Anything & Everything

Day Nine BREAKFAST We dared to venture further today, and found in the same general area between the hotel and the station a Japanese restaurant that features soba and udon. At around  ¥400-600 a bowl, it was hearty and filling, making it an excellent morning meal. Udon with fried  chikuwa  (fish cake) and egg Kitsune udon - Udon with fried tofu Following breakfast was the first (and last) free day on the itinerary, so the parents let loose their three kids and we went off on our own. COPIC MARKERS: THE SEARCH Most artists are familiar with the term Copics . It's a brand that makes heads turn and hands grab. The comparison of Copic markers to other brands is difficult to describe - even in terms of electronics, Apple has some features bettered by other companies, but Copic markers have no competition. There are Copics, and there is everything else. But with such a revered and high-quality product comes that of a high price, resulting in an on-going...

Day Eight B REAKFAST : DOUTOR COFFEE The hotel in Osaka was the Hearton Hotel, located about five minutes' walk from Osaka and Umeda stations. As breakfast was not included with the rooms we were to look for something outside the hotel, and in the shopping building between the hotel and the station one was opened in the time we agreed to eat: Doutor Coffee . It wasn't the cheapest fast food we'd had, totalling over  ¥4,000 for five, though this included a sandwich or croissant and a hot drink each, and an extra chocolate mille crepe on the side. I opted for a drink I knew I wouldn't find elsewhere: the matcha latte had the typical bitter after-taste of a good green tea powder, but the sweetness and creaminess from the milk balanced it out to a very enjoyable drink. Matcha latte OSAKA AMAZING PASS Osaka offers a couple of passes which give tourists discounts when staying in the city. We opted for the two-day  Osaka Amazing Pass  at  ¥3,000 per person (...