Thursday, June 25, 2026

Japan - To Do Kansai Summer Holiday 8-18Jun Osaka Leg Part 2 (Dotonburi, Sennichimae Doguyasuji, Salmon Kat Namba, Yakiniku Rikimaru Nanba Dotonbori ,Namba Tombori River Cruise,Osaka Kizu Wholesale Market, Otaue Rice Planting Festival, The Hankai Tramway,The Silver Ball Planet,Tsutenkaku Tower,Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine,Gyukatsu Motomura,Kasugataisha shrine,Todai-ji Chumon,Himeji Castle,Koko-en Garden,Amanohashidate,Amanohashidate View Land,Reptile Cafe Dining Rock Star)

Japan Osaka - To Stay
Japan Osaka - To Do
Japan Osaka - To Eat 

Kansai Summer Holiday June 2026 Part2
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<<<<<<<<<<Click here for part 1 of the Holiday in Kyoto >>>>>>>>>>>>>

<<<Day5 - 12Jun(Fri) Namba Area and Cruise>>>
<<<(Travel day from Kyoto ----- Osaka)>>>>>>>>>>>>
Kyo-Train Garaku
(Available only on weekends if you're traveling over the weekend)

The Kyo-Train Garaku is a specially designed sightseeing train. No reservations required.
Passengers pay a regular fair. Click here for train schedule

*Osaka Flag*
Where we stayed in Osaka was a short 11min walk from Dotonburi

Salmon Kat Namba

One of those social media eating places. The serving size is smaller than anticipate. The food is still fairly good. All right but not great and tourist priced.
Click here for ABBA location of Salmon Kat Namba

Dotonburi
As good as always to walk the Kitchen of Japan. Mega food displays, food and sheltered shopping all a stone's throw away.
Click here for original posting on Dotonburi.

Sennichimae Doguyasuji
Kitchen street
(Opens10am-11pm onwards)

*First visited in 28March2018*

*Some red and white soy dishes we got for ¥500 each.&
Still a great place to buy kitchen wear and cutlery. A short stretch but its still enjoyable to take a walk through. There's also gift shops and fake foods on sale over here. Similar to the more famous one in Tokyo Japan Kappabashi-dori street.
Click here for original posting on Dotonburi.

Yakiniku Rikimaru Nanba Dotonbori



Well worth it and so-so good we came back twice!

We went for the premium course for 90mins. Kids are at half price and if not going for the all-you-can-drink then adults are required a drink order each. Amazing! The selection and range of cuts are so wide and great!

The vibe is a little interesting here with Thai, Korean and Japanese music playing in the background. The place also has plenty of typically seen Korean dishes of soups, bibimbaps as well as simple banchan (small side dishes) options.  Highly recommended and located along the main shopping street nearby the Glico Sign!
Click here for ABBA location of Yakiniku Rikimaru Nanba Dotonbori

Ebisu Tower Giant Ferris Wheel
¥1000/person and ride takes 15mins.

This Iconic Ferris wheel of Osaka has been closed for over 9years and is reopened as of 19thJan2018. In recent times it survived a fire that occurred 18May26.

The ferris wheel is part of the largest Donki in the area with the largest variety. We hung out here in waiting for our cruise later that night.
Click here for ABBA location of Ebisu Tower Giant Ferris Wheel

Namba Tombori River Cruise
No advance booking required.

You can just turn up for a ride and goes frequently every 30mins.
- River boat sightseeing trips taking 20 minutes cruising under the city's 9 landmark bridges.
A so-so experience. Do some research on which operator you'd like to go with.

The other boats seemed to be more fun and interactive. We went with Pirate Tours but
upon post trip realized the stared operator was not at the same location as on google.
Also there wasn't much information shared about the bridges we crossed.

<<<Day6 - 13Jun (Sat) Morning Market, American Village & Shin Sekai>>>
Osaka - Day via Public 
Osaka Kizu Wholesale Market
Opens 6am-1pm
They accept credit cards for purchase.
(22mins by train and 32mins by walking)
(Note the local wholesale market is closed on Wednesday and Sun.)


Best time to visit is 5:30-8:30am and the eateries there are open really early as well.
ABBAtip:
- Bring a cooler bag. If you buy seafood, the vendor will put it in a plastic bag with some ice probably. It'd be dripping throughout. 

