A Walk To | Universal Studio Osaka Japan

I'm not a fan of amusement park, call me old because I prefer to heritage spots or museum than amusement park haha. But Universal Studio Osaka is exceptional, because of Harry Potter! Almost all my friends who visited Japan put Disneyland in their list but I'm not a disney girl person haha.

greeted by that pervert smile

It was rainy and very cold that morning but I was so excited to go to my school, Hogwarts *err delusional*. We were a bit shocked because we thought that weekday and rain will make the crowd fewer but we're wrong haha. We had to queue to get in to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter but it's fine. We just gave our ticket to USJ employee and they put our ticket in some kind of counting machine then we would know what time we could enter the area. So we could stroll around other area while waiting, ah I love Japan with its queueing system haha.

rain can't stop us

While waiting, we walked around looking for food and shops. It's hard to find halal food here but finally we found this turkey leg stall. It's really a big turkey leg and taste good! *Or maybe it's because we're hungry

turkey leg! nomnom

must-take-this-adorable-turkey-leg

Aaaa wizard world! We walked through the woods path then we found abandoned Weasley's car. As a tourists and a reader of Harry Potter since I was in elementary school - I took pics of every spots in here haha.

Then we found the Hogwarts express, Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. I was curious that I got into all the shops but mostly they sell the same items. 

Last but not least, Hogwarts! 

hogwart's lake

Olympus Mju Zoom 115 + Fuji Xtra 400 (exp) and Pentax Espio Mini + Fuji Superia 200 (exp)

How to get there:
By train, the entrance gate of the Universal Studios Japan is located a five minute walk from Universal City Station on the JR Yumesaki Line (also referred to as JR Sakurajima Line).

Hours: Varying hours, typically from 10:00 to 18:00 during low season and from 9:00 to 21:00 during peak season.
Fee: 7200 yen. I bought the USJ ticket & one week JR Pass at HIS Travel in Indonesia

A Walk To | Dotonburi and Shinsaibashi

Minami is one of the most popular destination in Osaka. The area is full of shops, entertainment sites and food destinations. There are also lots of entertainment spots in Minami but we walked around Dotonburi and Shinsaibashi that night, our objective is to get dinner and shopping! haha.

It's a bit silly but I really wanna feel the ambiance of Osaka city at night when hundreds of neon lights and mechanized signs were turned on, the famous Glico Running Man sign :D

Olympus mju zoom 115 + fuji xtra 400 (exp)

How to get there:

From Shin-Osaka and Osaka Stations, the Midosuji Subway line connects Shin-Osaka and Osaka/Umeda Stations directly to Namba Station. It takes approximately 8 minutes and 240 yen from Osaka/Umeda Station and 15 minutes and 280 yen from Shin-Osaka Station.

A Walk To | Sumiyoshi Taisha, Osaka

Woohoo, I finally step my feet on Japan haha! After went through a drama at the airport (my luggage was left at Kuala Lumpur airport), we dropped things at Drop Inn Osaka hostel and ready to explore Osaka!

First destination is Sumiyoshi Taisha, why? Simply because according to JapanGuide, the rating is higher than Shitennoji Temple and it's free :P

taking tram to Sumiyoshi Taisha

The tram stop is  a few steps from the shrine

Osaka's Sumiyoshi Taisha (住吉大社, "Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine") is one of Japan's oldest shrines, it's  one of the most visited shrines in the country. The shrines is not difficult to find, it's right in front of the bus stop

I love red colour of the shrines which contrast to the stone yard. 

praying hall

Apart from praying or enjoying the view you can also buy lucky charms to make a wish or make it as a souvenir. 

Taking pic from Sorihashi Bridge

Pentax Espio Mini + Kodak Ektar 100

How to get there:

I took tramway to go there. Sumiyoshi Taisha can also be reached by the Hankai Tramway from Tennoji. Alight at Sumiyoshitoriimae or Sumiyoshikoen Station (15 minutes, 210 yen one way from Tennojiekimae), which are a few steps from the shrine.

But you can also reach Sumiyoshi Taisha by train, I took train to reach our next spot. From Nankai Namba Station, the one way ride costs 210 yen and takes less than ten minutes by local trains. Sumiyoshi Taisha Station on the Nankai Main Line. Note that faster train categories do not stop at Sumiyoshi Taisha Station.

Hours: 6:00 to 17:00 (from 6:30 from October through March)

Fee: free