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Osaka

Oh Japan, Here we go Again

Matthew Alfred Jones

• 6 min read
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Etihad Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner parked at a gate at Manchester Airport, with catering vehicles and an air bridge attached before an international departure.
An Etihad Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner prepares for departure from Manchester Airport, connecting the North West with destinations across the Middle East, Asia and beyond.

Well here we are again, me on my way to Japan. This time I went for the Economy Deluxe package with Etihad which includes, 40kg check in, 7kg carry on, priority check in, the priority boarding, extra legroom seats and complimentary WiFi, so yes, I am starting this from 37,000 feet.

In-flight information screen showing a ground speed of 548 mph, distance travelled of 341 miles and a cruising altitude of 37,000 feet.
Cruising at 37,000 feet and 548 mph, with 341 miles of the journey completed according to the aircraft's in-flight information system.

T-Minus Aaaahhhh!!!

18th July

Last night was a bit of a late one as well, due to going to watch ‘The Odyssey”, amazing film BTW. So i was a bit tired this morning, but also raring to go, so much so, that I drove to the airport, and then my dad drove my car home.

Traveller wearing a straw hat and patterned shirt holds a "Matt's Countdown to Japan" sign beside a front door, with Japanese-themed artwork and a four-hour countdown.
Ready to begin the journey to Japan, holding a countdown board just hours before departure and marking the start of an eagerly anticipated adventure.

I was also able to go into an airport lounge, as I get lounge access though my bank card.

British passport, flight details and an Escape Lounge check-in card on a table at Manchester Airport before departure via Abu Dhabi to Osaka.
Checked in and ready to travel, with passport, flight details and Escape Lounge access marking the start of a journey from Manchester to Japan via Abu Dhabi.

One thing to note, is that the new terminal 2 security system, is really efficient and good. It definitely is an improvement over the old system.

I'm on my way, from Abu Dhabi to Osaka Today!

After arriving at Abu Dhabi about 40 mins late due to the plane taking a different route, cause of conflict happening in the Middle East, I had to run from my plane to the next one, which wore me out, but I made it about 10-15 mins before the gate closed 😅

Traveller wearing glasses and headphones gives a peace sign while seated by the window on an Etihad Airways flight, shortly after departure from Manchester Airport.
Settled into the window seat and ready for the long journey ahead, shortly after departing Manchester on the first leg of a trip to Japan.

When landing, cause the airport is in the bay on reclaimed land, it actually looked like we were going to land in the sea, until the airport suddenly came into view.

View from an aircraft window approaching Japan, showing the coastline of Shikoku with bays, hills and settlements visible below through light haze.
A glimpse of Japan from the air, looking down on the coastline of Shikoku as the flight approached Kansai before landing in Osaka.
View from an aircraft approaching Japan, looking across Osaka Bay towards Misaki, with a long coastline, harbour facilities and mountains visible through light haze.
Approaching Kansai International Airport, the coastline near Misaki comes into view across Osaka Bay, offering one of the first sights of Japan after the long flight.
Etihad in-flight map showing Manchester as the journey origin, with a recorded distance of 5,844 miles from the city during the flight to Japan.
The in-flight map shows the aircraft 5,844 miles from Manchester, highlighting the scale of the journey from the UK to Japan via Abu Dhabi.

After the long plane journey here which took me from 9:20am UK time to 3:30am UK time the following day, I was knackered, but I still had to get to Osaka as Kansai International Airport is about 1 hour 20 mins from my hotel, even via a Limited Express Train

Traveller wearing a straw hat, glasses and a patterned shirt takes a selfie inside Kansai International Airport shortly after arriving in Japan.
Arriving in Japan at Kansai International Airport, marking the start of an exciting journey after the long flight from Manchester via Abu Dhabi.

Did you know that Kansai International Airport is currently sinking at a rate of about 2.8 inches a year (as cited here) and by 2056 it is predicted that parts of it may be below sea level, they are trying to stop this from happening, but it is complex and expensive as well. It also became more clear when they were building the airport when the landfill for the airport sunk 27 feet in the first three years, when they was expecting on 19 feet at most.

Welcome sign at Kansai International Airport featuring the airport mascot Sorayan dressed as an aeroplane, with landmarks of the Kansai region illustrated in the background.
A warm welcome to Japan at Kansai International Airport, where the airport's mascot Sorayan greets arriving passengers in the heart of the Kansai region.
Multilingual emergency evacuation sign at Kansai International Airport, directing people to an outdoor evacuation area during a major earthquake and indicating the third floor.
An emergency information sign at Kansai International Airport provides earthquake evacuation instructions in multiple languages, reflecting Japan's strong focus on disaster preparedness.