The Hankai Tramway 
(Nicknamed Chinden)

Ride the Hankai Tramway, the only remaining streetcar system in Osaka.
Kind of like riding the cable car iconic car in San Fran or in Los Angeles, their Angels Flight Railway.
ABBATip:
- Take Ebisucho Station to Sumiyoshi Station to visit the Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine
We were supposed to catch the rice planting festival but due to a mix up we were a day early and had to mix up our plans.

American Village Area
The Silver Ball Planet
Opens 11am-8pm
Retro Game Arcade home to over 100pinball machines
Starts from 9am-930pm


Expect to see rare, pop culture-themed pinball machines from the 70s to the present day. Many of these American machines can only be found here and nowhere else in Japan.
A fun drop by for the kids to checkout when in the area for more food and shopping. Around the area, for amazing Roast Beef Bowl, you can try Red Rock Americamura. 

Shin Sekai Area
Shops close about 7pm
(Enjoying the area and known for shooting and arcade games and to
play Retro Video Games at Kasuga Gorakujo
Back to the same joints out of nostalgia, and to try out the Retro Video Games for the kids. 

Tsutenkaku Tower
(9am-945pm)


Its alright. Felt  the fully automated picture taking of the family with the skyline behind was really smart and intuitive. The tower itself is fairly interesting and the views were pretty okay. Personally, Sapporo TV tower was more impressive but this is definitely iconic and synonymous with Osaka. Still glad that we went up.
Click here for ABBA location of Tsutenkaku Tower

<<<Day7 - 14JunSun - Osaka Otaue Shinji (Rice Planting) Festival>>>
Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
(Starts at 1pm)

*Attendants who prepare and carry bundles of rice seedlings.
Green clothing connects them to growth and nature*
*Samurai Figure is a symbolic guardian Role.*
Arrive about 30mins before. Osaka's Sacred Rice Planting Festival is a 1,800-year-old tradition where prayers, music, and ceremonial rice planting are performed to ensure a good harvest and prosperity. 
Click here for ABBA location of Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
Gyukatsu Motomura Dotonbori Branch
15min wait

Really good standard of Gyukatsu compared to others I've had. The uniqueness of this place is more the serving of barley rice that stands out from the others tried. Click here for original posting.

<<<Day8 15Jun Mon Nara Park, Osaka Aquarium>>>

*Nara Prefecture Flag*
(37mins travel time to Nara. Lookout for express train service for shorter rides.)
Nara Half Day Trip Out
(Click here for original posting of Day trip out to Nara. Todaiji, Narapark Sake Brewery)


ABBATip:
- Early morning is best time to feed the deer between 7:30am-9:30am. 
- Take the bus all the win, for tamer deers, easier  downslope walk and lesser crowds at the start. Work backwards from Kasugataisha Shrine toward Nara Station. Stop at Kasugataishaomotesando Bus Stop (Every 15mins from Nara Station)
- The feed prices are fixed and available everywhere at ¥200 each.

- Always show open palms to the deer when you have nothing and don't withhold feed from the deer. They have in recent years become more aggressive in getting the food as many tease them with food for a picture rather than feed.

Kasugataisha shrine


Kasuga Taisha is famous for its magical forest atmosphere with thousands of lanterns, and sacred deer roaming through one of Japan’s most beautiful historic shrine settings.
Click here for ABBA location of Kasugataisha Shrine 

Todai-ji Chumon

Click here for original posting of Nara and the temple.

Osaka Aquarium
A¥2,800, C¥1,400/700





*Pic on the right are a mix of Sardines and Anchovies.*

You maybe interested in the world's largest tank to house huge whale sharks in Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. Click here for the full write up and 5D4N stay.

Sunset and dinner at Tempozan Harbor Village


<<<Day09 - June16 Tue Himeji & Kobe>>>
<<<<<<<<<CAR Trip out to Himeji Day1>>>>>>>>
Car days 16-18Jun
Rental via Klook - Honda Freed
Pick up 8am Namba Station Ext28or29
(Transaction is contactable via whatsapp)
Total SGD201.15
Himeji Castle
(Opens 9am-4pm)
(1hr20mins by car)
Entry ticket with a ¥100 top up includes entry into Koko-en Garden.
¥2,600 for adults. Both attractions are free for those under 18.



Himeji Castle, a.k.a Japan's legendary White Heron Castle, is a 400-year-old UNESCO masterpiece that survived wars, earthquakes, and time itself. It's an impressive defense structure and the as known as the "White Heron castle" because of its white plaster walls which are fire retardant.  

