Japan: Arriving in the Clouds

This is a country that had been on my mom and I's bucket list for years so we decided to go mid-March, just before the full cherry blossom bloom. Japan is a land of juxtaposition, showcasing humanity's beautiful history side by side with society's insatiable technological advancement. The journey started in the country's third largest city, Osaka.

Located in the Kansai region of Japan, Osaka is a large, primarily business-oriented city. In my professional opinion, the major reason to visit Osaka is because of its location. Cities like Nara, Kyoto and Kobe are each just about 30 minutes away by bullet train, and Hiroshima + Miyajima is a 2 hour bullet train. The city itself does have its attractions, so let's get into how to thrive in Osaka.


Arrive

We flew in from Tokyo on United's 787, which was a fantastic plane. Upgrading to Economy Plus is totally worth it in my opinion because it really did make the flights across the Pacific bearable. And if you have the option, DEFINTELY fly on the 787. The air quality really makes an impact on how you feel during and after the flight, plus the window shades are totally cool. My mom thought the sun was the moon the entire time because I had the shades "dimmed" to the perfect level.

The $160 upgrade to Economy Plus is totally worth it on this 9.5 hour flight in the beautiful 787-900

The $160 upgrade to Economy Plus is totally worth it on this 9.5 hour flight in the beautiful 787-900

You'll land in Kansai most likely if flying internationally, which is conveniently located on a fast subway route that can get you to the city center in about 30 minutes. We flew in from Tokyo (Haneda) to the Itami airport, located a bit closer. Pro tip, avoid taxis basically at all cost in Japan! Getting from Itami to our hotel would have cost us $80 in the taxi, so we used the bus for $4 instead which took us to a 5 minute walk to our hotel. 


Stay

The Marriott Osaka is THE place to stay in Osaka. Located in the tallest building in the entire country, the hotel occupies the top 20 floors and does not disappoint. Hence the blog title, you truly feel as if you are staying in the clouds. While finding the entrance is a bit confusing at first, every moment from then does not disappoint. The view from every room is genuinely breathtaking. Service at the hotel is great, but I can't stress this enough that the Japanese culture as a whole is unbelievably respectful so any hotel you stay at will have amazing service guaranteed.

Marriott Osaka Lobby on the 19th floor

Marriott Osaka Lobby on the 19th floor

We had a club view room on the 58th floor with a view overlooking the city and out towards the bay. I would recommend spending the extra few bucks to get a club room because this was probably the best Marriott Club Lounge both my mom and I have stayed at, which is a lot to say. It is a very open and airy lounge, with a lot to eat and drink. The breakfast there was amazing, although the breakfast buffet in the hotel's main restaurant was absolutely incredible, and even included a Pho Bar! Pho for breakfast is not weird, don't judge. 

The airy and comfortable Club Lounge-worth the extra few bucks a night!

The airy and comfortable Club Lounge-worth the extra few bucks a night!

Not too shabby (pardon the mess, this is pre-departure)

Not too shabby (pardon the mess, this is pre-departure)

Location wise, there is not necessarily much in the immediate vicinity around the Marriott, but it is located directly above Tennoji Station which provides access to basically everywhere in Osaka, along with nearby Japanese cities. And when I say subway station, I don't mean your stereotypical New York style, get-in-get-out-and-hope-nothing-gets-stolen in some shitty, hot underground cylinder. Oh no. Far from that. Like another galaxy level far. These subway stations are a thing of beauty. You can shop designer clothes and have pastries that according to my mom who lived in Cannes for four years are, "better than the pastries in France". You do not simply go to a subway station to ride the subway, you go to have an experience as well.

Without a doubt, the Marriott Osaka is the place to stay in the city. The restaurant on the top floor is stunning, but make sure you know what you're ordering because some waiters do not speak English very well at all, which we thought was odd for a Marriott employee. Regardless, the food, views, service, club lounge and location, plus value, are hard to beat 


Do

Like I was saying earlier, Osaka as a city does not have much to do. We spent three nights in Osaka, but two days elsewhere. There's the Osaka Castle which has its beauty of course, but when you are seeing other temples around the country for a week, most of which are probably more well-known and picturesque, it is not that much of a necessity to visit. Then there's the tourist area by the bay with a ferris wheel and aquarium and other tourist attractions. While we did not visit it, I did hear that this aquarium is one of the best in the country, so if you're into that kind of stuff, definitely take a couple hours and check it out, along with that area by the bay.

