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[태그:] OsakaWithBaby

  • Traveling to Osaka with a 26-Month-Old Toddler (Part 3)

    Traveling to Osaka with a 26-Month-Old Toddler (Part 3)

    A Day at Universal Studios Japan

    Morning: Heading to Universal Studios

    Today was the day to visit Universal Studios Japan.
    The thought of battling huge crowds made it hard to get out of bed, but we forced ourselves up to catch the train on time.
    Knowing how expensive everything inside Universal would be, we grabbed a quick (but not very impressive) hotel breakfast before setting off. Thankfully, being near Osaka Station made transportation easy.

    Arriving at Universal Studios

    We arrived around 9:00 AM.
    Even at the station, there was already a sea of people moving like ants toward the entrance gates.
    Hearing the upbeat music playing from the station lifted my spirits and erased the fatigue from the day before.

    Despite the crowd, the multiple entrance gates made admission faster than expected.
    During bag checks, they kindly allowed baby snacks, showing great flexibility.
    Since we didn’t plan to visit Nintendo World, we decided to wander and explore the park first.

    Just follow the crowd!

    Quick entry achieved!

    Hollywood Wonderland & Show Time

    At Hollywood Wonderland, we tried a few rides, but most had height restrictions that weren’t suitable for our toddler.
    Instead, we decided to focus on shows and character experiences. Using the Universal Studios app, we checked the day’s showtimes:

    • Universal Wonderland Feel the Rhythm: 9:50, 11:10
    • Minions Greeting: Under the Hollywood canopy
    • Jurassic Park Show: 9:30, 10:25, 11:20
    • Universal Wonderland Moppy’s Dance: 10:00, 11:00
    • Minions Fever Disco: 10:20 AM
    • Hollywood Sing on Tour: 10:20 AM

    Universal Studios Japan Official Website

    We moved from show to show, taking pictures with characters that our baby loved — especially Elmo and Cookie Monster, who warmly interacted with her and made the day extra special.

    ❤️ Elmo, we love you!

    Lunch & Snacks

    We moved toward the Jurassic World parade but were caught off guard by sudden rain, leading to a show cancellation.
    With time to spare, we decided to grab some snacks instead.
    The restaurants inside Universal all had long wait times, so we opted for food stalls along the streets.
    The pizza and tomato soup turned out to be surprisingly good and warmed us against the chilly rain, though the beer was a bit disappointing.

    The food booths were unexpectedly satisfying!

    After a while, the Jurassic Parade resumed, and we enjoyed it to the lively beats echoing through the park.

    Exciting dinosaur parade!

    Main Parade & Heading Home

    We arrived 30 minutes early to secure a spot for the main parade — competition for good seats was fierce!
    Though the parade seemed slightly scaled down due to the rain, the atmosphere remained electric.
    Our little one and I danced together to the music, soaking in the happiness.

    Could it get any more fun?

    If our baby had been a little older, we could have spent all day riding attractions.
    However, after the parade ended, we felt it was time to head back.
    Unlike the direct train we took in the morning, returning required a transfer, and we even faced a nerve-wracking moment descending an escalator with the stroller when we couldn’t find an elevator at Osaka Station.

    Dinner & Wrapping Up the Day

    Back near Osaka Station, we found a casual restaurant and had a simple tonkatsu dinner.
    Though I wanted to visit an izakaya for a late-night snack, fatigue overwhelmed us.
    Instead, we picked up some treats from a convenience store and headed back to the hotel, ending the day with a hot shower and a refreshing beer.

    Delicious tonkatsu!

    New Year’s Eve Abroad

    It was our first time spending New Year’s Eve abroad.
    Although I had dreamed of counting down to the New Year in a lively street celebration, the three of us were so exhausted that we fell asleep early.

    Welcoming the New Year in Osaka felt a little different but still special in its own way.
    We had a quick breakfast at the hotel the next morning and rushed to the airport.
    Finding the right JR line for the airport was confusing, but with a few exchanged glances among fellow Koreans also scrambling for the train, we somehow made it in time.

    This spontaneous family trip to Osaka turned out to be both a challenge and a beautiful adventure.
    Wishing everyone happiness and health in the coming year — Happy New Year!

  • Traveling to Osaka with a 26-Month-Old Toddler (Part 2)

    Traveling to Osaka with a 26-Month-Old Toddler (Part 2)

    A Day of Anpanman Adventures

    The Day of Anpanman

    Today’s main destination was the Kobe Anpanman Children’s Museum.
    Originally, we planned to catch the 9:30 AM Anpanman greeting, but the night before, we realized we hadn’t booked a ticket for Dad.
    The Kobe museum requires online reservations in advance, and same-day admission is only available if there are remaining spots. After checking the site, we found the earliest available entry was at 11:30 AM. With a bit of panic (and a cold sweat), we changed our plan to aim for a 10:15 arrival and hoped for help at the entrance.

