complicated—JR, private railways, Kintetsu, streetcars, etc.—made my head spin. There are also various money-saving one-day passes, two-day passes, and combination tickets sold online that dazzled me. After arriving, I found it wasn’t as complicated as imagined. If I only moved around Kansai, one ICOCA card was enough. This card is very handy: it works on the Nankai Electric Railway from airport to city, JR from Osaka to Kyoto, Kintetsu from Kyoto to Nara, and subways and buses in the Kansai urban area. It can even be used for shopping at convenience stores. You can top it up at subway stations, airports, and convenience stores. The card deposit is 500 yen, and upon returning it, a handling fee of about 220 yen is deducted along with the remaining balance. Note that this card provides no discounts; for savings, you need to study various passes and tickets. The card can be purchased domestically or locally at airports and subway stations. The child ICOCA card can only be obtained locally with a passport.
5. Downloading useful apps and shopping coupons.
First, a navigation app. I used Google Maps the most in Kansai. Someone recommended the app 'Norikae Annai,' but I didn’t use it much. I found Google Maps handy and reliable; you can download both as backup. Second, a translation app. Japanese people’s English is not great, so for those of us who don’t understand Japanese, a translation app solves the problem. For shopping at Kansai Airport duty-free stores, I recommend ordering through the official Kansai Airport duty-free website—reserve products online and pick them up at the airport, with small discounts. This is especially good for those with limited time at the airport. Many department stores and drugstores in Osaka offer discounts with coupons, so you can search on Ctrip for various coupons and save them on your phone. When shopping, always ask if you can use coupons because some counter clerks won’t remind you. At the POLA counter in Daimaru, no one told me, but later the DECORTÉ clerk asked me for a coupon, which is how I learned about the discount.
Itinerary: (March 30 – April 5)
3.30 Hangzhou - Osaka, Stay in Osaka
3.31 Osaka: Osaka Castle Park, Kaiyukan Aquarium, Tempozan Ferris Wheel, Stay in Osaka
4.01 Osaka: Dotonbori & Shinsaibashi area, Tsutenkaku area, Stay in Osaka
4.02 Osaka - Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Keage Incline, Stay in Kyoto
4.03 Kyoto - Nara: Nara Park, Kasuga Taisha, Todaiji Temple, Stay in Kyoto
4.04 Kyoto: Kiyomizudera Temple, Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka, Gion, Stay in Kyoto
4.05 Osaka - Hangzhou
Regarding the order of visiting Kyoto and Osaka: the two places are very close. Osaka is closer to Kansai Airport—about 1 hour from airport to Osaka, and 1.5 hours to Kyoto. Considering we arrived on an evening flight, we wanted to check in early, so we arranged Osaka first, then Kyoto. Personally, I think doing Kyoto first and then Osaka, with shopping last in Osaka, is also reasonable, so you don’t have to drag heavy suitcases between hotels. Nara is about the same distance from both, so you can choose based on your itinerary. Since the Grand Hotel in Kyoto offered direct access to Nara without transferring, I arranged Nara during the Kyoto stay.
Day 1: Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport - Osaka Kansai Airport
Because we were traveling with family and lots of luggage, we drove to Xiaoshan Airport. The flight was at 16:25, so the day wasn’t rushed. The flight was on time. ANA’s service was indeed good; they gave small gifts to children, and the onboard meals were better than domestic airlines. However, due to weather or pilot skill, I felt a bit airsick during landing. Customs clearance was surprisingly smooth; I had prepared for long lines during cherry blossom season, but there were none. Regarding transportation from airport to hotel, I originally planned to book a transfer. Initially, a private car from airport to Osaka city was around 500 RMB, but after waiting a while, the price rose to 600-700. So I didn’t book it. After researching online, I found that the Nankai Electric Railway goes directly to Namba. We bought limited express tickets with reserved seats: 1,270 yen per adult, half price for children. For three adults and one child, it cost about 270 RMB total, much cheaper than a transfer. There is also a cheaper option without reserved seats, costing about 900 yen, taking about 10 minutes longer. Upon landing, it was raining in Osaka—the only day we needed rain gear on this trip. From Namba Station, about a 10-minute walk to Dotonbori Hotel. The hotel was easy to find; following Google Maps, we saw four statues at the entrance. We checked in smoothly around 10 pm.
