Kansai vlog

Just to record my travel memory in Kansai(travel notes modified by GPT).

Intro

Please see my Citywalk vlog during days in Kansai

Around Qingming, I set off alone for Kansai. Cherry blossoms pulled me east like a thin, invisible thread. Even now, I can still taste the sweetness left from those days.

My story began in Osaka. The city greeted me with light and noise. In Dotonbori, neon flowed like a river. A giant crab and a dragon hung over the canal, their reflections dancing on the water. The Glico Running Man kept sprinting toward joy, and my capsule hotel stayed within his gaze. It rained that night. I gathered my courage and tried a wagyu buffet by myself. The first bite was tender, the second satisfying, the third a little too rich. I hid in a corner, a shy watcher in a foreign dining room, nervous and curious at once.

On the road, I met two travelers from Ningbo. We teamed up. Together we strolled Osaka Castle Park, Tenmangu, Shitenno-ji, and Tsutenkaku. The solo trip brightened. Laughter arrived. Companionship made the steps light.

A cold snap was coming, so I changed plans. I went to Kobe first, where the wind felt kind. Lanterns warmed Nankinmachi at dusk. I walked to Meriken Park, then rode a long subway line to Suma Beach. Waves clapped softly like patient hands. At Ichiran, I took a solo booth and a bowl of hot ramen. The broth steadied the rhythm of my trip.

Uji was a journey of matcha. The air carried earth and leaves. I sat by the Uji River under early blossoms, ate an ice cream from Itohkyuemon, and watched the Byodo-in Phoenix Hall shine like a bird resting on water.

I reached Nara in the early afternoon. The city mixes the sacred and the playful. I ate udon, then walked to Kasuga Taisha. Deer moved through the woods and bowed to people. I thought of an old pact between humans and nature. In Todai-ji, the Great Buddha looked at me with a wide, quiet presence. I stayed on Mount Wakakusa until the cold crept in.

Kyoto held the heart of the journey. I spent three days there. At Fushimi Inari Taisha, I walked through endless vermilion gates. Sunlight slipped between torii and led me up the mountain in dancing stripes. I visited Kiyomizu-dera and wandered Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. Crowds were thick, blossoms were bright. At Yasaka Shrine, branches were full of pink. People in kimono posed for photos. Along the Kamo River, many rested on the banks. The water shone like glass.

Arashiyama took an entire day. The Sagano Romantic Train carried me into the hills. Hozugawa rafting brought me back on a ribbon of light. I landed by Togetsukyo Bridge and drifted into the bamboo grove. The sounds were simple there: wind on leaves and bamboo murmuring high above. At dusk I went to an onsen and washed the tiredness away.

I kept a small regret. I only made it to Shimogamo Shrine for an omamori. I missed Kinkaku-ji and the distant Kifune Shrine. Perhaps absence keeps memory bright.

I saved a full day for Universal Studios Japan. I stored my bag early and entered before the rush. I headed straight to the Wizarding World and rode “The Forbidden Journey.” Before leaving, I watched the wand show at Ollivanders and raised a cup of Butterbeer like a late-arriving apprentice. In Jurassic Park, “The Flying Dinosaur” dove hard and fast; the boat ride proved the worth of a raincoat. “Space Fantasy” surprised me, and “Hollywood Dream – The Ride” carried “Shake It Off” in the wind. At one o’clock I entered Super Nintendo World: Donkey Kong’s mine cart first, then Bowser’s Challenge. The mine cart felt better. In Amity Village, “Jaws” was a bit comedic, helped by an enthusiastic host. I ended with a Doraemon 4D film that beat my expectations. That day I learned I did not need an Express Pass. Single-rider lines were fast enough. I ate well, too: pizza by Jaws, a turkey leg in Jurassic Park, a hot dog near Hollywood, and a strawberry milkshake inside Nintendo World.

I listened to Hikaru Utada throughout Kansai. Now, whenever her songs begin, I feel a gentle tug. Neon, water, torii, and wind return to me and arrange themselves into a glowing map.