C U T E S T P E T T I N G Z O O

Before I came to Osaka I read about this adorable petting zoo on Orange Street, one of Osaka’s coolest shopping streets. I kind of forgot all about it until I walked past and just COULD NOT resist a little visit myself. You’re allowed to just hang out with the animals and stoke and take pics, but feeding treats and hugs cost more so I held back haha. It was so kawaii and japanese and the animals all seemed chilled and happy… just look at these lil faces…

This guy is called a skinny guinea (basically a bald guinea pig) hahah how cute!!

W H E E L Y G OO D T I M E

Spent the day exploring Osaka but couldn’t walk past this amazing rectangular ferris wheel without having a little go! Was pretty scary at the top and I’m glad I could fit into the seats after all the snacks and ramen so far haha

after the ferris wheel I walked to orange street where there were really amazing and cute shops! I also went to the kawaii petting zoo… more to come on that in a different post! I spend a couple of hours in starbucks, as my airbnb didn’t have wifi so was good to be able to get online for a little bit. On the way home, stopped for some delicious ramen before an early-ish night, had to catch an early flight to ishigaki in the morning!!

O S A K A B Y N I G H T

Headed to the Dontonbori area for my first evening in Osaka on the hunt for something to eat... ended up being totally overwhelmed! So many options, great smells, huge queues and people trying to lure you in to every restaurant or food stand. Seems like they try and claim every food originates in Osaka (even Kobe beef!?) but I opted for okonomiyaki and octopus takoyaki balls....pretty UMAII!

Got a bit obsessed with this giant fugu... didn’t actually try any fugu (that’s the one that can kill you if not prepared correctly...been having too much fun to die right now!) but I did see these little guys ready to become someone’s dinner 😭

Okonomiyaki heaven!! Mayo by me haha

TAKOYAKI BALLSSSSSS

after exploring Osaka, i was recommended this cute hidden bar… you had to crawl through a tiny doorway to get in and the cocktails and people inside were great!! So glad I went even though I was mega nervous to go to a bar on my own haha

OUTDOOR ART

After Chichu I had a little wander around the outdoor artworks of Benesse House and got a bit obsessed with some giant marble balls. It was so peaceful and quiet though...no one around until I bumped into a group of Chinese tourists posing for a pic!

Then it was time to set off for Osaka, so caught the cute ferry (which I napped on) then a bus (that I also napped on) and then a train! Lucky I didn’t nap right through my stops but I managed to make it ok, then just had to drag my stuff to the airbnb and then up FOUR FLIGHTS OF STAIRS! Huge thanks to the group of american guys that overtook me and didn’t offer to help on that stairway... SO NICE HAHA

HELLO OSAKA😍 

There’s a lottttt of bikes in Osaka and people ride them everywhere, like on the pavement and directly towards you, on either side of the road....feels like home haha

Nearly at the Airbnb at this point 😅 

CHICHU ART MUSEUM

I had already booked to visit Chichu Art Museum at 10.30 so I checked out and headed there on the shuttle. Wasn’t meant to take pics there but I was naughty because I just had to! It was the most amazing space! the architecture, art...even the lunch was great haha. So i went into stealth mode for some pics... sorry Chichu but i didn’t want to forget anythinggggg

night at the museum

One of the perks of staying at Benesse House is that you get to go to the museum until 11pm which means it’s mega quiet and feels like you are there totally on your own!  

All of the artists that’s work was inside has visited and been inspired by Naoshima Island...some really amazing work and an incredible space! 

Basquiat and Yayoi <3

These flags had lines through them as they are actually ant farms.... SUGOI!

E X P L O R I N G (getting lost in) N A O S H I M A

After I check in I decided to go for a little wander around Naoshima to see what I could find. I ended up walked about  7 miles around the island (!!) and didn’t come across more than 10 people the whole time. It was sooooo quiet and peaceful, especially after just coming from Tokyo and really loved seeing this side of Japan! 

H E L L O N A O S H I M A !

The next morning i had to get up mega early to set off to Naoshima Island aka the Art Island! Thank god I left myself lots of time because i definitely got lost a couple of times on the way but I made it to Haneada ready for my flight to Takamatsu (which was actually bumpy and a bit terrifying but I managed to sleep through most of it haha) 

Airport breakfast...umaiiii

After landing I had to get a bus to the port and then a ferry to Naoshima and another bus (above!) to kind of part way to Benesse House, the hotel/gallery I was staying at for the night. Had to drag my stupid suitcase (my nemesis of the trip) across sand for the last part but did see Yayoi Kusama’s pumpkins on my way so cannot complainnnnnn! 

Then I checked into Benesse House which is INCREDIBLLLLLLLLE!!!!!!!! It’s super minimal and all just concrete and glass and heavenly! Was my most expensive hotel (hence only staying one night) but TOTALLY worth it... just look!!! 

My room... that viewwwwww!! 

So happpppppyyyyyy!!!! 

O M O T E S A N D O H I L L S

After a couple of hours sleep (literally about 2!) I got up and headed for lunch with Aoko and Rin in the Omotesando area. Deffo got completely lost trying to track down the restaurant, but found it on a really fancy terrace with beaut views of the city! The food was OISHIIIII too! 

After lunch we went for a stroll around the around the Omotesando area and Harajuku.... sooooo many good shops! I also saw the Opening Cermony staircase that I am obsessed with haha. Was so lovely to catch up with Rin and Aoko again, crazy to think we met 20 years ago but can still have fun together like that! 

T o k y o N i g h t s

Met Lewis, Aoko, Rin and a load of other new faces for a cute dinner in Sangenjaya 

Afterwards a small a small group of us headed to karaoke which was amazing!! So much fun! Then I headed back to the hotel! Jet lagged and wanting to continue, I met up with Moses and we did a second round of karaoke haha! When we left it was daylight 😬 so we went for urm... breakfast!? Haha before a few hours sleep ahead of meeting Rin and Aoko for lunch! 

S h i n j u k u

On my way to lunch randomly bumped into Moses coming out of the lift! Howewww I bumped into someone in the same hotel within 5 mins of arriving is beyond me! But nice to see a familiar face! Went for lunch in what I found out after was Korea Town, and then went for my pilgrimage to my favourite place in the world... the Shinjuku pet shop that I always HAVE to visit!! 

After that exciting, came back for a nap before dinner and drinks... 

H E L L O T O K Y O !

Finally made it to my hotel!! After a few trains and a busy walk dragging my suitcase through Korea town I managed to find the Granbell in Shinjuku  

On the walk to the hotel it was soooo busy and there were huge queues of young girls and I figured out the newest craze here is Korean cheese dogs, like a hotdog made of cheese on a stick, some with potato cubes on the outside and some with rainbow cheese inside haha, need to tryyyyy 🌈 🧀  

At the hotel I accidentally checked myself into the wrong room after reading my room number wrong! I thought my room seemed a bit deluxe!!

Anyway, reception called up like... urm... what are you doing? You’re in the wrong room! So I quickly found the right room which was even teeeeeenier ha! And I left my phone in the original room by mistake. Zero sleep and hours of travelling had got to me!! So after retrieving my phone and the right room (!) I dumped my stuff and got ready to head of for some lunchhhhh

#TURNERGOESTOKYO

⭐️💕🇯🇵Highlights from my japan 2019 trip!! ✌️💥🌸

Just landed! Managed to retrieve a fugitive suitcase that made it’s way to the other end of the airport on it’s own and pick up my portable WiFi.... now just need to try and make it to my hotel 🙃