Tag Archives: the chewys osaka 2018

Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

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I’m a hugeeeee fan of cup noodles and instant noodles although these are not the healthiest food options around. I love the convenience they bring and all the interesting flavors that are constantly being developed over the years. With that, I decided to include Cup Noodles Museum in Osaka Ikeda in our Japan itinerary.

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It is also known as Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, named after the person who invented the world’s first instant noodles, “Chicken Ramen,” after an entire year of research using common tools in a little shed he had built in his backyard in Ikeda-city, Osaka Prefecture.

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Momofuku Ando, the Father of Instant Ramen, invented the chicken ramen in 1958 and dedicated his entire life to thinking about food in new and creative ways. Throughout his 96 years, he practised creative thinking and never quit until he achieved his goal. As a result, people from all over the world is still benefiting from his achievements today.

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Admission to Cup Noodles Musuem Osaka Ikeda is free of charge but fees apply for attractions like the Chicken Ramen Factory and Cup Noodles Factory.

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I bet you will be able to find all your favorite instant noodle here in this vast museum!

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I already spotted my favorite Seafood and also Tom Yam Seafood cup noodles!

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Due to time constraints, we only picked the My Cup Noodles Factory activity.

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A sample of how the final product will look like.

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In exchange for 300 yen at a vending machine, you will get this My Cup Noodles Factory cup and you can start decorating or coloring it in any way you wish using the markers provided.

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As Littlemisschewy was still napping in the stroller, only Minimisschewy joined us in the activity. Well, I did most of the drawing and coloring. As I’m not artistic, my “artwork” is very simple and minimalist!

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When we were done decorating our cup, we joined the queue to pick out the ingredients for our cup noodles. If you are not planning to eat the cup noodles, then whatever ingredients that go into the cup would not really matter.

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How thoughtful! Since most visitors are travellers, the museum has prepared a bag which you can store your cup noodles and then inflate it like an air bag, thereby protecting your cup noodles from damage.

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There’s also a string, which makes it very convenient to carry around.

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Littlemisschewy woke up from the nap and totally missed the activity, so here’s a photo of her with the final masterpiece.

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There are interesting exhibits in the museum, so it’s best to dedicate at least two hours if you are planning to pay a visit.

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There is also a drama theatre but I think it’s all in Japanese language.

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There is a small shop selling all sorts of souvenirs that you can buy for that friend who also loves cup noodles. I got myself some miniature cup noodle magnets, and trust me, they are the cutest!

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Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Cup Noodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

8-25 Masumi-cho, Ikeda-shi, Osaka 563-0041 Japan

(Reception time 9:00 – 16:30 museum holidays excluded)

Non-Business Days: Tuesday (in case Tuesday is a National Holiday, the following day will be a non-business day), Year-end through New Year Holidays

Universal Studios Japan 2018

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Hellooooo! It’s been a really long time since I last blogged and I’m determined to finish up our Japan 2018 travelogue before we head off for our next trip!

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We spent the second leg of our trip in Osaka, and no trip to Osaka is complete without visiting Universal Studios Japan! Well, I guess it only applies if you like visiting theme parks!

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We started our day bright and early, so the kids were chirpy and also thrilled to be able to interact with the various mascots in USJ!

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We got our admission tickets via Voyagin, which was easy and hassle-free. All we had to do was just scan the QR codes and we could walk through the gantry! Prices are also very competitive, and Voyagin is verified by over 50000 positive reviews.

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Look at those cute Minion popcorn buckets!

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The hubs and I also purchased fast passes to enjoy rides such as Hollywood Dream, The Flying Dinosaur, Harry Potter & the Forbidden Journey, and JAWS. Without the passes, I doubt we could go for all of these rides! The waiting times for the normal queue are insane! At least one hour and could even go up to more than 3 hours!

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We spent most of our time in Wonderland as this park of USJ is catered for young children. However, minimisschewy did not meet the minimum height requirement for most of the rides.

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The minion buns looked cute but did not taste so good.

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If you are a Harry Potter fan like us, you would be in awe upon stepping into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! I reckon it looks even more mesmerizing at night.

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Our second (first was in London) time having Butterbeer! YUMS!

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Let’s make a butterbeer moustache and say cheeeeese! Or should we say
Wingardium Leviosa?

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Even the washroom is so cool! I swear I heard Moaning Myrtle but I couldn’t find her anywhere..

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Sumptious dinner at The Three Broomsticks! And spot that butterbeer again!

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What an unforgettable dinner at USJ, in the nice cool weather with Hogwarts Castle as the beautiful backdrop.

