8 Miles of Japan
We averaged 8 miles a day while traveling in Japan. On our last day in Kyoto we opted for some Zen activities. My mom and sister went for head massages, common in Japan, while my dad, brother, and I went to a tea house called Zen Cafe. The place was tiny, with an interior that felt like a mix between a cozy living room and a library. The exterior had a bank-like appearance, but inside, it was warm and inviting. We sipped roasted green tea from handcrafted pottery, which looked like high-end tea culture meets old-fashioned pipe designs. The classical medieval music playing in the background, however, drove us crazy, so we didn’t last more than two hours. Still, we sat in silence, savoring the moment like leaves in the wind.
After our tea, we went vintage shopping in the Tsuruhashi neighborhood, known for its old Western American cowboy aesthetic. Shops with names like Pigsty and Bow & Arrow offered unique finds. Later, we walked through Tenjinbashi-suji, the longest shopping street in Japan. It wasn’t as bustling as the Tokyo fish market or the Kyoto open-air market, and the quiet afternoon meant we were among just a few families strolling through.
One stop was more memorable. A shopkeeper had my brother try octopus-filled tempura balls, known as takoyaki, which are famous in Osaka. We watched him sear them on a ball-shaped frying machine, then glaze them with sweet soy sauce and wrap them in green paper, making them look like festive little gifts.
The next day, we enjoyed a stunning view from our room on the 40th floor of the Conrad Hilton. Yes, it was cheesy, but the royal treatment and breathtaking view of Osaka made it worth it. For breakfast, we had sesame buns with lightly smoked salmon. Later, we ventured to Pathfinder, a collaboration with the Nobu chain, for what turned out to be the best lattes in Japan. The barista crafted intricate Japanese maple leaves in the milk foam, making each cup feel like art.
To wrap up our trip, we visited a silent spa for a traditional Japanese sauna. My dad and I sat there like raisins, feeling the tension melt away from our shoulders and backs. We finished with a soak in a bubbling hot tub, leaving us completely relaxed and ready to fly home.
Osaka was luxurious and modern, with shopping malls and high-rise buildings, but it didn’t have the same character and charm we experienced in Kyoto. That said, by now, navigating the subways and bullet trains had become much easier, and we left the city feeling more confident in our travels.
