Wednesday, November 13, 2024 →
✈️ All settled in to our favourite ever hotel: the Hilton Tokyo. Got our usual room and unpacked before coming up to the executive lounge for some refreshments. As ever, enjoying the view is a big part of the experience. The sunsets from this lounge are often incredible.
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 →
✈️ Made it to Tokyo! Now on the train to Shinagawa, then on to Shinjuku and a short walk to our hotel. And guys? The sun is shining ☀️☀️☀️
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 →
✈️ Our plane for the flight to Tokyo is being prepped. And conveniently, at a very nearby gate.
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 →
✈️ The Japan Airlines Lounge at Itami is such an oasis of calm and silence. Basically the opposite of every other airline lounge I’ve visited. No mobile phone calls, no annoying notifications. No shouting or loud announcements. Peaceful. Everyone being a respectful grownup.
Paradise.
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 →
✈️ Enjoying a cold drink in the Japan Airlines Lounge at Osaka Itami airport. Check-in and security so, so smooth.
Next stop: Tokyo Haneda.
☀️ Good morning! A very early start - especially given last night’s fun - to get ready for our flight to Tokyo. Plus a final hotel breakfast and bus to Itami airport. Looks like the weather is going to be nice in Tokyo for at least a couple of days. Can’t wait to be there again. 🗼
📸 Back to our hotel after another great night out in Osaka. Big thanks to the crew at Eagle Osaka! Would have been even later but we have a flight to catch tomorrow morning. And then, Tokyo!!!
But for now, this little hobbit needs some sleep. Good night from Japan.
📸 A very good evening from Osaka. Heading out for our final evening here. Tomorrow: Tokyo!
♨️ Off to the onsen again for another couple of hours of soaking and sweating. The weather in Osaka is phenomenal today, so I’ll be out on the rooftop baths to catch some sun. ☀️
🍑 With what can only be described as perfect timing, my husband returned from the gym, opened our hotel room door, just as I stepped out of the bathroom, naked.
The elderly couple behind him in the corridor watched in horror as I completely failed in my attempt to cover up. Good morning from Osaka!
📸 Taking time out from the relentless fun to relax and enjoy the sunshine in Kobe this afternoon. And I have the tan lines to prove it!
📸 I snapped this, with a phone, while walking and not even looking at the focus straight on. I think it turned out okay. And there’s no shortage of interesting and fun things to photograph here in Osaka.
📸 Yes, I’ve finally reached that age where I find myself taking photos of drain covers that interest me. In my defence, this one has a googly-eyed monster on it. The mascot of next year’s Expo in Osaka, apparently.
🍺 Trying something a little different in the lounge this evening. Asahi Black - and it’s bloody good. Googling whether I can get it again once I’m back in the UK.
👣 Today was all about 15,00 steps around Kobe. Beautiful city. Blue skies, a cable car and waterfront views. And yes, there was beef. Now back in Osaka to refresh before going out tonight.
🚂 Next stop: Kobe. We actually ditched plans for the Shinkansen. There was a rapid train service for just ¥420 (about £2.00!!) and it only takes 20mins. Filming from the train window and enjoying the sunshine.
🚄 Starting slightly earlier today. We’re taking a day trip to Kobe, so I’ll get to enjoy a (very short!) Shinkansen journey and some delicious beef! It looks like it’s going to be anotherr beautiful day, weather-wise. ☀️☀️☀️
📸 Exploring the lights, sounds and aromas of Dotonbori last night. Can you tell I’m incredibly full of delicious food?
📸 Exploring Osaka yesterday with my onsen buddy, Sho. He used to live near me in London, so it was nice to catch up while soaking in the baths.
📸 This evening was all about the comfort food: takoyaki, okonomiyaki, karaage and beautiful grilled chicken. All washed down with crisp, cold Asahi beer.
📸 This afternoon’s post-onsen lunch. Absolutely delicious!
♨️ I had the most wonderful few hours soaking in outdoor baths and melting in saunas today. No photos, obviously, but nobody needs to see my hobbit form sweating anyway. I felt absolutely wonderful adterwards and enjoyed a delicious lunch with a local friend. And then a solid and very deep nap.
🧠 Sitting down in the executive lounge of our hotel, hoping this caffeine will activate my brain.
I made the mistake of taking a nap after we came back from Namba and feel like I set my jet lag back to square one! We had a lovely wander of the area, bought some mementos, and I made onsen plans for tomorrow with a local friend. Looking forward to a long, hot soak/sauna combo, followed by some takoyaki and a beer.
Tonight? After some free hospitality in this lounge - last night’s buffet was pork-tactic! - we’re going to the best gay bar in town and taking it from there.
Enjoying a wander around Namba, under some very welcome sunshine and blue skies. It’s 20C here right now! Only slightly ruined by the relentless and awful Christmas music playing virtually everywhere.
☕️ Sitting down to a hotel breakfast after a fun night out in Osaka. Somehow managed to walk 21,400 steps yesterday and I have to say I’m feeling it now. I’m not sure of today’s plan but it’ll definitely involve more coffee.
🍽️ I’ll never not be amazed just how much some adults completely lose the run of themselves when presented with a buffet. Some people here behaving like they’ve not seen food in a week. None of them are Japanese, obviously. Just badly behaved tourists…
☕️ Currently relaxing in the hotel’s executive lounge, re-fuelling with some Diet Coke, and getting ready for the hotel’s free ‘cocktail hour’. Once we’ve had our fill, we’ll head out and do some more exploring. It’s been a very chilled out day as hubby was hit hard by the jet lag.
📸 Enjoyed a gorgeous walk to Osaka Castle this morning. Blue skies and sunshine all over. The perfect start to our visit. You know you’re visiting Japan when you hit 12,000 steps before lunch!
✈️ Eating my way to Tokyo:
I flew to Japan with Japan Airlines on Wednesday, luxuriating in their First Class service. And without any exaggeration, I can say hands down, it was the best aviation experience of my life.
✈️ Managed to snap this incredible view of Mount Fuji on our approach to Tokyo yesterday. The last thirty minutes of the flight were spent taking in the sunset over Tokyo and it was just beautiful.
