Unboxing: Japan 2024 Travel Haul

You know what's great about Japan (aside from the food and high-tech toilets)? Duty free shopping for tourists! 

Sholayered Light Green 1945 Eau de Toilette
Shiro Fragrance Earl Grey Hand Serum and Eau de Parfum
House of Rose Aroma Rucette Body Wash & Bubble Bath in Pink & White Grapefruit and Mandarin & Bitter Orange
House of Rose Sakura Fufufu Milky Body Cream
House of Rose Doux Surge Moisture Body Milk and Moisture Body Cream
Isehan Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara x 2, DeJavu Lash Knockout Extra Volume Mascara, DeJavu Fiber Wig Ultra Long Mascara, and Rohto C3 Cool Eye Drops x 3
Sunstar Ora2 Stain Clear Toothpaste in Peach Leaf Mint x 3 and Fresh Kiwi Mint x 3
Asahi Mintia Breeze Sugarless Candy in Fresh Peach x 5 and Fresh Grape x 5
Souvenirs: Cosmetics pouch, hair brush, coin purse, and glasses case
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Mug — Tokyo
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Mug — Osaka
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Mug — Japan (Spring Edition)
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Tote Bag — Japan (Spring Edition)
Uniqlo "Asakusa" and "Daruma Dolls" by Bog Craft UT Graphic T-Shirts
Uniqlo "Asakusa Icons" and "Kaitenzushi" UT Graphic T-Shirts

Not included in this post are the plethora of random skin ointments and lip balms I got at pharmacies and the atrocious amount of jeggings and sweatshirts I got at Uniqlo (which are HALF THE PRICE than they are here!!!!!).

Sholayered

Shibuya Scramble Square, 5/F

2 Chome-24-12

Shibuya, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0002 

+81-03-4221-4280

Shiro

Shibuya Scramble Square, 6/F

2 Chome-24-12

Shibuya, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0002 

+81-03-6803-8246

House of Rose

Tokyu Plaza Shibuya, 3/F

1 Chome−2−3

Dogenzaka, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0043

+81-03-6427-0709

Uniqlo Asakusa

Tokyo Rakutenchi Asakusa Building, 1-2/F

2 Chome−6−7

Asakusa, Taito City

Tokyo, Japan 〒111-0032

+81-50-3355-7798

Osaka 2024 Travel Log: Day 5 — Tonkatsu and Ebi Fry Set at Katsuma

On our way to the subway station from Osaka Castle, we decided to look for a restaurant to eat an early dinner before heading back to our hotel and found a katsu restaurant called Katsuma.

Tonkatsu and ebi fry set

I decided to get the tonkatsu and ebi fry set, which comes with cabbage salad, rice, and miso soup. Both the pork and the shrimp were perfectly fried and super crispy. The elder gentleman who served us was lovely and kind as well. Not sure how busy it gets here during lunch and dinner rushes (we got there at 5:00PM, so there was literally only two other parties in there), but we didn't have to wait more than five minutes for the food. Very satisfied with this meal, and it checks tonkatsu off my list of things to eat in Japan.

Katsuma 

Jo-Terrace Osaka

3 Chome-1-101区画

Osakajo, Chuo Ward

Osaka, Japan 〒540-0002

+81-06-6944-2288

Osaka 2024 Travel Log: Day 5 — Walking Around Osaka Castle

We walked an hour from Namba to Osaka Castle and got there just as the queue to go in closed for the day (can you tell I didn't do any research before going?), so we quite literally walked around the main building:

Osaka Castle — Main Tower (South Side)

Osaka Castle — South Outer Moat

Osaka Castle — Main Tower (South Side)

Osaka Castle — Inner Moat (West Side)

Osaka Castle — Main Tower (Northwest Corner)

Osaka Castle — Inner Moat (Northwest Side)

Osaka Castle — Main Tower (North Side)

But you can be damn sure I took photos of the exterior from as many sides as I could. (And the moats. 'Cause who doesn't love a good moat?)

Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle Park

1-1 Osakajo

Chuo Ward

Osaka, Japan 〒540-0002

Osaka 2024 Travel Log: Day 5 — Seaweed Salt & Buttered Mashed Potato with Bacon Teritama Burger, Shrimp Filet-O, and Matcha Kuromitsu Warabi Mochi Pie at McDonald's

Yes, I know it's, like, the most foreigner thing ever, but I didn't get to try McDonald's the last time I was here and their spring menu — a.k.a. the Teritama series — is out now, so I had to get it this time. (Surprisingly, even my mom was hellbent on trying McDonald's here. Every time I asked her what she wanted to eat, she would think for a minute and then say, "McDonald's?")

Seaweed Salt & Buttered Mashed Potato with Bacon Teritama Burger

Seaweed Salt & Buttered Mashed Potato with Bacon Teritama Burger

First up, the Seaweed Salt & Buttered Mashed Potato with Bacon Teritama Burger. (There are 4 burgers in the Teritama series, but this sounded the most interesting and is apparently new for this year, so that's the one we went for.) Put simply, this was not good. Firstly, there is way too much teriyaki sauce. It gets everywhere and your hands will get sticky, whether you're holding it with the wrapper or not. Secondly, the teriyaki sauce — which is mildly sweet and slightly garlicky — just doesn't go well with egg. I know this was the whole point behind the Teritama series, but it just doesn't jive to me. (Seems like it's just popular enough to bring back for a month every year, but not enough to put on the permanent menu.) Thirdly, the mashed potato has a strange aftertaste (probably that seaweed salt) that really, really doesn't go well with the sauce. Basically, the flavours here are just not cohesive. Great in theory, but not so much in execution. (My mom agreed.) I will say, however, that the quality of the ingredients and the portion sizes are incredibly impressive. The patty, the egg, the bun, even the lettuce, are all superior to what you can find in North America. 4/10

Shrimp Filet-O

Shrimp Filet-O

But the Shrimp Filet-O... Oof, Japan doesn't even know how good they've got it at their McDonald's with just this one sandwich here. It's like the Filet-O-Fish, except a fried shrimp patty instead of fish, and Big Mac sauce instead of tartar sauce. And the shrimp patty isn't just made up of shrimp paste. There are full-on big chunks of shrimp in there. Like the Teritama burger, this sandwich is deceivingly hefty, too. In Canada, I'd need at least one combo with an extra sandwich to get full. Here, one combo is the perfect amount. Ironic that the McDonald's portions in North America are smaller than in Japan. (Yes, I was indeed extremely full after this meal.) 9/10

Matcha Kuromitsu Warabi Mochi Pie

Matcha Kuromitsu Warabi Mochi Pie

Finally, for dessert, another limited springtime release: the Matcha Kuromitsu Warabi Mochi Pie. The first bite was okay, but quickly became way too much. The mochi with kuromitsu — a Japanese black sugar syrup that is similar to molasses — inside a deep-fried shell were way too rich and heavy together. And the flavour of the kuromitsu overwhelms everything else — you can barely taste the matcha in the crust, and it becomes too sickly sweet. The kuromitsuwarabi mochi and the matcha pie would be good separately, but like the Teritama burger, just do not go well together. Go for the classic apple pie instead. There's a reason why it's a permanent item. 5/10

My conclusion from this very, very small sampling: I need to try more of the permanent menu items in Japan.

McDonald's

2 Chome-5-3 

Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo Ward

Osaka, Japan 〒542-0085

+81-06-6214-5101

Osaka 2024 Travel Log: Day 4 — Rolled Unagi Omelette and Unadon at Hozenji Yamakazu

My mom wanted to get unadon for dinner so I did some researching and took us to Hozenji Yamakazu, a restaurant that specializes in unagi dishes:

Rolled unagi omelette

Unadon

This was definitely, without a doubt, hands down, the best unadon I've ever had in my life. They make the most tender, almost melt-in-your-mouth, flavourful unagi without being overly saucy or sticky sweet. It was pretty pricey — altogether, it was about $35 CAD per person — and there was about an hour wait to get a table, but it so worth it. 10/10, highly recommend, would come back in a heartbeat.