Nankai Electric Railway ticket
Prominent sign at Dotonbori Hotel entrance
Day 2: Morning at Osaka Castle Park, afternoon at Kaiyukan Aquarium, evening at Tempozan Ferris Wheel.
Osaka Castle Park during cherry blossom season was truly beautiful. Due to weather, the blossoms bloomed late this year, and with cold air during our visit, only about 50% had opened, but it was already stunning. One can imagine how enchanting it would be in full bloom. Since it was a weekend, many locals were enjoying the blossoms. I noticed that Japanese people love to lay mats under cherry trees for picnics, bringing all kinds of delicious food, and some even brought musical instruments, creating a wonderful atmosphere that made one want to join.
Passed by Osaka Museum of History
Cherry blossoms in front of the castle keep hadn’t bloomed yet
Guang Ge feeding pigeons at Osaka Castle Park
Picnic under cherry blossoms
Kaiyukan Aquarium is in the Tempozan area, which is great for families, with the aquarium, Legoland Discovery Center, and the ferris wheel for night views of Osaka. Aquarium ticket: 2,300 yen per adult, 600 yen per child. Osaka’s aquarium is said to be one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world, themed around the Pacific Rim volcanic belt and life zones, recreating the natural environments around the Pacific. Compared to Singapore’s S.E.A. Aquarium, I prefer Osaka’s for its interactivity. There is a touch pool on the second floor where you can touch marine life up close. Guang Ge happily touched the stingray and small sharks he likes. I always find aquariums healing, calming the restless heart. I particularly liked the large cylindrical tank simulating the Pacific Ocean—the deep blue was very soothing. After leaving the aquarium around 6 pm, we missed Legoland and went directly to the ferris wheel. The ferris wheel costs the same for adults and children: 700 yen per person. Some cabins are fully transparent, with glass floors, but at an additional charge. Considering Mr. Wang’s slight acrophobia, we chose the regular cabin. The ride lasted about 15 minutes, with Osaka Castle and Osaka Port gradually appearing under the evening lights. In every city, I like to go up high to see the night view; although city nightscapes are similar, I still insist on experiencing different nightlights.
Tempozan Ferris Wheel
Night view from the ferris wheel
Day 3: Shopping day. Morning at Daimaru, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi; lunch at Kani Doraku; afternoon at Bic Camera, Tsutenkaku; dinner at Kushikatsu Daruma.
Today we bought almost everything on our shopping lists and others’. Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi are likely the liveliest areas in Osaka, similar to Myeongdong in Korea, full of Chinese tourists, with many shops and eateries. Today I really appreciated the hotel’s location—department stores and drugstores were nearby. We could drop off purchases at the hotel and continue shopping. We had lunch at the famous Kani Doraku. I booked online in advance, so we didn’t have to queue. I recommend booking directly on the official website rather than paying a booking fee to third parties—they charge per person and it’s not cheap. There are three Kani Doraku restaurants on the short Dotonbori street, showing its popularity. I originally wanted the main store, but it was fully booked, so I reserved the middle store for 14:00. We arrived at 13:30 and were seated immediately. The all-crab meal was a novelty, but don’t expect too much—famous restaurants aren’t always reliable. We ordered three sets for several people and still felt hungry; the portions were too small. After lunch, we went to Tsutenkaku, a famous spot from Detective Conan. On the way, we passed Bic Camera and went shopping. My mother finally bought her rice cooker. When we arrived at Tsutenkaku by subway, the weather suddenly changed with lightning and thunder. We took shelter in a takoyaki shop under Tsutenkaku. Shortly after, the rain stopped and the sun came out. Japan’s maritime climate is unpredictable; sun showers are common, and weather forecasts are unreliable. Traveling depends on luck. Ours was pretty good.
