Day 10
Ozu town, Minetopia Besshi and Takamatsu city with Hanami in the evening in the park
2.04.2025
Our hotel included a Japanese-style breakfast. This meant that each person was served on a separate tray with several small bowls containing food like fish, omelet, seaweed, rice, miso soup, and tofu. You wonโt find this kind of breakfast in Europe.
The kids got sausages, omelet, fish, and rice. Even the girls ate something!
The hotel rooms were scattered across the old town, and we had to walk about a minute from the main reception. The breakfast area was in another building, under the tower. The day before, we were shown a lounge area with drinks that were already included.
Garyu Sanso
After this unique breakfast experience, we went to Garyu Sanso, a traditional Japanese house built around 1902 by a wealthy merchant. A lady showed us around and explained that the architects were from Kyoto. The house had been planned for ten years and built over four. Every detail was carefully thought out. We had bought tickets the day before at ลzu Castle and werenโt sure what to expect, but it turned out to be one of the best traditional houses weโve visited. Everything was well maintained, and the garden, with its view over the river and mountains, was breathtaking. We went in the morning, and it wasnโt busy at all.
After that, we headed toward our next destination, making a few stops along the way.
Minetopia Besshi theme park
I found a nice theme park Minetopia Besshi about mining, where we spent an hour or even more. A train took us to the entrance, and from there, we went inside a tunnel in the mountain to explore the life of miners in Japan. I couldnโt translate much because there was no internet connection inside the cave, but there were installations and a movie about their lives. The kids enjoyed the slides and exhibits.
The train ride through the bridge and tunnel was definitely the highlight of this stop.
The train was not busy and we easily found places to enjoy the ride:)
Takamatsu city and park with cherry blossom
Our next destination was Takamatsu, a seaside cityโmuch bigger than I expected!
After checking in, we went for a walk and saw a park with a castle. It was around 7 p.m., and people were going inside, so we decided to follow.
Entrance in the evening was free. A pathway lined with paper lanterns led to something intriguing.
It turned out to be a spot filled with cherry trees in full bloom. Japanese people had gathered there for hanami, the tradition of enjoying a meal with friends under the sakura blossoms. The paper lanterns hanging everywhere gave the place a magical atmosphere. I hadnโt expected to experience such beauty! In Kyoto or Tokyo, it would have been impossible to enter due to the crowds, but here, the park was peaceful.
How lucky we were!
Day 11
Awaji island, Kaikyo Observatory and Kobe
03.04.2025
The sun came out, and the sky was filled with fluffy clouds, making the journey even more enjoyable.
I picked three stops along the way to admire the bridges crossing the sea around Awaji Island.
Our first stop was Naruto Mountain Lookout. We paid for access to the escalator with a glass roofโit was fun riding it up to see the view.
Next, we visited the Uzu no Oka Onaruto Bridge Memorial Museum, which had a giant onion statue and a view of the bridge from the other side. Awaji is known as Japanโs โonion island.โ Their onions are incredibly sweet!
We had lunch there and ordered a local set with Awaji beef and onions. The beef was tender and juicy, and the onions were unbelievably sweetโI’ve never eaten onions like that before!
We also stopped by a flower field with views of the sea and Kobe in the distanceโHyogo Prefecture Awaji Hanasajiki, where vibrant yellow blossoms stretched under the blue sky. The view was stunning.
Our last stop before reaching Kobe was a hike to the Kaikyo Observatory (the parking was here). The trail was half easy, half challenging, with steep stairs leading up the hill. But the climb was worth it. Rain started to fall midway, and after it passed, the sun came outโand a rainbow appeared for a few minutes. I wish we couldโve seen it from the top, but even catching a glimpse made us so happy.
Tonight, we stayed with relatives for one night. For the first time, we could leave the girls and go for a walk to the nearby shopโjust the two of us. We searched for some rice seasoning and simply enjoyed the peaceful evening. We bought sushi, even with a little evening discount, and had a cozy sushi dinner together at home.
