Isaac@Kinki and Tottori
爾德@近畿和鳥取

Osaka, the city with foundation laid by Taiko Toyotomi Hideyoshi, is nicknamed 天下の台所 (literally - world's kitchen). We have lots of good food and Isaac had lots of fun here.

Isaac was reaching the Japan's school age so we applied for his own kodomo IC card.

It was also cherry blossom season so Isaac had his hanami (花見 literally - flower viewing) with ice-cream.

Tottori is famous for its sand dunes - unique in the entire Japan. This little energetic Isaac had been running up and down the dunes and get his shoes filled with sand.

Shirahama is one of the 日本三古湯 (literally Japan three ancient hot springs) and has a beautiful white beach (Shirahama 白浜 literally means white beach).

In addition to the white beach, onsen and seafood market, Shirahama also has a zoo with giant panda and a huge public park full of flowering trees for hanami.

It was Isaac's second visit after the previous visit disrupted by severe snowstorm in 2023,  going back to his mother's favourite ryokan.

Unfortunately, Kyoto had lost its tranquility - places like Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, and even Arashiyama had been filled with people and the conditions were unbearable to witness.

Thanks to Isaac that we had to make reservations for quieter places (as not to disturb others but now also not getting disturbed). It was pretty nasty that more than once we were followed by some random people into places with clear multilingual sign stating reservation-only - a test to the Kyoto hospitality to politely fend them off.

Kyoto had been taken off our list until it could regain its peace, tranquility and order.

Similar to Kyoto, it was Isaac's second visit. to Nara He was less afraid of the deer as he had grown up.

It is worth mentioning that we have found one of the best sukiyaki here, in which not only the A4 beef but also the soy sauce, the tofu, the egg and the three kinds of mushrooms were simply top notch. We may come back to Nara just for the deer and sukiyaki.

Thanks to the recommendation from Isaac's aunt, Hirakata Park was simply perfect for Isaac's age. Isaac had a really good time here.

We were the only one hiring the barbecue tent in the middle of the park - and catching too much attention. Certainty will not do that again 🤣.

We also had found the frozen ice-cream (mini melt or dippin dot) which was our teenage memory which had disappeared from Hong Kong for decades.

In airside of Seoul Airport, there was a big crowd running amok chasing after probably K-idol (as if there was a huge herd of zebras running like the great migration in Africa). The spell of idol is powerful and terrifying.

Although both Asiana and ANA are Skytrax 5 stars airlines, ANA's flight meals were more "international" where Asiana retained strong Korean impression in its meals - they even gave us lettuce wrap for beef bulgogi. Unfortunately Asiana will disappear sooner or later after being acquired by the Korean Air.