"The Diary Game Season 3 (10/14/2021) | 10 days with great places in Japan which I guarantee you to say "I will go back".

I also dreamt to visit Japan someday. Who doesn't?
After all the tension and worries about visa, budget, Piso fare plane ticket, and leaves to be approved. Finally, here we are at the airport bound to Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Japan.

Day 1 - Tsutenkaku Tower

It was afternoon when we arrived at our hotel somewhere in Osaka and after we settle down and put our bags in safety, we do not want to waste every second that we are in Japan. We headed to our first destination on our list which is part of the promo we've got from Klook, the Tsutenkaku Tower. It happen that it was just 2 blocks away from the hotel where we stay and it is twilight when we arrived there. Though it was a good spot for the sunset there, we decide first to have dinner and explore the beauty of the night market around the Tsutenkaku Tower. Looking back at the pictures on my gallery while choosing the best for this post I remember every scenario we had during that day. We were a little hyperactive for the amazement of the place. In the Visayan language, we call it "manol", a feeling of craziness for a new thing or place.

Day 2 - Osaka castle, Umeda Tower and Dōtonbori

Cloudy as we go out in the hotel. We headed to the next destination, Osaka Castle. It is located in the middle of a wide area. It was a long walk from the gate towards the castle itself but you will not get bored or tired because there were many other tourists there walk along with you. Hence, it was just our day 2 full of energy as we walk along the way to the castle. And we've reached the castle finally. Vuela! It was my first time to see a real Japanese castle which I have casually seen on TV.

Umeda tower is quite far from the train station where we dropped. So we had to walk again for 40 minutes I suppose but it was a good walk. I just feel amazed I am walking alongside other Japanese and as we approaching closer towards the tower I can see other tourists walking just like us. The difference is they are quiet while we are noisy while walking.
An amazing view at the top of the tower. It was an afternoon that you can view the horizon of the entire Osaka. Wow! I like that feeling.

I started to feel little pain in my legs and it is dark when we headed to a crowded place in Dotonbori. I can compare the crowd there as many in Divisoria in the Philippines. People there are walking in order and though there was too much crowd, it seems peaceful. And we have Okonomiyaki for dinner. It is quite a little expensive so we just order one and divided it into 5 of us. But it tastes like "hmmm sarap"!
But of course, it didn't satisfy our dinner so we just bought takoyaki for fulfillment.
Take note: everything is expensive in Japan compare to the Philippines

Day 3 - Universal Studios Park

It is a sunny early morning when we left our hotel. The sun is high but the wind that touches my skin is so cold. I feel like in Hollywood. The queue at the entrance is not that long and on the right side, you can see the big logo of the universal studio with many tourists around it taking photos. Until I have made my opportunity and get mine. The most exciting part? The Harry Potter. Since Harry Potter is located at almost the edge of the Universal Studio many attractions along the way that you can see. America's theme, Despicable Me, the roller coaster, and many more. There was a lot that happened on that day but you will not get bored inside the park.

Finally, the Harry Potter. If you are a Harry Potter fan you will really amazed. Starting from the flying car of Harry there was a queue for photo shooting already. Next the train to Hogwarts. It is real. There are even stores there that sell Hogwarts Uniform with their wands. It was all real. We have been in the queue for more than an hour to see what is in Hogwarts castle. It is actually like a roller coaster inside like you are riding in a broom flying with Harry. It was completely satisfying.
What I don't like: Harry Potter is speaking in Japanese (I don't understand)

Day 4 - On our way to Kyoto

We have spent half a day traveling going to Kyoto. From bus to train and to another train. After we arrived at our hotel in Kyoto left our bag and proceeded to Higashi Honganji Temple. It is a few blocks away from Kyoto station. To me, it is something like a dojo where ninja is trained. It is a little sacred place so there's not much excitement but it is good I see one a real Japanese Temple.
Then we move forward to other temples which I forgot the name. But we ended the day in Gion Market to try their street foods.
Take note: It's a "no-no" to eat while walking.

Day 5 - Yasaka-no-to Pagoda (Hōkan-ji Temple)

Actually, it is our schedule to Nara Park and Bamboo Forest but one of my friends got dizzy. Both of us stayed in a hotel. Me worrying to find a nearby hospital in such case she will collapse. But my other friends went through and shared their experiences back in the hotel. It was amazing. The other two were lovers at that time which is now they are officially married blessed with a baby, they had the best photo in the Bamboo forest. I said someday I will go back to Japan in Bamboo forest holding someone's hands wearing kimono (sighs). Yes, Kimono is usual in Kyoto. You can rent it and you can wear it the whole day. Including in rental fee, they will put makeup and hair make up for girls. Amazing! But we were on a budget so none of us attempt to rent a Kimono.

Day 6 - Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kobe

It is a landmark of Kyoto. Many tourists came to this place. I wonder what is that place. It is all over the internet taking pride to take photos with it but I realized after reading some of its facts when I was there, it was a cemetery. Well, it is a shrine but okay I like it in the sense it is popular. See that series of orange posts? It has a name on its back written in Japanese and also those names are already dead. If you are a person who likes to visit Grotto as your solemn place you will definitely like this place but somewhat like in Buddism way. The grotto is often Catholic.