Hozenji Yamakazu

1 Chome-1-16

Namba, Chuo Ward

Osaka, Japan 〒542-0076

+81-06-6211-5800

Osaka 2024 Travel Log: Day 3 — Dotonbori Street Food Tour

We fought our way through crowds and spent way too much time waiting in queues, but it wouldn't be a trip to Osaka without a plethora of street food:

Original takoyaki

A variety platter of takoyaki

Mitarashi dango

10 yen cheese coin pancake

Sweet potato taiyaki

Melonpan with strawberry ice cream

Ichigodaifuku with strawberry cream and matcha cream

Sweet corn with strawberry soft serve

Not a single disappointing item. ONLY DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF BECAUSE I COULDN'T FIT ANYMORE IN. 

Dotonbori

Chome Dotonbori, Chuo Ward

Osaka, Japan 〒542-0071

+81-06-6211-4542

Osaka 2024 Travel Log: Day 3 — Rich Beef Bone Ramen at Mugen Ramen 無限ラーメン千日前店

We originally wanted to go to Creperie Alcyon for lunch, but after lining up for 15 minutes and not having the queue move at all, we decided to find something else, which is how we ended up at Mugen Ramen:

Rich beef bone ramen

You can customize your ramen after ordering your base bowl, so I chose the rich beef bone ramen with extra rich broth, extra char siu, sirloin beef slices, and a soft-boiled egg. I think this is the first time I've had beef bone-based broth, and it is EXCELLENT. It was the creamiest, most flavourful broth I have ever experienced. The noodles are thinner than standard ramen, but they cling better to the thick broth. The char siu was excellent (I ordered an extra 2 pieces), but the raw beef slices didn't cook enough even after sitting in the steaming hot broth for over 5 minutes, so the texture of the meat felt almost slimy with the rich broth. Not sure if that's how it's supposed to be, but I would stick to the char siu here. Overall, though, a delicious, satisfying lunch, and shockingly, no line-up. Worth visiting if you're looking for ramen in Dotonbori. (Also, ignore the ratings on Google. The reviews for this location are being given to another location because this one isn't listed in English.)

Mugen Ramen 無限ラーメン千日前店

1 Chome−2−2 無限ラーメン

Dotonbori, Chuo Ward

Osaka, Japan 〒542-0076

+81-06-6755-8925

Osaka 2024 Travel Log: Day 2 — Strolling Through Dotonbori

Dotonbori

Dotonbori

Dotonbori

Dotonbori

Dotonbori

Dotonbori

Dotonbori

Dotonbori

Dotonbori

Had to go back to the Glico Running Man. Because did you even go to Osaka if you didn't visit the Glico Running Man?

Dotonbori

Chome Dotonbori, Chuo Ward

Osaka, Japan 〒542-0071

+81-06-6211-4542

Osaka 2024 Travel Log: Day 2 — Kaitenzushi at Daikisuisan Kaitenzushi

Well, you know we had to get kaitenzushi (or conveyor belt sushi) at least once in Japan.

Kaitenzushi

Assorted sashimi

Sweet shrimp nigiri

Freshwater eel nigiri

Cuttlefish nigiri

Salmon nigiri

Tuna and pickled radish gunkan

Chutoro tuna nigiri

Deep-fried tuna

Shrimp tempura udon

We initially went to Kura Sushi because it's one of the big national kaitenzushi chains, but there was a 90-minute wait, so we said "fuck it," and kept walking down Dotonbori. And good thing we did, because that's how we found Daikisuisan, a smaller kaitenzushi chain restaurant (this one is only in 4 regions — Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, and Kyoto — rather than nationwide), where the food is superb, the variety is excellent, the service is efficient, the prices are reasonable, and — best of all — there is no line-up. Not sure why everyone was hellbent on waiting at Kura Sushi when this place is not even a block away, but hey, at least I got to eat first.

Daikisuisan Kaitenzushi

Shikairo Dontonbori Building, 1F

1 Chome−7−24 道頓堀ビル １F 四海樓

Dotonbori, Chuo Ward

Osaka, Japan 〒542-0071

+81-06-6214-1055