The picture above is a reminder that Japan is quite seismically active.

As I had done all my immigration ,declarations and customs stuff on the Visit Japan website, it was much easier than having to fill in my details just before landing and processing it all here. It was a simple, got off the plane, go to the first machine where i scan my passport, both index finger prints and a photograph as well. Then boarded a shuttle train, go through immigration where they put in my QR code for my tourist visa. Then i went down stairs scanned my Japan Web QR code, went through the next door and does anyone know at this point what i forgot???

A life-sized human skeleton model displayed in a reflective pose, illustrating the structure and anatomy of the human body.
Photo by Mathew Schwartz / Unsplash

If you said, what about luggage, then you would be correct, I went through the last gate without collecting my luggage, but what I didn't realise is that are the bottom of the stairs after immigration, you have to turn around to see the luggage hall properly. So I had to go up to the customs office, who let me back into the the luggage hall with a guide (I wasn't the first person to do this, not the last person probably), collection my luggage and then had to go through a quick customs check and then was let back into the country. Might have the words numpty or muppet as a note on their system now.

Nankai Airport Express train at Kansai Airport Station, featuring a distinctive dark blue streamlined front as it waits at the platform before departure.
A Nankai Airport Express train at Kansai Airport Station, providing a direct rail link between Kansai International Airport and central Osaka.
Straw hat with a black band resting on a train seat in Japan, nicknamed “Mr Hat”, enjoying the view from the window during a rail journey.
Mr Hat takes a well-earned seat on the train, enjoying the passing scenery and continuing the adventure across Japan in signature style.

Next i got the Limited express train to Osaka Namba and then changed their to a subway line going to Osaka-Umeda where the hotel is at. APA hotels (commonly known as Always Pleasant Amenities) are a Japanese hotel group, who i stayed with last time in both Tokyo and Hakodate.

APA Hotel Osaka Umeda Eki Tower rises above the street in Osaka, viewed from below, with the hotel's distinctive orange entrance sign dominating the foreground.
APA Hotel Osaka Umeda Eki Tower served as my base in Osaka, with its striking high-rise design and convenient location near Umeda Station in the heart of the city.
Entrance to APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Umeda Eki Tower, featuring illuminated signage, glass doors, stone-clad columns and a modern canopy above the main entrance.
The entrance to APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Umeda Eki Tower, my base in Osaka, combines modern design with a convenient location near the city's major rail and shopping districts.

This hotels has 34 floors (1st floor is the ground floor for those in the UK) and had two onsens, 4 restaurants, 1 bar, a sweet shop, convenience store, vending machines, laundromats, free water on each floor, gym, massage parlour, spa, currency exchange machine and a rooftop pool. On top of this, each room has aircon, Yukata's for walking to the onsen, private bathrooms, a mini fridge and 50 inch TV.

Compact hotel room at APA Hotel Osaka Umeda Eki Tower, featuring a double bed, desk, mirror, luggage and a window overlooking central Osaka.
My room at APA Hotel Osaka Umeda Eki Tower provided a compact but comfortable base for exploring Osaka, with views across the city and easy access to nearby transport links.
Hotel room at APA Hotel Osaka Umeda Eki Tower, featuring a wall-mounted smart television, luggage cases beside the bed and information displayed on the screen.
Settling into my room at APA Hotel Osaka Umeda Eki Tower, with luggage unpacked and the in-room information screen providing details about the hotel's facilities and services.
Compact bathroom at APA Hotel Osaka Umeda Eki Tower, featuring a Japanese toilet, small washbasin, shower and deep bathtub arranged within a space-saving layout.
The compact bathroom in my room at APA Hotel Osaka Umeda Eki Tower showcases the efficient design commonly found in Japanese business hotels.

After settling in, it was time to go and get some food, which i had been craving for a long time called Okonomiyaki, which for this American Okonomiyaki a drink of grape juice and 5 gyoza cost me 2,330 yen (~£10.60), which is a bargain.

Okonomiyaki cooking on a teppan grill in Osaka, topped with sweetcorn, sliced sausage and melted cheese, with a metal spatula resting behind the dish.
A freshly grilled Osaka-style okonomiyaki topped with cheese, sweetcorn and sausage, enjoyed on the teppan in the city renowned for this popular savoury pancake.

Join me next time when I do a quick blog on my first few days in Osaka, before heading down to Kagoshima!!!