Day 10: Hello, Osaka!

Surprisingly, despite our late night, we managed to get ready and check out of Kyoran Ruantei by 10am. Time to move to our next destination. But we we're not ready to say goodbye to Kyoto for now. So we walked to Sanjo Station where we stored our luggage in the lockers. Then we agreed to meet back at the station at 1.30pm. We hopped onto the bus outside the station heading back to Okazaki as we wanted to get some more handbags from Ayanokoji for Mei-mei and Koko (for Denisse). 

After that, we hopped back onto a bus and headed towards the Kawaramachi area in search for lunch. Daddy had spotted a ramen shop there and suggested that we try it. But just as we walked along the street, we saw this other shop and decided to try this instead. It's called Ramen Sen no Kaze. As with all restaurants in Japan, it is very small and we had to wait to be seated. 

When it was our turn, the nice lady suggested that we split up to eat or else it may take longer for us all to be seated together. So Mei-mei and I got in and placed our order at our seats at the booth. Shortly after, a table for a larger group opened up. Then we were all moved there and had our yummy ramen.

Kiddies waiting to be seated

Daddy checking out the place

Two of us

My drink and salad

Woohoo.. delicious noodles

We had to postpone the meeting time a little to 2.30pm as lunch was late. Then we headed back to the station. 

We've walked here many times!

Another final walk along the Kamo River.

The view is just so spectacular:

Mei-mei was obsessed with pigeons (on top of the ducks). You kept commenting on how fat they are! 🤣

Too bad we didn't have a chance to sit at the restaurants along this river:

Met up with the rest, collected our luggage and then hopped onto the train to head to Tengachaya in Osaka. We even stopped to have an eki stamp along the way at Kitahama Station! Ahaha.. Mei-mei had sharp eyes to lookout for the stamps.
We went from Sanjo Station to Kitahama Station on the Keihan Line, then used the Sakaisuji Line (which we'd use heavily around Osaka) to go to Tengachaya. As usual, the AirBnB owner gave very clear instructions to get to the house and to enter the house. It was a short 5 minutes walk from the Tengachaya Station to our new home, Retreat Tengachaya.

Look at her happy face as daddy is trying to unlock the door 

(keypad with buttons, not touchscreen)

This is also a double storey house. But the rooms are much bigger and this is with a modern look/feel. They set up the two double beds together. But since there is a spare room (supposed to be 5 rooms, but they locked 1 room up), we moved the sheets from one room to the other so that you can each have a room to yourself.

Mei-mei picked this room with all the cute stuffed toys

We had nothing much to do after settling in, so Mei-mei and I headed to the 7-Eleven which is right at the junction to our house. You finally got to have the ice-blended berries which you had been asking for. 

Following the instructions carefully

Ta-da.. all done

We headed home and everyone was ready to go out. So you sipped most of it and stuffed the rest into the fridge. Off we went to the famed Dotonbori. Oh my... we were stunned. The crowd there was something we have yet to experience thus far in the trip. Honestly, it was a bit of a put off. But I'm thankful that we did not experience the mad crowds up till then, we what we had seen on social media. 

Ferris wheel at Don Quijote

We stood at the famed "Glico Man" and tried to take photo of it with the other thousands of people.

Then daddy found out that there was an Onitsuka Tiger shop nearby. Ko-ko was still unable to find the Japan Made model which you were eyeing. Well, the one you wanted was sold out, but we saw another beautiful one. And it fit you.. perfect! It was cheaper than your budget as we got an extra discount and the exchange rate was also good. 

Then Ashley Kor-kor suggested a gyoza place called Gyozaoh! (how apt) A short walk later, and we're there. Managed to score a table with floor seatings for 6 (although the waitress initially told us that there was no seats.. )

Ordered drinks and food. Everyone was satisfied. 

My Roku Gin

Highball for the rest

Gyoza.. oh!

Takoyaki

Daddy and Ko-ko fell in love with this dish: Osaka Style Stewed Beef Tendon

We had several rounds of food. Yikes! Dinner bill was rather expensive. Luckily it was delicious. This restaurant had a lot of tourists. 

Ko-ko had a round of panic as he walked out without taking his new (expensive) shoes! Haha.. luckily Ashley Kor-kor had taken it on our way out. 

After that, we headed back to the station and back to Retreat Tengachaya.