On our second full day in Osaka we braved the heat and crowds at Universal Studios Japan. We’d taken Rowan the first time we were in Japan in 2018, and couldn’t wait to go back and do it all again.
We went to the same ride first – Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, in Harry Potter World. And it was just as thrilling on the second visit. We loved flying all around Hogwarts on a broomstick, alongside Harry through the castle, and a quidditch match filled with dementors!
Next, we rode the Jaws ride in Amity Village, where animatronic versions of Jaws jumped out of the water at us at various points as we rode around in a boat. The boat’s driver played the role of a terrified skipper convincingly as she maneuvered us along the track through the man-made lake. It was super fun.
We rode several other rides including two in Minion Park, before Kevin, Rowan, and T rode The Flying Dinosaur roller coaster in Jurassic Park, and we headed back to our hotel for the night. It was another long, sweltering day in Osaka and we couldn’t wait to rest, at last!
We decided to spend the next day just walking more leisurely around Osaka. We visited the Umeda area and the vintage clothing streets, which were a lot of fun. After resting at the hotel for a bit, we walked back to Umeda and enjoyed the very touristy spot all lit up at night and filled with people.
We loved walking around the streets by the river, enjoying the warm air and exciting sights and sounds. A band played popular songs along one of the bridges. Restaurant employees shouted to passersby to try to entice them in. Tourists walked around, gazing up at all the lighted signs filled with cartoony Japanese images, taking pictures and having a great time.
Later, it was a short walk back to our hotel, where, again, our feet were happy to see our room and beds – at last.
Leave a Reply