Takoyaki dominates the food scene in Osaka, but make sure you venture way beyond the norm

Takoyaki dominates the food scene in Osaka, but make sure you venture way beyond the norm

Osaka did have one of my favorite places in the country though. A few minutes' walk from the JR Namba Station was an area called Dotonbori. It's considered by many as the kitchen of Japan (along with Kyoto, which I'll get to later), and it really did not disappoint. Make sure to go at night, and make sure to try absolutely as much as your stomach can handle because everything is worth it. There is not one food item in specific I can recommend because everything was unique and had its own flavor. The most common food item would probably be octopus balls (not testicles, relax), called Takoyaki. But seriously, do not limit yourself to just one big meal while you're here. Come at night and stay for a couple hours, trying absolutely every food item on offer (beef hormone is an option, and it wasn't bad).

Beautiful mom enjoying the wonderful chaos of Dotonbori

Beautiful mom enjoying the wonderful chaos of Dotonbori

Now for what to do around the city. We spent a day seeing the sites around Kyoto, Nara and Kobe, and another day visiting Hiroshima. Here is a brief description of how to thrive in each city.

Kyoto

There will be another blog post on the city itself so I'll get more into detail then, but we visited areas around the city for a few hours. First, we went to Arashiyama, where the famous Sagano Bamboo Forrest is. Get there as early as possible to get a photo without the hordes of tourists (that's kind of a rule of thumb for all Japanese tourist sites). An absolutely stunning place to take a stroll, especially if the blossom trees are in full bloom. We did not get to see the monkey's on this visit because my mom is spiritually against them, but there is a monkey park where you can interact with the animals. We then went to the Kinkaku-ji Temple, better known simply and regally as the Golden Temple. It is made of pure gold and is arguably the country's most famous and stunning temple. The area around Kinkaku-ji Temple is also breathtaking, with beautiful gardens framing the famed temple.

The famous Sagano Forest inside Arashiyama Park, definitely a must-do while in Japan

The famous Sagano Forest inside Arashiyama Park, definitely a must-do while in Japan

The architect in me was jumping for joy when we visited this ancient gem outside Kyoto

The architect in me was jumping for joy when we visited this ancient gem outside Kyoto

Nara

Making friends, Japanese style!

Making friends, Japanese style!

Todai-ji Temple is what attracts tourists to the city of Nara. Once the house of royalty in the capital city, it is now known as the world's largest wooden temple, and it is seriously massive. Additionally, it is also known for the literally thousands of deer roaming the park around the temple. You can buy crackers for $0.50 and feed them but beware, once you feed a deer once, it will expect you to become its permanent provider of food. They will not hesitate to follow, and sometimes chase, people around the park, so I decided against feeding them and stuck to simply petting and photographing them. The temple is a sight to behold thanks to its sheer size, so definitely don't miss out.

Nara has this small little temple, not sure why it's such a big deal 

Nara has this small little temple, not sure why it's such a big deal 

Kobe

We came to Kobe just to get dinner and roam the Harborside. After shabu-shabu for dinner, we walked through the Mosaic shopping mall, bought some clothes, and sat by the water for 20 minutes, watching the night lights of the city glimmer. Not too much else to see or do as far as we were considered, but it is a beautiful city nonetheless.

The lights of Kobe made for a great night show, although Mr. Bryant did not make an appearance

The lights of Kobe made for a great night show, although Mr. Bryant did not make an appearance

Hiroshima Peace Memorial park 

Hiroshima Peace Memorial park 

Hiroshima

A two hour bullet train ride takes you from the Osaka station to Hiroshima (I HIGHLY recommend spending the extra few bucks on a green car, it is not too much more expensive and much more reliable and comfortable). The A-Bomb Memorial and Hiroshima Peace Museum are absolute musts, and having Okonomiyaki for lunch, which is basically a pancake covered in egg, seafood and veggies, will provide a true Hiroshima culinary experience. As Americans visiting this city, we were both overwhelmed with emotions, as it remains the 1945 bombings remain a controversial topic. Regardless, spending two hours on the train is completely worth it.

This building is one of the only buildings that survived the bombing, and it provides powerful imagery

This building is one of the only buildings that survived the bombing, and it provides powerful imagery

Okonomiyaki was once the food for Japan's poor, but not so much anymore (still super cheap though)

Okonomiyaki was once the food for Japan's poor, but not so much anymore (still super cheap though)

Miyajima

The surprise destination of the trip, Miyajima was a quiet recluse from the crazy hustle and bustle on the mainland. A 30 minute train followed by a 10 minute ferry from Hiroshima takes you to another land, where massive peaks and a stunning coastline create a beautifully picturesque setting. Quiet deer (less aggressive but still curious) roam the "city", street vendors sell the best grilled oysters you've ever had, and of course the world famous Itsukushima Shrine sitting proudly in the middle of the of the water. The entire island is incredibly peaceful, and getting lost is a must (there's only so much area to get lost in so don't worry).

Doing my best male model impression on the peaceful island of Miyajima in front of the Itsukushima Shrine

Doing my best male model impression on the peaceful island of Miyajima in front of the Itsukushima Shrine

Milad Rohani