A week in Japan in late July 2025. One night in Tokyo to collect Anna from her flight, then five days in an Osaka Airbnb with a washing machine on the balcony, a cooking class with Keiko, a yakitori izakaya, and enough konbini onigiri to last the rest of the year.
Cheryl posted most days during the trip. She started in Tokyo the night Anna’s JAL flight landed, then the three of us moved to a small Airbnb in Dempo, a working-class corner of Osaka with a single convenience store on the walk to the station. The week hit Dotombori, the Arts District, a cooking class where the kneading started with “we need a 2 mm thickness” and Cheryl’s floury fingers couldn’t Google millimetres, and a yakitori place that Anna ranked second only to the strawberry dessert shop in Amerika-mura.
day by day Timeline
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Japan 2025, day 1
Ignore the sixth man in the background!
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Tokyo
Japan 2025, day 2: Tokyo
Anna’s postcard from the JAL flight crew❤️
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Osaka
Japan 2025, day 3: Osaka
One view from our hotel, Almont Niporri. We have a corner room, so there’s another side of windows.
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Osaka
Japan 2025, day 4: Osaka (day)
Our Airbnb is large by Japanese standards and very quaint. I am happy that we have a washing machine, although no dryer means that we are hanging clothes on the balcony. Fortunately, the balcony is fa
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Osaka
Japan 2025, day 4: Osaka (evening)
The first stop was at an izakaya (the Japanese version of a tapas bar) that specializes in yakitori. My plate had grilled mushrooms, asparagus, and shisito peppers, although it’s more typically meat-b
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Osaka
Japan 2025, day 5: Osaka
We arrive a few minutes early to the class and decided to use one of Japan’s ubiquitous vending machines for a quick drink. These are super convenient, especially in the 90F* heat. The only catch is t
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Osaka
Japan 2025, day 6: Osaka
A Tuesday morning shopping trip at the konbini (convenience store). We were looking for breakfast, which had been consisting of onigiri or cold noodles and canned cold brew coffee. Anna admired the in