Osaka Japan Trip 2025 (EP.1): First Day in Osaka – Aquarium Kaiyukan & Dotonbori Night Walk

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Lifestyle and Travel › Osaka Japan Trip 2025 (EP.1): First Day in Osaka – Aquarium Kaiyukan & Dotonbori Night Walk

February 17, 2025 – First Night in Osaka

The beginning of the year in Osaka brings crisp, chilly weather — the perfect season to explore Japan. This 7-day, 6-night trip marks our first overseas journey of 2025, and the city we chose is none other than Osaka.

We departed at 1 AM and arrived at Kansai International Airport after a 6-hour flight. This time, we flew AirAsia Business Class, which features flat-bed seats — an absolute game-changer! By the time we landed, we felt fresh and ready to explore right away.

Upon arrival, we rented a car to head to our hotel — Hiyori Hotel Osaka Namba Station — conveniently located near Dotonbori. The drive from Kansai Airport took about 2–3 hours. We arrived too early to check in, so we left our luggage at the lobby and started exploring right away.

First stop: a famous matcha bingsu café near the hotel — a sweet way to kick off the trip!

Our first main destination was the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, one of the largest aquariums in the world. We took the subway (yellow line) and got off at Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan Station, Exit 1–4.

From there, it was about a 15–20 minute walk. The air was fresh and chilly, around 5°C — a perfect start to the trip.

The aquarium was crowded with visitors. Tickets can be purchased right at the entrance. Inside, there are over 620 species and more than 30,000 sea creatures. The highlight is the whale shark — the largest fish in the world — along with giant rays, reef sharks, and tropical marine life from across the Pacific Ocean.

After the visit, we enjoyed our first dinner in Osaka — ramen at a cozy spot near Namba. To be honest, it tasted quite similar to ramen back home in Thailand, though the Thai version might be a touch more flavorful 😄.

By the time we returned, it was around 10:30 PM. Most shops in Dotonbori were closing, but the night lights still made for a beautiful walk. The temperature dropped to around 1°C — and to our surprise, it started snowing lightly! A perfect first day in Osaka ❄️

That wraps up Day 1 of our Osaka journey! Stay tuned for EP.2: Exploring Osaka’s Sacred Landmarks — coming next!

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