Day 12
Nara park. Cherry trees and deers
04.04.2025
Today weโre heading to Nara Parkโour last destination of this trip. Thanks to Google Maps, we found a nice parking spot near the park. We took a trail through the forest to enter the park. I knew it would be crowded, and it was!
Weโre not fans of crowds, so we tried to stay away from the busiest areas. Thatโs why we decided to go have lunch instead.
I remembered a small udon place by the lake, so we headed straight there. To my surprise, it wasnโt too busy. We waited just a little inside while the girls fed some nearby deer with crackers we purchased at the same place.
The same old man served us as last year. We ordered three bowlsโwith beef, egg, and tofu.
One thing I noticedโand it might sound obviousโis that the best time to visit touristy places like Nara is either before 9 AM or after 5 PM. We got to see the park both in the evening and again the next morning.
We checked into our hotel after 3 PM. I knew it was close to Nara Park, but it turned out to be right in front of it! We could even see the deer from our window. I honestly think we had the best room in the entire hotel.
It was also the first hotel in Japan where we had to take off our shoes immediately upon entering the building. So basically, everyone was walking around barefoot or in socks throughout the hotel. A tea ceremony was being served while we checked in, and afterward, we were shown to our room. There, we were greeted with local sweets and a pot of hot tea.
I’m so glad I found this placeโtruly one of the best choices we’ve ever made. ๐
It was a sweet evening spent among gentle, rambling deer and blooming cherry trees.
In the evening, we stopped by one of the Japanese fast food chains, Mos Burger. I wanted to try their fish in a lettuce wrapโno bread, just fish, sauce, and a bit of lettuce. It was actually really nice. Another option they offer is a rice wrap with fillings like beef, seafood, or shrimp.
Day 13
Nara park in the morning and saying bye to Japan…
05.04.02025
Our last day in Japan, and I donโt want to leaveโฆ๐ฅน
Yes, we got tired from changing places every single day and constantly being on the move, but the experience we had was so worth it.
Journeys like this open new corners of your brain and heart, I believe. You learn more about yourself and your family members. Itโs not always easy โ different sleeping habits were the most challenging for me. And the jet lag in the beginning definitely cost me a few nerve cells during those first three days.
Instead of sleeping in the last day, I suggested we grab the chance: wake up early and visit the places in Nara that are usually crowded. We stepped outside around 7 a.m. and had the best time โ just us, the deer, and a few tourists.
We went inside the temple with the big Buddha and enjoyed a peaceful walk. On our way back to the city for breakfast around 8:30, we passed hundreds of tourists heading in the opposite direction, toward Nara Park. I felt so happy we had gone for a walk that early.
Tลdai-ji (ๆฑๅคงๅฏบ) in Nara is one of Japanโs most iconic and historically significant temples
Inside the Great Buddha Hall, there was this wooden pillar with a hole at its base. It is said to be the same size as the Great Buddhaโs nostril!
The one who can squeeze through it will get enlightenment in the next life or at least enjoy good luck and health:)
Three members of our family managed to squeeze in:)
Alex didnโt believe I would do it but I did!๐
Only because we went at 7-8 am there were few people and no lines!
I have never been so close to deers.
People say that they might be aggressive but we had luck:)
Our flight to Singapore was scheduled for 5 p.m., so we decided to check out from our hotel at 11 a.m. and slowly make our way to the airport. We hoped to stop by somewhere interesting along the way, but there wasnโt much โ the drive was mostly along the highway over the city and took about an hour.
The reason we chose Japan again is that, for us, itโs a country that offers the best family experience. From the friendly people and their humble behavior in shops, hotels, on the streets and roads, to the enchanting nature, delicious food, and the best free toilets everywhere โ everything makes our trip amazing for the second time.
Here, I donโt want my camera to stay in the bag for long โ I feel comfortable and happy. I also think that knowing some Japanese makes the trip much easier and more stress-free.
Thank you for following our journey and reading my diary.
Writing helps me preserve these memories for even longer โ like little treasures I can come back to anytime. ๐
Happy little things 