JAPAN: Day 5 + Day 6 Osaka - Singapore

Leaving Kyoto loaded with many sweet memories, we are driving to Osaka through Meishin Expressway. The tollbooths have lanes for cars with an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection, an automated payment device) and one lane for cash payment. We opt to pay with cash. Just take a ticket upon entering and pay when exiting the expressway. We used GPS and Google Map as backup to guide us.

First stop back in Osaka is the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. Like the SEA Aquarium in Singapore, it is children friendly and organised in sections. Here visitors can see many sea creatures from Sea of Japan and Pacific Ocean. What interest me are their Japan Deep and Pacific Ocean sections.

There are days like this too >_< Alexis just love this place so much that she doesn't want to leave.

After a long day of shopping and sight seeing make sure to stop by at the food street Dotonbori. We just love this street, trying different types of food. There is always something yummy for everyone.

Snow crab sushi and maki.

Here is Osaka's specialty kushikatsu - fried skewers at Kushikatsu Daruma in Dotonbori. No second dipping in the sauce. Use the cabbage leaves provided as 'spoon' to take more sauce if needed.

 

Dinner at Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M

Another place to enjoy the local cuisine in this city is Kuromon Market in the morning. Here you can find many fresh seafood, prepared in any style you fancy - raw, lightly boiled, seared, deep fried or cook in soup. Many stalls prepare sushi on the spot too. There is a wide selection of Japanese beef to choose from. Matsusaka and Kobe beef come highly recommended. We also love buying seasonal fruits and fresh fruits juices. Cut fruits are great as snacks for the children.

 Kuromon Market

 

 Grilled scallops

 Macaroni and cheese with crabmeat served in a crab shell

It is here at this restaurant we had our brunch. It is packed with tourists.
 

 Uni Ikura Don

 Lobster in Miso soup with sliced scallions on top

 We love Japanese fruits tarts here at Grand Front Osaka. 

 15 minute wait for Bake's gooey cheese tarts in B1F Hanshin Umeda, 1-chme, 13-13, Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-8224.  The recently-opened Bake bakery in Singapore has a long snaking queue everyday. Wait time about two hours or more.

 Cold ice cream sandwiched between hot crispy bun in Dotonbori.

We are on our way to the Kansai International Airport in the same Nankai Rapid Limited Express Train. Seeing the faces of my husband and children smiling and laughing warms my heart knowing that we shared many good memories and even more 'first times' together. Is it easy to travel with young children? Yes, if we have a car to drive around to places we want to go. Not only does this option maximises our time to get to more places, it also allows the children to rest and sleep in the car especially long distance journeys. We are able to keep our luggages in the car and do some last minute sight seeing without worrying about the heavy load.

It doesn't matter if the children are too young to remember the trip. What is important is we live in the moment, in the present where we are able to bond and travel together as a family. We will continue to bring them to discover many more places and cultures around the world. We met many good Japanese people in our trip whom we are thankful for. Alexis received origami deer in Nara, flowers in Miyama and dried blueberries in Kyoto. Language is not a barrier. A smile and a polite thank you 'Arigato gozaimasu' might just brighten someone's day. Arigato gozaimasu Japan! :)

 Arlo sleeping in the plane.

Some goodies from Singapore Airlines :)