Endless Discovery in Japan
By Cyril Lam
As the plane flew through the clouds, something emerged in front of me: the vibrant city of Osaka. The sky was a clear and crisp light blue, while the sunlight beamed down on the endless ocean view. Once the plane landed, I was excited about every place I would visit soon. When the Hello Kitty JR train arrived, I just couldn't wait to hop on because the Hello Kitty theme matched the shape of the train so well, and everything was excellent. After a while spent on the comforting sofa that felt like cotton candy, something caught my eye, pulling me in and making everything else fade away. My hands were pressed hard against the window, and the beautiful thing that would make my trip unforgettable was the culture of Japan.
Not long after, we made it to the hotel, where everything was covered in gold and looked so grand. We claimed our room as soon as possible and headed to the aquarium. The aquarium was filled with loads of different kinds of sea animals, where you could touch, feed, or even play with them. After that, the special performance featuring dolphins began. The clever dolphins flew through the hula hoop, played with a beach ball, and even danced with their trainer. It was a beautiful memory that would be absolutely unforgettable. I couldn't wrap my mind around what would appear next—a seal surprisingly performed along with the dolphins, which was super awesome. After all the amazing performances, we made it to the final section, which featured the whale shark. The whale shark is an enormous sea animal with a unique pattern on its body. The size of the shark and how friendly the fish were while living alongside it was simply incredible.
The following day, we visited Universal Studios, which I believe was the best place of our trip. As soon as we arrived at the park, I rushed straight to Minion World, where everything was adorned with Minion-themed toys and decorations in a way that perfectly captured the spirit of the movie. When I looked up at a gorgeous notebook, I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out to touch it. The way the notebook was perfectly designed with a Minion theme and featured a 3D character on the cover made me feel like I should really consider getting it. After leaving the charming area with my elegant-looking notebook, we headed to the most outstanding location I could find: “Jurassic World.” This was my favorite part of Universal Studios because it had the most realistic designs of every single dinosaur, and each one had exquisite detail. Of course, I bought a cute hat with a dinosaur tail on it.
After walking for some time with my newfound feelings of excitement, we arrived in a world of magic, themed after “Harry Potter.” Inside the magical world, we saw a massive castle that was designed based on the movie, and right next to it was a lake that looked exactly like the one from the film. Then I discovered the drink I had been eagerly waiting to try: the butterbeer. It was warm and perfectly crafted, just like the one from the movie, making me feel as if I had stepped into the film. After a series of wonderful experiences, I reached the highlight of our day, which was the “Super Mario” theme park. Inside, visitors could earn points using a specially crafted watch and discover a variety of exclusive accessories. I decided to treat myself to a stylish Mario hat that looked just like the iconic one.
On the last day of our remarkable trip, we wandered through the vibrant Shinsaibashi-Suji street. My eyes landed on a picturesque bridge. I stepped back, adjusting the brim of my Universal Studios hat, the sun glinting off its glossy surface, and settled into the perfect spot, ready to immortalize the moment. After exploring various shops, the famous octopus rolls drew my attention to a uniquely designed restaurant. I could hardly contain my excitement as I placed my order. Once the octopus rolls arrived, they were beautifully presented, glistening with a savory glaze. We sat down in our seats, anticipation bubbling within me. As I took my first bite, the delicate flavor slowly melted in my mouth—a perfect blend of tender octopus and delightful seasoning. As I took a sip of my cool grape juice, sweet and refreshing, I could hardly believe how well the two paired together. It made the meal unforgettable. Later, I got myself a pineapple ice cream, which was so fresh and vibrant that I couldn’t resist the urge to reach for another slice. After indulging in an array of delightful local snacks, each more tempting than the last, we found ourselves drawn to a sushi restaurant, where fresh sushi was sliced right in front of me. It was simply awesome.