17
Dec

Jiggle Jiggle

By: muttler
japan
kyoto
osaka

 

15/12/2022

Our last full day here in Kyoto. We didn’t have much left to do so to speak. I started the day with a bit of a cycle around the neighbourhood, and then we all got together to do a couple of last temples. First was Rinzaishu-Daihonzan, and then was to the classic Fushimi-Inari and it’s 1000’s of torii gates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We wandered there for a bit, heading up the mountain and away from most the crowds. Lunch was some street food near the temple, before doing a little bit of last minute ceramics shopping.

Madeline and I then decided to head back to Osaka. We wanted to visit Dotonbori to soak up the neon and craziness, but top of the agenda was Rikuro’s Cheesecake. Why? They are one of the new Japanese sweet sensations… Jiggly Cheesecake!

 

 

 

 

 

We were super lucky to find the department store that had them freshly baked with a relatively short queue. Woo! So we waited and saw them in all their glory. And yes, they jiggle! How did they taste? Their appearance didn’t match the taste. They looked like cheesecake but were much more eggy, milky soufflé. But delicious!! We bought two 🙂

It was then off to Dotonbori for some takoyaki before heading back to Kyoto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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16
Dec

It’s a-me! Mario!

By: muttler
japan
nintendo
universal studios

 

14/12/2022

A break from temples and castles and things today. Universal Studios! I’m not normally one for this theme park… I like the rides but that’s about it. However this was high up on the list of must-dos this trip. Why? SUPER NINTENDO WORLD!

Yep, a whole section of the park dedicated to Nintendo. How awesome is that.

 

 

 

So we jumped on the train to Osaka and embarked on our theme park day. Nintendo World was awesome. Not huge, and quite crowded, and also in some respects needs a tiny bit of pre-reading. Why? On face value there is a couple of rides and lots to look at, but what else? A ‘Power Band’ is what unlocks a bunch more. Obviously you need to buy it (an extra $40) but then it unlocks a bunch of mini-games, quests and things that make the area super fun. Could we find all the coin blocks to punch? Could we find all the power ups? Defeat Bowser Jr?

What we thought would just end up being a couple of hours was half the day. The one downside is that it was focused only on the Mario property (no Donkey Kong, Zelda, etc) but it added to feeling immersed in the game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also rode the Mario Kart ride which was so good. A bit confusing to start but then who doesn’t love real life Mario Kart?!?! There was also a Yoshi ride that was a sightseeing type thing. Queues for both were a bit long but thankfully our extra add on pass meant we got through as quickly as we could.

The rest of the park was usual Universal Studios fun. There was Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and a big section dedicated to Jaws of all things!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had ace fun spending the day there and left just after close. If you have even a passing interest in Nintendo, then you definitely need to visit.

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13
Dec

Action Packed

By: muttler
arashiyama
bamboo
golden pavilion
himeji

 

13/12/2022

Phew! An action packed day. Nice and early we headed off to Himeji to see what is easily one of my most favourite things in all Japan… Himeji Castle. It never ceases to take the breath away… exiting the train station to see it looking back at you down the main street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We spent a couple of hours exploring the castle ourselves, just ahead of the school groups. I never grow tired of visiting.

It was then back to Kyoto to visit a couple of iconic locations…

First up was the Golden Pavilion. A bit of a pain to get to, but there is no denying how stunning it looks, especially when bathed in sun. It is odd to visit a temple and simply walk around it, but this is SO iconic, it is worth the visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From there we caught a sneaky bus and then train to Arashiyama. This is a lovely place to visit. Always a little crowded but usually pretty chill. Lots of street food to eat and of course the bamboo forest. Impossible to get a photo by yourself, but still always mesmerising.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A relatively early dinner at 5pm, and some resting before a busy day tomorrow, when we head of to Osaka for some very particular adventures…

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13
Dec

Okonomyaki… Hiroshima Style

By: muttler
hiroshima
miyajima island

 

12/12/2022

Today was a long day, but a fun one. It was an early morning on to the Shinkansen heading further south to Hiroshima.

After arriving at Hiroshima Station it was on to another train and then down to the ferry terminal, to head across to Miyajima Island. We were keen to go back an introduce Madeline to more deer, cookies, oysters, and floating torii gates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After spending quite a few hours there wandering, eating, ropeways up the mountain, we headed back on the ferry and went into the centre of Hiroshima. We visited wandered past the castle, and made our way to the Peace Park, which always has a sombre air about it. But after that it was okonomyaki time! Hiroshima style is the best, with less batter, and noodles in there, which makes for even next level deliciousness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A smooth run home and we were back in town to wind down for the night.

Oh, you are probably noticing a lack of Kit Kat mentions. Weird given the name of the blog right? Well, alas dear readers, there are VERY FEW Kit Kats around, let alone weird flavours. I will keep looking but I think does days are numbered…. 🙁

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13
Dec

OTOBOKE BEAVER!!!

By: muttler
japan
otoboke beaver

 

11/12/2022

So what was I heading off to in Nagoya?

Well, my favourite band of the last couple of years has been an incredible punk-ish band from Kyoto called Otoboke Beaver. Their album “Itekoma Hits” has easily been my most played album of the last few years and their new one this year “Super Champon” is just as good. They haven’t come to Australia and I always dreamt that when we came to Japan that I may be able to luck out and see them live for the first time, after watching ALL their livestreams during the pandemic years.

So of course, what looked like it would happen? They played a show in Osaka just days before we arrived. And then… yep… THREE shows in Tokyo from the NIGHT WE LEAVE (including one with Melt-Banana!!!). I thought I was doomed never to see them. It was crazy just how unlucky I was being.

Then it looked like their MIGHT be a chance. It turned out they were playing a show in Nagoya while we were in Kyoto. Yes!!!

I tried all the things I could to get a ticket but alas I couldn’t as I had to have a Japanese phone number in order to buy a ticket online. Ugh. I was resigned to it not happening.

But what I did was the day we arrived here, I tried my chance in a Lawsons, which has the Loppi machines for buying tickets. And… SUCCESS!!! I GOT A TICKET!!!

 

 

So I left Kyoto and headed back to Nagoya, about an hour away. I got to the venue (a great space on the 5th floor of a nondescript office building), and caught the end of the second band. It was in fact a 5 band bill, all quite different styles. A band called Cinema Staff were OK, a bit of 2000’s emo throwback.

Anyway, the time came. I respected the venue wishes for no mobile phones or photos, as did the whole crowd. That in itself was awesome.

The band soundchecked a couple of songs (including Yakatori!) before launching into the set.

It is one of the greatest hours of live music I have ever been part of. The band was everything I could have hoped for. Equal ferocious and hilarious. But seriously, the 4 of them have to be 4 of the most talented musicians on the planet…. it is insane how technically amazing they are. Yoyoyoshi on guitar, Hiro-Chan on bass, Kahokiss on drums, and Accorinrin on vocals.

It was a dream. Probably at least 20 songs in about 50 minutes. I could not stop grinning the whole gig.

Then to cap things off, the girls met about of a dozen of us after the show and were super happy to pose for photos. I had some really sweet and fun chats with them all, mostly in very broken japanese from me and broken english from them. But it was THE BEST.

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, I’ll stop gushing. Along with King Gizzard, no other band has probably helped me get through the past few years, and to see them and meet them was just something else.

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