*Pictured Center is the East supporting pillar as one of
two primary bases of the entire structure.*

*Amazing defensive capabilities with windows, secret trap doors
and weapons wrack to defend this castle.*
Its really amazing to walk the castle barefooted to feel the main keep and what it was like in that era. An impressive defensive structure that has stood the test of time and is considered one of the Finest castles in Japan.
Click here for ABBA location of Himeji Castle

Koko-en Garden



Koko-en Garden is a collection of nine traditional Edo-style gardens built on the former grounds of Himeji Castle's samurai residences. A slice of quiet, tranquility and beauty to be enjoyed after a meal.
Click here for ABBA location of Koko-en Garden

Kobe skyline and Kobe Earthquake memorial
Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park 
17Jan1995
Click here for original posting.



Kobe Harbor Town and Skyline
Click here for original posting of what to do in Kyoto town.

<<<Day10 June17 Wed Amanohashidate>>>
<<<<<<<<<CAR Trip out to Amanohashidate Day2>>>>>>>>
(2hr 5mins drive time)
Early Start push off at 7am
Amanohashidate
(Official recognized as one of Japan's Three Most Scenic Views)
One of the Three scenic views in Japan. Amanohashidate, Itsukushima Shrine and Matsushima Bay have been celebrated as Japan's most beautiful scenic view for centuries.

Monorail Chair lift
Amanohashidate View Land
(Opens 9am-5pm)
Click here for details of ticket pricing for individual rides
Best is to chairlift up and come down my monorail if you want a different view. Its a flat rate of ¥400 per person for any of the activities. Its really so-so and more for the experience and the view up there. 
Amanohashidate is said to look like a bridge or pathway floating in the sky, connecting heaven and earth. Some people say the long, pine-covered sandbar resembles a dragon soaring through the sky.


*Fun scenic ride but way too pricy for¥400/person for just one round.*

*Wild growing Lavender.*
Viewland is really just for the view. The rides could be longer to be worth the price point but its remanence of a simpler time. Sweeping views Amanohashidate. Simple snacks are available and not much of full dining options at the top.

A nice stop by for the chairlift experience and view of the Pine sand barge. Most of the eateries are in town or on the opposite side of the island.

General flow people do, bicycle ride/walk across, Eat, Ferry Back
Click here for the general area where the operators are found.
There are many operators so take a browse around.

*5mins and they come to pick you up at your conviennce.*
For whom we went with, they had bicycles available for kids as well. Drop off was easy on the opposite side and the speed boat ride back was available only after a phone call. You can park the bikes and leave them there. You don't have to return on the boat with the bikes at the same time. Other operators had slower, larger boats where one could feed gulls on the way back.

A really nice experience overall to have a break with a meal and shopping. We went back to Yakiniku Rikimaru Nanba Dotonbori (reviewed above) for yet another gratifying meal!

<<<Day11 - June18 Thur Shopping day and home>>>
<<<<<<<<<CAR Trip Home Day3>>>>>>>>
(45min Drive to airport)
Reptile Cafe Dining Rock Star
(All-in-one animal cafe)
Closed On Tue (Open 11-10pm)


Fun, interactive and no time limit to how long you'd like to spend with each reptile. Staff are friendly and will guide you how to interact with the animals. Highly recommended even though they no longer have large bugs or spiders to interact with any more.




Fantastic to see that they are still in operation. Click here for original posting.

<<<<<<<<<<Click here for part 1 of the Holiday in Kyoto >>>>>>>>>>>>>

Day1 08Jun26 - Arrival and Settling In. Dinner and Fushima Inari Taisha
Day2 09Jun26 - Arashiyama train, bamboo forest, Sumo Dinner Early Start 7:30am
Day3 10Jun26 - Kiyomizu-dera & Gion Loop Early Start 7:30am
Day4 11Jun26- Train museum, Uji, Hydrangeas, Byodo-In
Day5 12Jun26 - (Kyoto-->Osaka)Namba Area and Cruise
Day6 13Jun26 - Morning Market, American Village & Shin Sekai Early Start  7:30
Day7 14Jun26 - Otaue Shinji (Rice Planting Festival) 
Day8 15Jun26 - Nara & Osaka Aquarium Early Start 7:30am
Day9 16Jun26 - Himeji (Castle & Kobe Sunset) Early Start 7:30am leave pick up car at 8am
Day10 17Jun26 - Amanohashidate (Car, Rides, Lift, Boat) Early Start 7:00am leave
Day11 18Jun26 - Reptile Cafe Dining Rock Star & Home
<<<<<<<<<<Click here for part 1 of the Holiday in Kyoto >>>>>>>>>>>>>
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