Osaka & Birthday in Japan

Woke up in Kyoto on my birthday! We started the day at the Golden Pavilion(Kinkaku-ji) in Kyoto - a lakeside temple completely covered in gold leaf. It’s a well-known spot, but still feels peaceful when you see it in person. The reflection in the water was beautiful.

After that, we visited Daitoku-ji, a quieter temple complex known for its Zen gardens. The raked gravel and simple design give the place a calm feeling. We all enjoyed an ice cream and then it was time to leave Kyoto behind and catch the train to Osaka.

Osaka is immediately different - louder, more modern, and a bit rougher around the edges in a good way. That evening, we explored Dotonbori, one of the busiest parts of the city, filled with bright signs, crowds, and a huge amount of street food. We did a guided food tour, which included all the Osaka classics: takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushikatsu. Everything was tasty, and the energy of the area made it even better.

Since it was my birthday, the night ended with karaoke and unlimited drinks with the group which was a great way to end a fun birthday!

The next morning, some people from the group wrapped up their trip and headed off - their tour was the 9-day version. The rest of us had a free morning in Osaka. Most people took it easy to recover from the night before haha!

In the evening, we went to see Osaka Castle, a big historical landmark with wide gardens and a nice view at sunset. Later on, I did a backstreets tour of Osaka, which focused on the less talked-about sides of the city. We learned more about issues like homelessness, missing people, and the influence of the Yakuza. It was eye-opening and added some real perspective to the trip.