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Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

10 Must Eat Food at Kuromon Ichiba Market

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If it’s your first time to Kuromon Ichiba Market in Osaka, there’s a high possibility that you will be overwhelmed by the wide range of food offered there. There’s sooo much to eat but insufficient stomach space to enjoy everything. In this post, we will show you the top 10 must eat food at Kuromon Ichiba Market.

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1. Maguro Don

Upon entering Kuromon Ichiba Market, you will be greeted by a long queue at this stall. It is no surprise as they are renowned for their various types of maguro sushi and rice don.

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Their maguro slices are thick, fresh and melt-in-the-mouth tender.

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This is voted number one on their menu, the Maguro and Negitoro Don. It was really yummy and we were tempted to get another bowl but decided to save space for other food.

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2. Uni (Sea Urchin)

If you are a fan of uni, this stall has different grades of uni for you to try. We decided to go for something in the middle.

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The uni was so fresh and it tasted really heavenly. You can either eat it straight off the shell with a spoon, or wrap some with seaweed.

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3. Unagi (Freshwater Eel)

They may look brown and dull, but will never be able to escape the eyes of someone who truly loves eating unagi.

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I was surprised that the entire slab of unagi was popped into the microwave oven but was starting to be convinced when the unagi was torched and then coated with a layer of savory sweet teriyaki sauce. You can also opt to have it with a bowl of steamed Japanese rice at a small additional cost.

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4. King Crab Legs and Crab Meat

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As we were walking past this stall, we were naturally drawn towards the sexy pairs of gigantic king crab legs. If you don’t mind the hefty price tag, go for it!

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If not, the jumbo crab meat is a pretty good alternative. Plump, juicy and oozing with sweetness, this was definitely bang for the buck.

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5. Grilled Lobster

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Grilled lobsters at less than SGD20 each?! Shut up and take my money!

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6. Grilled Scallops with Butter Soy Sauce

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Grilled scallops + butter soy sauce = HEAVEN. #nuffsaid

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7. Seafood – Raw, Grilled & BBQ

What’s the best thing about having a variety of fresh seafood in front of you? You get to decide if you want to have them raw, grilled or BBQ-ed!

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8. Tempura

What’s feasting without some piping hot tempura? Everything is less than SGD10! Cheap and good!

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9. Grilled Fruits & Sweet Potatoes

Do you know that fruits can be grilled? Grilling gives the fruits a different taste which is slightly smoky yet fragrant at the same time. Try it to believe it!

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Grilled sweet potatoes are also a popular choice, especially if you are visiting in the winter season.

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10. Sashimi Platter

If you are still feeling peckish after all that, stop by Kuromon Sanpei, the biggest fish market in Kuromon, and pick a sashimi platter! There are seats indoors so you can enjoy your food with a cup of hot green tea.

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Apart from sashimi platters, Kuromon Sanpei also sells sushi, seasonal products, and packaged snacks that you can buy home as souvenirs.

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We hope this list of Top 10 must eat food at Kuromon Ichiba Market is helpful if you are heading to Osaka!

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Kuromon Ichiba Market
Address: 2 Chome-4-番１号 Nipponbashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0073, Japan  
Nearest Station: Nippombashi Station
Opening Hours: Daily from 9am to 6pm
Admission Fee: Free

Namba Yasaka Shrine: Lion Head Shrine in Osaka

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We considered our trip to Japan in 2018 to be a very eventful one as we managed to discover many interesting places despite having been to the Land of the Rising Sun a few times before. When we were in Osaka, we paid a visit to a very photo-worthy (or should we say Insta-worthy) place, the Namba Yasaka Shrine, also known as the Lion Head Shrine.

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Namba Yasaka Shrine is very conveniently located within a 8-minute walk from Namba Station. As our Airbnb was also around the area, we stopped by early morning before heading to Kuromon Ichiba Market.

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The Namba Yasaka Shrine is the home of the Namba’s guardian deity and is also well-known for its enormous lion head-shaped architecture, which is often seen as something different and unique from most other temples and shrines in Japan.

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Inside the 12m high by 11m wide lion head is a stage where several events are held throughout the year. The lion head is believed to ward off evil spirits by swallowing them, and hence brings good luck to worshippers.

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Always remember to cleanse your mouths and hands before praying at a Japanese shrine or temple.

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The temple beside the lion head structure reminds me of Osaka Castle because of its white, light teal and gold colors. What do you think?

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Praying for good health, safety and happiness for the entire family.

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Amulets are available for purchase at the temple.

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There is also a small shop that sells a variety of amulets and wooden wishing plaques.

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Write your wishes on the wooden plaque and tie it up at the temple.

