It’s 11:17pm and I’m finally settling down to sleep. I woke up at 6:30 am this morning and it’s been a looooooong day of travelling.

The plane departed late as they always do, we took off from Cairns at 1:00pm. All up the flight took 6hrs and 56 mins. Then we taxied in, and got to the business of Immigration, Quarintine and Customs. (Not in that order). From where the plane landed there was a shuttle train to take us to the main terminal then we were ushered through a myriad of gesticulating Japanese staff, yelling firm but friendly instructions in Japanese and occasionally interjecting a word or two of english. Lots of laminated paper being waved around with english translations and some waiting. Got fingered printed and photo scanned at Immigration. No glasses or mask allowed. Blindly following instructions and waving the online Japanese check-in website QR codes at every machine I came across. Very streamlined.

It seems Kansai International Airport has a Mario/ Nintendo collabaration, with the main terminal having a nintendo play area with t.v’s and switches all hooked up for play. I arrived at 8:00pm so it was all closed.

Also, I thought the auto flushing toilets at Cairns International were fancy, Osaka had sinks that had auto water, auto soap, and auto dryer all in the basin.

Hooked up to the airport Wifi and headed for the train station, where I promptly lost connection and had to free wheel. I would say I played it pretty cool, filling up my old Suica (rail travel card) and walking through the gates that said, “To Namba.” Hopped on the Nakai express, realised I needed a ticket reservation, and quickly hopped off. Got on the next train I saw that was going my way. Had no Wifi but still, pretty chill, listening for my stop chatting with some other Aussie tourists who were first-time visitors. Gave them some advice and finally arrived at Namba at 9:15pm. Tried connecting to the Osaka Free Wifi, but the connection was spotty at best. So I looked at some signs, pulled out Google maps offline, looked where my hotel was, and kinda guessed what direction to go.

Came out on the correct side and started wandering around Namba looking for my hotel. Made it there at 9:30pm. The reception was closed, and I was wondering how it was all going to go down when a voice from above spoke. It was a speaker attached to the reception window, and it seemed like I had triggered some bell when I entered. I hurriedly fumbled through some basic japanese “Konbanwa” “Hello” “English” and I was attempting “Yoyaku ga arimasu” when the voice reassured me in english I didn’t have to bumble any longer. Waited again for someone to come and receive the payment and give me my room entry.

Got my room around 10:00 pm, just a single room with a small shower and a fancy eletronic toilet. Then went out for dinner at a nearby Matsuya, a restaurant kind of like fast food chain but less deep frying. Had the Gyumeshi (Beef and rice, with a soft egg and Miso soup) forgot to order or bring water, so ate quickly and went shopping for breakfast and snacks for tomorrows train to kyushu.

I’m in an area that even at 10 pm at night is alive and full of people and open shops. Several game centres, where you can play a range of claw machines or buy some gacha. I walked through to see if there was any worthwhile gacha and spun twice on a weird but interesting old phone figurine gacha machine. Checked out the claw machines but didn’t play, those things just swallow money up like nobody’s business.

Took some photos of some of the many and wonderful vending machines I saw and a photo of my first vending machine drink of this trip.

Finally, I went shopping at Lawson (Convenience store) and got this haul for breakfast. Took some photos of the shelves; you have to see to appreciate the onigiri, bread and drinks available. Nothing like pitiful Australian convenience stores.

And now it’s midnight, and I need to go to bed and charge my devices because I’m off again early tomorrow, and it’s going to be another big day of travel again. This time by train. To Kyushu. Yay!

So sleepy…