During our three nights in Osaka, after Guang Ge fell asleep, Mr. Wang would drag me out for walks, strolling along the streets. It was cold at night, but we enjoyed it. After shopping, we had late-night snacks and beer. The nightlife around Shinsaibashi is lively. One night we went to the famous Isomaru Suisan—their grilled crab shell was delicious.
Scenes that perfectly match the manga
Isomaru Suisan
Day 4: Osaka - Kyoto, morning at Fushimi Inari, afternoon at Keage Incline.
From Namba to Kyoto, we transferred to JR at Shin-Osaka Station. Transferring in Japan was convenient. JR trains are classified as Special Rapid, Rapid, and Local, taking 30, 45, and 60 minutes respectively, all costing the same 540 yen per person depending on stops. The fastest stops only once. Upon arrival at the hotel, we were told check-in was after 3 pm, so we left our luggage and went out. First stop: Fushimi Inari Taisha. Famous place = crowded, especially during cherry blossom season, comparable to Chinese National Day and Spring Festival. It rained lightly upon arrival, then cleared. Fushimi Inari is dedicated to the Shinto god of agriculture and commerce. Worshippers pray for good harvests and prosperous business. It is one of the most popular shrines in Kyoto. The thousand torii gates and fox statues are its symbols. When we entered the Senbon Torii, the sun came out. Light filtering through the faded vermilion pillars created a stunning interplay of light and shadow—a great place for photography, though my skills couldn’t capture its beauty. Next, we went to Keage Incline, a relatively less crowded cherry blossom spot, but any place associated with sakura was packed. Keage Incline is an old railway line lined with cherry trees. With fewer people, it would be a great photo spot, especially in full bloom. When we visited, about 60-70% were in bloom. The first sight of cherry trees across the street from the subway exit was breathtaking. Take the subway to Keage Station.
Our family beauty more photogenic than me
Proud little fox
A rare quiet corner
Kyoto Tower in daytime
Kyoto Tower at night
Day 5: Nara: kimono dressing and feeding deer
Kimono dressing is a must-try in Japan. I chose Nara instead of Kyoto because Kyoto is more crowded; fewer people dress in Nara. I found a shop online, booked in advance without deposit. The owner is from Shandong and was nice. From Kyoto, take the Kintetsu Nara Line directly from Kyoto Station. JR also goes to Nara, but Kintetsu Station is closer to Nara Park. Similar to Nankai Electric Railway, Kintetsu has Limited Express and Express options. We tapped our ICOCA cards and boarded a Limited Express train, but the conductor asked us to pay a seat surcharge. So ICOCA only works for regular trains; for Limited Express, buy tickets at the counter. About the deer in Nara: most of the time they are gentle. If you don’t have deer crackers, they ignore you—very pragmatic. Once they see crackers, they follow you enthusiastically, nuzzling and tugging at clothes, being cute. They also tend to bully children. One naughty deer inexplicably kicked Guang Ge, then ran away when he chased it—hilarious. Deer crackers cost 150 yen per pack. Nara Park is large, with a lovely lawn where local schoolchildren were on a field trip. With deer, cherry trees, the scene was beautiful, but I was so absorbed in admiring it that I forgot to take photos. Kasuga Taisha and Todaiji Temple are also nearby and can be visited together. After seeing many Shinto shrines, they start to feel similar; one or two is enough. I heard that Himuro Shrine has beautiful cherry blossoms, but it was a bit far, so we skipped it. Since we brought a child, we visited fewer attractions and went with the flow. I’m sure I’ll come again.