    Kobe Anpanman Museum Ticket Site

    10:00 – Entering the Anpanman Museum

    Kobe is just 27 minutes from Osaka by JR Tokaido-Sanyo Line.
    When we arrived, the museum felt large and exciting, with Anpanman characters everywhere, keeping our toddler completely entertained.
    It’s said that this museum helped revitalize Kobe’s economy after the Great Hanshin Earthquake — proof of how much this city loves Anpanman.

    Thanks to the kind staff, we managed to enter just after 10:00 AM as a family of three.
    We watched the 10:30 AM performance standing, since there were no seats left — but our little one was completely captivated nonetheless.

    Our Anpanman backpack and plush from Yodobashi Camera


    Anpanman statues all around the area

    Kobe Anpanman Children’s Museum&Mall

    11:00 – Anpanman Bread & Shopping

    Our baby burst into tears when the show ended, so we headed downstairs to buy some Anpanman-themed bread.
    The line was long — about a 30-minute wait — so while my husband held our place, I went with our toddler to pick out pajamas and souvenirs from the museum store.
    The bread didn’t quite live up to the hype, but it was still fun as a keepsake.

    Cute character breads

    12:30 – Missed the Afternoon Show

    We lined up early for the 1:15 PM show, only to find out… even the 2:30 PM performance was fully booked.
    The museum was packed in the afternoon — it was hard to move.
    Compared to Fukuoka’s Anpanman Museum, Kobe’s was a bit smaller in scale, and the stage area was more cramped.
    Our toddler, possibly sensing this, started to get fussy.
    There were no seats, so I carried her in my arms, but she wasn’t satisfied and ended up crying loudly.
    We had no choice but to leave the museum in a bit of a rush.

    Staff were drawing on the floor with wet sponges — such a cute detail!

    13:30 – Lunch at Umie Harborland

    Our little one cried herself to sleep.
    Since traveling far didn’t seem realistic, we headed next door to Umie Harborland, a massive mall similar to COEX in Seoul, with shops and restaurants of every kind.

    We went straight to the food court and had stir-fried udon, tonkotsu ramen, and dumplings. The food was average, but there was a kids’ zone — a huge plus when dining with a toddler.
    Unlike Osaka, where we rarely saw children, Kobe felt family-friendly with many kids and plenty of child-centered facilities.

    Harborland Umie Map

    Stir-fried udon at the food court

    Afternoon Plans: Coffee & Shrine (Almost)

    I had hoped to visit Nishimura Nakayamatedori, a famous Kobe coffee shop, and Ikuta Shrine, one of Japan’s oldest shrines.
    But with our baby sound asleep, we sadly decided to skip both and return to Osaka.

    Nishimura Coffee
    Ikuta Shrine

    18:00 – Dinner at Dotonbori & Ebisu Bridge

    Since we were in Osaka, we couldn’t skip Dotonbori.
    We rushed to make our dinner reservation nearby — this time at a wagyu beef restaurant.
    Japanese beef tends to be pricey, but worth it!
    We ordered a set platter and beef tongue, and watching our baby finish a whole bowl of rice made it all worthwhile.

    So many similar BBQ places, but this one stood out


    Beautiful cuts of wagyu

    Restaurant: Kuroge Wagyu Yakiniku Dotonbori Mitsuru

    After dinner, we walked toward Ebisu Bridge, but it was packed with people — so much that I had to carry our baby through the crowd.
    It almost felt dangerous, so we quickly snapped a photo and retreated.

    Ebisu Bridge Location

    20:00 – Hanadako Takoyaki to End the Day

    On our way back to the hotel, we spotted the famous Hanadako takoyaki stand.
    The line was so long that we almost gave up… until a staff member noticed our baby and offered us “baby priority service.”
    These moments — small acts of kindness while traveling with a baby — are what make everything feel so meaningful.

    Back in the hotel, we had the takoyaki with beer, and it felt like the perfect ending to a long day.
    Hanadako’s taste left such an impression that I truly thought, “This trip’s star is you, little one!”

    Green onion-loaded takoyaki

    Thought 10 pieces would be too much after dinner? Think again. They were gone in seconds.

