Summer 2019 Osaka/Tokyo Family Trip: Day 5- Travel to Tokyo!

I'm still on the shinkansen back to Osaka, so I finally have time to catch up on more posts.  This post may be somewhat boring, but contains good information for reference in trip planning.

Day 5 started out by cleaning up and checking out of the airb&b.  A few days before, we happened on a luggage storage service near the station we frequent and asked if they would be able to hold our luggage for the week while we visit Tokyo.  This proved to be a good idea as our original plan was to take our luggage to the Shin Osaka station and leave them there.  After you see our bags, you'll understand why its a good idea.

So Paul and I scouted it out when going out for breakfast.  This bunny head was hanging from this shop and peaked my interest.  Its kinda creepy, but Paul wanted to take a picture with it anyway.

We found the luggage storage place and luckily the guy spoke English.  He said they can even have our bags delivered to the airport later if we choose.  SOLD!  So we headed back to the room to get our bags.

Stopped for a photo on our way back.  They always change out the flowers with the seasons. 

So if you ever choose to stay at Tom's House, just know that the stairs are crazy steep!  And there are 3 floors of stairs... I had to go down sideways so as not to fall.  Akemi is demonstrating how I felt while walking down the stairs.  When walking up, I had to hold onto the wall, so I felt like Spiderman.  You could hear me singing everytime I walked up...

Akemi made friends with the neighbor's cat.  It looks grumpy, but it was friendly.  And yes, its on a leash.

Looks like we are ready to go!  Yikes!

Bringing up the rear on this luggage train.

Can you imagine if we went on the subway with all these bags?  This isn't even our carry ons!

Phew!  What a relief to drop off our bags!  Then we headed back to our room to pick up our carryons and headed to Shin Osaka station to drop them off in some coin lockers...

Then we were free!  Headed to Osaka Station to go to Hankyu.  I love their food selection as much as I love Seibu!  Got me some fruit mochi!

Mikan is still my favorite, but we also tried the blueberry and honeydew!  The honeydew was bomb.

Lookie what I found!!!  Whaaaaaaattttt? It was about $17 but some of the other ekibens were $15, so it seemed worth it.

Then we split up and took those that wanted to go to the Pokemon Center there, while the others stayed in Hankyu.  By the time we finished, I was starvin marvin, so I got me some Horai 551 (go go ichi) for lunch/snack). Yummy!!

And Paul got me a Manniken!  Yay!

 Then we headed for the Shinkansen to wait for our train. I think Akemi was tired...

Finally on the train!!

I think we were both tired.

See!

Photobombing...

Practicing our cuteness!

More photobombing!

Zzzzzz.....

We made it to Tokyo!  From Tokyo Station, we headed to Ikebukuro to our next airb&b.  Let's just say that I think Ikebukuro is a good area to home base in!  There's tons to do even without leaving the area.  Perfect for a big group!

Next up is our Tokyo posts!

Summer 2019 Osaka/Tokyo Family Trip: Day 4- Kyoto Arashiyama and Osaka Matsusaka Beef

As you are reading this, I'm on my way back to Osaka from Tokyo. Its been a very busy trip, so I'll try to remember all that happened.

This post has us still in Kansai area, but the group decided to split up for the day.  Paul, Akemi, and Darren went to Arashiyama in Kyoto while the rest of us stayed in Osaka.  There's really not a whole lot to report from the Osaka group since we mainly stayed at the Abeno Q Mall for the most part.

I took mom to go eat fluffy pancakes at the mall.  It was pretty good with the fresh fruit!

Meanwhile... back in Arashiyama...  

Going to see the monkeys!

The first part is definitely the toughest part.  I remember well.

But well worth the hike!  Baby monkeys!

Grooming... I swear this is what Kiko does to Paul's facial hair.

They made it!

People in the cage, animals outside!

Baby monkey!!

Bye bye monkeys... till next time.

My one request from Kyoto was the Zarame cotton candy!  The last time we went, I got the bag of sakura milk flavored cotton candy and kept thinking about it ever since!  Paul and Akemi got the fresh one, while they brought home 2 bags for me.

Next up was Fire Ramen!  I think its safe to say they had fun...

After they Kyoto crew came back, we headed to Shimojima... my favorite stationary store!  We got a little lost and it started to rain, but we made it!

After a productive shopping trip to Shijojima, we got ready for a late dinner at Matsusaka Beef!!

We got there early and entertained ourselves by drawing on their map.  There's Italy!

And Los Angeles- Isn't H's drawing so cute!

And Hawaii of course...

Ready Freddy!

Oh yeah!!

Biru is the perfect partner.

Paul says "its lick the bowl good!"

After dinner, we stopped for the photo op with the Glico man.

Believe it or not, Paul wanted 2nd dinner and headed to Taco Bell for an okonomiyaki burrito, only found in Osaka Taco Bell.  Too bad they were closed.  We still have one more chance to get one next week.

Back to the room to start packing for our trip to Tokyo!