Bucket List Blessings: Osaka and Kyoto

From top left clockwise: Hogwarts Castle, Universal Studios Japan, Osaka; Kyoto Golden Pavilion - Kinkakuji Temple; Osaka Castle; Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto

Do you have a bucket list? I do because it’s been said you can’t be truly
happy unless you know what it is that your heart desires. Not only did I
specify the details, I would pray over it regularly. And God has been ticking off some items from my wish list during my travels. In the last leg of our Japan trip, I had several bucket list blessings:

1.   Japanese Cheesecake

Japanese cheesecake? On my bucket list? You read that right. It’s not even the gourmet kind. It’s the P250 (at the time I wrote it down) kind in Bread Talk. Now why would that be on my bucket list you may wonder?

You see, like many women who were suddenly thrown into solo parenthood, I went through dark financial times. I wrote about this Palpitation to Donation Journey in my book, The Happy Solo Kit: Tools and Supplies You Need to Survive Solo Parenting Without Losing Your Marbles. Those were the times I would get palpitations every time I made my monthly budget because my funds just wouldn’t reach till the next month. It was also during that time I was taking my Masters in Entrepreneurship in AIM when a classmate gushed about this cheesecake. It would have been a luxury to buy that so I promised myself I will buy it someday. I probably could’ve sacrificed funds for something else just to taste it. My mother even offered to buy one because she felt such pity for me. But I refused. I made it a motivation to reach that financial level where I can easily afford it. Eventually, I did get to taste that Japanese cheesecake.

But that’s not the big event. I don’t even remember the time it happened. What I do remember was God’s better version of ticking off the Japanese cheesecake from my bucket list. In later years, I heard about Pablo Cheesecake which again stirred my cravings. When we got to Osaka, I asked our guide to take us to Pablo. And I got my Japanese cheesecake right from Japan. Bucket list checked with God’s bright pink ballpen!

Pablo Cheesecake shop in Osaka

2.   Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Butterbeer

Ever since I first heard they were recreating the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios, I included that in my Novena to God’s Love as part of my family travel goals. Like Star Wars, Harry Potter movies were a must-watch for my children and I. Naturally, Universal Studios Japan was highlighted in our Osaka itinerary. Lucky for us, our guide Toyoko suggested we purchase the Express Pass. It was Halloween Week when we were in USJ so there was a massive crowd. 

Entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

We made it to the Forbidden Journey ride just in time because of our Express Pass. Now that was a ride I would not normally take because I’m prone to motion sickness. But hey, it was a ride right inside Hogswart and you get to walk through the castle before the ride. I just had to do it afraid. Good thing I did, it was quite an experience and I didn’t get queasy at all.

Door to Dumbledore's office in Hogwarts

Walking around Hogsmeade Village... 

Owl Clock Tower in Hogsmeade

Boxes and boxes of magic wands at Ollivanders

...and tasting ambrosia a.k.a. butterbeer WITH MY CHILDREN was indeed an answered prayer.

3.   Ninja Village

Would you believe that one of my favorite tv series when I was young was The Samurai? It’s a Japanese historical fiction dubbed in English. It was about the adventures of Shintaro and his side kick, an Iga Ninja master. So imagine my excitement when our guide asked if we wanted to visit the Iga Ueno Ninja Village. It was just an hour away from Osaka, so it was perfect for a half day tour.

For me, it was one of the best places I visited in Japan because of the peek into that part of Japanese history. We were given a tour of the ninja house and told about the secret hiding places and passages. I was totally fascinated as I felt I was hiding right there with Shintaro. I’m sure my boys enjoyed it too as they listened with rapt attention to the guide. 

The Ninja House with its many secret passages and hiding places for weapons

Twinning hairstyle with the Ninja guide

There was also a museum that exhibited ninja weapons, tools, and garb. 

Lastly, there was a very entertaining and hilarious show that displayed the skills of ninjas. I felt bad we weren’t allowed to take photos of the show and all I captured was the show’s poster.

4.   Kyoto

After visiting the Ninja Village, we were off to Kyoto to see some temples and the Bamboo Grove. 

The early nightfall added to the air of serenity in the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove  

While preparing for our trip, I updated my bucket list to include the shopping street in Arashiyama. One of my yoga friends described her family’s visit there and their discovery of this almost magical chocolate shop just off that street. I wanted to look for it but sadly we got there late and had little time to explore. But I still enjoyed the leisurely stroll down the whole length of the shopping street in the early dusk and checking out its quaint shops. I felt we should have spent at least 2 days in Kyoto to fully appreciate the place.

Shopping Street of Arashiyama

           On our last day, our guide took us to the famous spots in Osaka.

Osaka Castle

Tenjinbashi - Japan's longest shopping street

Namba Parks Shopping Complex

            After our Japan trip, I added 2 more items to my bucket list:

•       See more of Japan like Sapporo during their Snow Festival, experience staying in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) and de-stressing in an onsen (hot spring).
•     Visit Harry Potter Theme Park England. Although we enjoyed the one in Osaka, it just wasn’t the same in Japanese. And I want to drink more butterbeer.

By God’s grace, we will survive this pandemic and we #WillSeeTheWorldAgain as #WeFlyToDreamDestinations .

Travel tip:

·        Get an Express Pass if you are going to theme parks during peak seasons. You will get to see and do more with the time you save.