    Hanadako Location

    Visiting the Anpanman Museum was a magical experience for our toddler, and Hanadako’s takoyaki was the reward we didn’t know we needed.
    Though traveling with a stroller isn’t easy, Day 2 in Osaka was filled with laughter, challenges, and unforgettable family moments.

  • Traveling to Osaka with a 26-Month-Old Toddler (Part 1)

    Traveling to Osaka with a 26-Month-Old Toddler (Part 1)

    Preparing for the Trip and Planning the Itinerary

    One day, my company suddenly announced that December 29 would be a group holiday for the end of the year. My husband, seeing an opportunity we couldn’t miss, suggested we take a trip.
    As always, the planning and execution fell on me, so despite the year-end busyness, I quickly started preparing.

    Using Skyscanner’s “anywhere” search, I found that both Taiwan and Osaka matched our schedule and had affordable airfare. I briefly considered venturing outside Japan, but with such short notice, hotel prices were sky-high, and I couldn’t find a destination that felt suitable for traveling with a toddler. In the end, we decided on Osaka.
    This trip was planned entirely around our baby’s needs and pace.

    14:05 – 16:00 Boarding Jin Air

    Surprisingly, Terminal 2 at Incheon Airport was quite calm.
    After enjoying a meal and some drinks at the lounge, we spent a little time at the kids’ zone to let our toddler burn off some energy.
    Since flights are free only until 24 months of age, we had to purchase a separate seat for the first time. Still, because our baby is used to falling asleep only when held, the extra seat felt somewhat underused.

    Proudly representing Korea: Baby Shark!

    Travel Tip: Incheon Airport Kids’ Zone

    Incheon International Airport offers various kids’ zones to make travel easier for families.
    Both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have dedicated play areas where children can enjoy themselves.

    ** Kids Zones at Terminal 1

    There are a total of 6 kids zones in Terminal 1:

    • Near Gate 10
    • Near Gate 15
    • Near Gate 41
    • Near Gate 45
    • Boarding Concourse, near Gate 110 (Motherboard Zone)
    • Boarding Concourse, near Gate 121 (Motherboard Zone)

    ** Kids Zones at Terminal 2

    There are a total of 6 kids zones in Terminal 2:

    • Near Gate 231
    • Near Gate 242
    • Near Gate 246
    • Near Gate 254
    • Near Gate 257
    • Near Gate 268

    17:00 – Boarding the Haruka Express

    It took quite a while for the luggage to come out.
    We needed to exchange our tickets at the JR Ticket Office on the 2nd floor of Kansai Airport Terminal 1. The line was long, and it took about 15 minutes.
    We barely caught the 17:13 train with only 3 minutes to spare!
    The long travel time, from the flight to the train ride, started to wear on our toddler, who began to fuss, but thankfully, we arrived safely at Osaka Station.

    18:00 – Hotel Check-In

    Since we planned to explore areas around Osaka, we booked a hotel near Osaka Station: Hearton Hotel Nishiumeda.
    Although its ratings weren’t exceptionally high, we found it very convenient — about a 10-minute walk from JR Osaka Station. While the facilities weren’t luxurious, the bed was generously sized for a Japanese business hotel, with enough space for a toddler to roll around comfortably. It turned out to be a great value for money.

    Hearton Hotel Nishiumeda

    19:00 – Dinner and Shopping

    The crowd around Osaka Station was overwhelming!
    Finding a place to eat without waiting in long lines was a challenge. After wandering around, we finally found a restaurant with no wait and had a simple meal of ochazuke, udon, croquettes, and karaage.
    Our toddler, who had developed a love for salmon roe during our previous trip to Hokkaido, happily devoured a bowl of rice topped with ikura.

    Japanese beer is always a delight!

    After dinner, we headed to Yodobashi Camera to buy some baby supplies.
    A blogger’s tip proved helpful: since tourist areas tend to be expensive, it’s better to shop at Yodobashi Camera first for toys and other baby items.
    We bought an Anpanman plush, a puzzle, and a backpack, and our little one was so excited that she wandered around the store happily even late into the night.

    Yodobashi Camera Location

    Baby items are located on the 5th floor!

    Returning to the Hotel and Rest

    After a quick stop at a convenience store, we returned to the hotel, soaked in a hot bath, and finally went to sleep past midnight.
    Our toddler, perhaps trying to match our schedule, stayed up just as late.

    My first impression of Osaka was that it’s a vibrant, dynamic city where charm and challenges coexist.
    Traveling with a toddler required extra preparation and patience, but it was incredibly rewarding to create such precious family memories.
    The story of our Osaka trip continues in Part 2.