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Every temple and shrine has its own unique wooden plaque design. Of course, the lion head is featured here at Namba Yasaka Shrine.

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We also chanced upon Hello Kitty omamori and decided to get one each for Chanelle and Cayla.

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If you have time to spare, do explore Namba Yasaka Shrine and immerse yourself in its beautiful architecture.

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Namba Yasaka Shrine Osaka 難波八阪神社
Address: 〒556-0016 2-9-19 Motomachi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka City
Nearest Station: Namba Station
Opening Hours: Daily from 6am to 5pm
Admission Fee: Free

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!

Akiba Kart Osaka: Street Go-Karting in Japan

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One of the major highlights of our recent 2018 trip was being able to take a couple of hours from parenting duties (thanks to my parents for helping us with the kids at our Airbnb) to experience Street Go-Karting in Japan! It has always been misterchewy’s dream to try out this activity, and now, he has finally fulfilled it! Psst.. Check out his ear-to-ear grins in some of the photos 😉

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Since we had planned to dedicate three days in Tokyo Disney Resort, we didn’t have much time in Tokyo for street go-karting and decided to experience it in Osaka instead. Upon Googling, Akiba Kart Osaka is one of the more renowned and popular street go-karting tour service providers in Namba area. Guess what, the shop is a mere 7-minute walk from Namba Station!

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The hubs and I are both huge fans of the Mario Kart Nintendo game, so we purchased and brought our own Mario and Luigi costumes to Japan. Do take note that Mario Kart costumes are not available at the shop.

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Fret not! There are plenty of other costumes to choose from at Akiba Kart Osaka, such as Spiderman, Hello Kitty and Pikachu. We also noticed some quirky Sushi costumes.

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Before the actual briefing, we were made to watch a safety introductory video on an iPad, which is very informative and easy to comprehend.

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Customers of Akiba Kart Osaka from all over the world.

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Taking more photos while waiting for everyone to get settled into their costumes. We were told that there would be 10 of us joining the street go-karting tour.

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What a perfect day to for street go-karting in Osaka!

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A briefing was conducted before we set off.

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Our guide, Isao, taking the lead. If you notice, all go-karts have its own license plate.

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Just in case you are wondering, the standard driving rules and regulations apply even for street go-karting in Japan. No driving beyond the speed limits, no using of mobile phones (including taking photos) while driving, and of course, no throwing of banana skins at other drivers. It is alright to take photos after your go-kart is put to a complete stop at the red light. However, you need to be quick and able to gauge when the green light comes on, if not you will risk getting horned at.

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With kids, it is like a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to experience street go-karting in Japan for misterchewy and I, so we took many photos at almost all the red lights. LOL!

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We drove in a single file unless Isao signalled for us to line up in pairs when approaching the traffic lights. There was also another guide right at the back to ensure that nobody was left behind.

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It was such an exhilarating experience being able to try out street go-karting along the busy streets of Osaka! Since all of us were in costumes, we attracted quite a bit of attention from passersby who stopped to wave at us and also took photos of us. Of course, we were sporting enough to wave back and pose for photos too!

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It is also very memorable for misterchewy and I as the weather was quite cold then, and we were kinda freezing our butts off as we drove along the streets. However, being able to enjoy the view of Osaka city while street go-karting in our costumes also gave us that adrenaline rush we will never forget.

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We had a stopover at Osaka Castle, where we took a short break for some photos. Are you able to identify all the characters?

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Time to head back to Akiba Kart Osaka shop at Namba!

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We are very lucky that Isao kept taking photos for us at every chance whenever we stopped at the red lights.

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Passing by Namba Station while making our way back.

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Important point to take note of: In order to be able to participate in street go-karting in Japan, Singaporean drivers MUST apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention. Without presenting your IDP, you will be denied riding the go-kart, even if you have paid for your reservation online. We applied for ours at the Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS). IDP online application processing and delivery via local courier will take 7 working days, while IDP can be collected on the spot within an hour for walk-in application.

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For walk-in application, do remember to bring along your NRIC and Singapore Driving License. Applicant’s picture will be taken on-site at no extra charge. The fee for IDP application is $20 and is valid for one year from date of issue.

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For more information and reservation for street go-karting in Osaka, visit Akiba Kart Osaka. The Osaka Castle Park Tour is about 2 hours long and costs ‎JPY¥9000 (SGD$112) per person. There is a discount if you post a review on Facebook. If you have always been thinking of trying street go-karting in Japan, hesitate no more! Sign up now with Akiba Kart Osaka!

Going to Japan soon? Follow our updates on our Japan 2018 trip or read our popular Japan trip itinerary!