Final days in Japan!

Kon'nichiwaaaaaa,

We've got two full days left before flying from Osaka so we're going back to Osaka for our final days. I picked a hotel close to the airport since we had an early flight. It was a bit of a trip again but the Shinkansen helped getting there us there quick and comfortable! One of my colleagues was in Japan as well and was flying back that day so we had a super quick hello and goodbye at the airport station! The hotel was beautiful and had it's own rooftop with a sunset view and so we stayed close on our first night. 

Packed and ready to go, but not before a quick stop next door where the boys grabbed their favorite sandwiches to go!

Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka

Last morning; Dennis going to the ATM, again! Train life in the Shinkansen and our transfer to the Hello Kitty JR train!

The 'beach' next door

Selfie fun!

Sunset from the rooftop bar of the hotel

Rooftop brewery bar

Final seconds of the sunset

Our final day was Ritchies choice, either Universal (incl. Super Mario land) or Osaka and Kyoto. He picked the latter. And so I planned our final day last night and off we went towards the Osaka tower area!

Dennis' favorite thing to do, besides visiting the convenience stores. Capsule toy machines, we've seen hundreds!!

My Osaka memory and the thing I was set on having for breakfast!! The one filled with red bean paste.

Another 'only in Japan' accessory, an umbrella holder to put on your bike haha!

Mega sushi and burger  holy sh*t!

Reminiscing!!

We then took the train to Kyoto (or well, a few trains). This is a place I always mention as one of my favorites, I went here alone on my first trip and again with Dennis 10years ago and loved it. We went to Fushimi Inari. There's a lot more to visit and see here, the Golden Pavilion, the bamboo forest, an Unesco garden, etc. But it was all too far apart for the time we had so just went to Fushimi Inari! We walked from Kyoto station which was about 45min. It's also easily reached by train but I felt like walking. We had a super quiet walk until we got to the Fushimi Inari area. Again, it was soooo busy. I honestly don't remember that from all those years ago. The further up you went though, the better it got. The start of it is full of shops for souvenirs and food and after, 'the red gates' we came for.

"I put my hands on my hips" 

Busy busy busy

Q&A with the boys

Reminiscing (Fushimi Inari)

Fushimi Inari!

We took another 3 trains back to the hotel, had dinner at the food court next door and packed our bags to get ready for our flight home the next morning.

Overview of my baths in Japan! One a day to keep the doctor away. I did skip a few days, but loooved it!!

Gooood morning! Sunrise from the room!! Left at 7am with a free shuttle bus from the hotel (it was about a ten minute ride)

Arrived at the airport, bye bye Japan!!

Arrived at Schiphol on wednesday 9 april at 1830! And it wasn't the Shinkansen train, but we had an easy and quick trip home. We said goodbye to Dennis at Arnhem station and Ritchie and me said our goodbyes at the busstop we got off since we live close to each other. Home sweet home around 2030! 

I missed having my daily bath that night, but it was also nice to be home, do laundry again and unpack!

It was a great trip and I'm sure I'll be back in Japan some day, as all three of us said we would be. But for now, we can rest, relax and let everything sink in!

Cheers,

T.