Guang Ge playing with deer
Rare group photo of all travelers
Day 6: Kyoto day trip: Kiyomizudera Temple, Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka, Gion area.
Today we used buses. Taking local public transportation in a new city is a fun experience. To get to Kiyomizudera, take city bus 206 or 100 from Kyoto Station and get off at Kiyomizu-michi. I actually preferred Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka over Kiyomizudera. They are perfect for a leisurely stroll, with many unique shops. When not crowded, you can browse each store; when crowded, you can only glance. But Japan seems never to be uncrowded. People in kimono added to the scenery—many choose to dress in kimono here, so it felt natural, and we, in our regular clothes, felt out of place. Walking through residential areas, we saw detached two-story houses with the owner’s name on the gate, small flowers or potted plants by the entrance, very clean—the kind of living environment I envy. We walked and stopped, enjoying flowers and taking photos, savoring the last leisure time in Kansai.
Our bus #206
Ninenzaka
Sannenzaka
Ninenzaka
Weeping cherry blossoms at Ninenzaka were especially beautiful
Day 7: Kansai Airport - Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport
Time to go home. We bought tickets for the Kansai Airport limousine bus from the machine next to the hotel; the bus stop is right at the hotel entrance—very convenient. Adult fare: 2,550 yen each, child: 1,250 yen. Since our flight was at 14:55, we allowed plenty of time at the airport. Luckily, I had ordered cosmetics online for airport pickup, saving time. We only bought snacks at the airport. Underestimating Chinese buying power, even chocolate required long queues. The flight was on time.
I didn’t do much research on food; we ate wherever we went, without deliberately seeking good restaurants. So we missed out on Kobe beef, kaiseki cuisine, and other local specialties I had wanted to try. But every trip leaves some regret. Looking forward to another trip with my girlfriends. Byebye, sakura.
First impressions of Japan:
1. A meticulous country that pursues perfection. Cars on the road are always spotless. Local people dress carefully. When a bus stops, the left side tilts to make boarding easier. Trains and subways have women-only cars. Public restrooms play music to mask toilet noises. There are many such details only experienced in person.
2. A service-oriented country. Perhaps due to being a tourist destination, or deep-rooted culture, service is genuinely attentive. However, Chinese staff sometimes have poor attitudes, which seems inherent rather than changed by living abroad.
1. On the first night, after Guang Ge fell asleep, Mr. Wang and I went out for a late-night snack. In China, we only take phones. After eating and drinking, when paying, I asked: “Alipay is OK?” “No, just cash.” So Mr. Wang had to go back to the hotel for cash. Although many Japanese malls, drugstores, and stations accept Alipay, some small shops still require cash, so have some yen ready.
2. One night we ate at a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. Mr. Wang loves wasabi. There was no wasabi on the table, so he asked the waiter, who said no. He thought the waiter misunderstood, so he asked the chef, still no. Mr. Wang complained that Chinese sushi was tastier. Later, I searched online: Japan mostly uses real wasabi (grated fresh root), not the toothpaste-like wasabi common in China, and Japanese wasabi is less pungent and easier to eat.
Other unmentioned tips:
1. Time difference: 1 hour ahead of China.
2. Outlet shape is the same as China, but voltage is 110V; some small appliances may need a transformer.
3. English is not widely spoken, but many kanji characters are similar to Chinese characters, so meaning can often be guessed.
4. Avoid standing side by side on escalators; leave one side open for those in a hurry. (This is common in many countries.)
5. On buses, generally board from the rear and exit from the front. Buses are either flat-fare (orange or blue background with white numbers) or zone-based (white background with black numbers). For flat-fare, tap IC card only when alighting; fare is 230 yen. For zone-based, tap when boarding and alighting; distance-based fare.
6. Japanese department stores close early; try to do tax refund before 9 pm.
7. Bring a coin purse; Japan has many coins.
I used to believe
Separation is for better reunion
As I grew older, I realized
Not all separations lead to reunions
See you later.