Kobe is quite far from Kyoto wherein we have to take an hour's train from Kyoto station to Kobe. On this day we are preparing to checkout on our hotel as we plan to move to Tokyo the next day.
There isn't much in Kobe. It's just a class fancy house for the rich that we have there to take photos where the high-end house is located and is also a tourist spot. The good thing and good memory I had in Kobe is the beefsteak. There's a place there that serves the best beef steak in the world. We order some as we were hungry walking hours. Buela! you will forget your name with the taste of the beefsteak.
Take note: We've spent around 2000 pesos each in just one meal.

Day 7 - Tokyo, Team Lab, Shibuya

From day 6 in Kyoto, we booked on a bus with 6 hours travel time to Tokyo. It is a very comfortable journey. I am not sure if it was a luxury bus but it is like a hotel inside the bus. There is a blanket provided, there's a toilet at the back of the bus like an airplane, and the driver and the assistant are actually assisting you like in a high-end hotel. Amazing!

Since my friend is navigating us as she prepared our itinerary, I am no longer familiar with some of the places where we were. I just remember the memories with them. Like we visited a bridge similar to Cebu-Cordova. I forgot the name of the place but it was a peaceful bridge similar to romance anime I saw on TV.

We have been to Shibuya. A popular street crossing in Japan. You cannot identify if the person is usually crossing or a tourist crossing. All have their camera excited to cross the street stopping in the middle of the road to take photos.
We stayed in Starbucks at the corner for a few minutes noticing the crossing of Shibuya. After that, we walked on the other side to take photos of the monument of Hachiko.

The best part? The teamLab Borderless in Tokyo. You can visit their website at https://borderless.teamlab.art/
That experience there walking around fantastic moving lights with serenity. I was there too!

Day 8 - Disneyland Tokyo

Universal Studios in Osaka is a crowded place with long queues but that count is doubled or tripled maybe here in Disneyland. When we step in, you will feel amazed that all you've seen on Disney TV or even cartoons are all real. It is also okay to wear your favorite Disney princess dress during your all-day visit.
But not all are capable of wearing dresses but they deserve it. They deserve to be real-life princesses. Like I saw one girl who looks like Moana but she dressed as Snow White. She deserved it though and I am happy for her. I am happy inside too to experience it there. We have spent most of our time in queue. But after the rides we had. It was all worthy of our time.

Day 9 - Mount Fuji

Unlike our previous days that our itinerary is manually tracked by our leader and get stressed about what to do next, Mount Fuji is a day tour we booked from Klook. Stress-free day! We take the bus and we were treated as Class A tourists by the Klook personnel.
Take note: Be on time. The bus is ready to leave their guest behind if not on time.

During the trip on Mt Fuji, the tourist guide says we were lucky to enjoy the full view of Mt Fuji because almost of his time guiding the tourist, the mountain is covered by clouds and snow. On our time, it was a sunny day but when hopped in on our first station to take the green tea, it's a cold sunny day.
The first station is at the bottom of the mountain where we can see the full view of the mountain.
Then we moved to the next station. It is already at the top of the mountain where we can see the entire Tokyo. It was a memorable day.
There were other stations we had on the top of the mountain. There was a village there but I just amaze by their government because the houses there are still elegant. Unlike in the Philippines, when you reached a remote place you will the house of nipa hut. It was really fulfilling day.

Day 10 - Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingū), Going Home

We stayed in Shinjuku as it is a popular place to visit as well in Tokyo. Other than nightlife which is famous for, you should have to experience the best ramen in Ichiran. It is like a computer shop here in the Philippines wherein you are separated by walls. You cannot see your companion while eating so does the cook who prepares the ramen. So far it is the best ramen comparing to another ramen in Japan that I ever had.
Our flight going back to the Philippines is in the afternoon. So we still have time to visit popular places like Harajuku. It is meant for shopping but on the last day, we have a few yen left in our pocket. We proceeded to the Meiji shrine. Walked for hours and go back to our hotel to fetch our bags heading to Narita airport.
I like their train which is connected to the airport. One is in Kansai where we landed and here going to Narita airport. You will be a comfortable seat in a two-seater row and the train has its cabin where you can put your luggage far from but in a safe place.

We have a video of the part of our trip:

My friend who happened to be our leader in our travel is also inspired to go in business with Misuta Gyoza, a Japanese pan-fried dumplings.

If you are located in Manila specifically nearby in Paranaque you can book your order through Food Panda or you can message her on Facebook for orders.
See more of her business through this page: https://sites.google.com/view/unnieschoice/

Thank you for reading up to this point. I am sure I missed a lot of stories when I was in Japan. I will create a blog anew with the tips and tricks on how we were able to minimize our budget and maximize the fun.

I encourage @fabio2614, @bby0207, @kyrie1234 to join the Diary Game contest

Thank you for inviting me to Steem-travellers @hive-111293 I am equipped with travel experiences that no one knows yet. I promise to share it with our community.