As far as first impressions go, the place looked like any other. The airport was overlooking the sea so that gave a scenic appeal to it. However apart from that, everything else, such as the roads, the shuttle buses, the sky, the flyovers that we passed by on the way to our apartment unit which was 45 minutes away, all seemed like any other big city. Was this really the land that many touted as one of the most beautiful in the World?

My second, third, fourth and subsequent impressions though, completely blew my mind, rendering me utterly enchanted and beguiled. I’m now completely in love with this beautiful land, and most of all, her magnificent people.

I am in Osaka, Japan. My husband is here on a working stint and we as a family, decided to come along.

We chose to live in an apartment unit to somewhat cut down on costs, so that I would be able to cook, instead of eating out all the time. My two littlies loved their comfort foods like pasta and cheese, chicken kurma and french toast, so being able to produce this in a foreign country to give them a feel of familiar foods seemed like a good idea. Of course it wasn’t only them, for my husband, who can’t go without his curries for more than three days was delighted that I had come stocked with a bag full of spices and masalas!

Upon arriving at our room, we all doze off early. It had been almost 12 hours since we left home in KL, after all! The very next day, dear hubby busied himself with work. He took the train from the station nearby to the Osaka University an hour away. The trains are extremely punctual and run like clockwork. It is the main mode of transport for the millions who live in Japan. I was amazed to find that their stations were at multi-levels, underground, with some of the bigger stations spanning 4 storeys even, enabling trains from various towns and cities within Osaka to transport passengers, with no hitch to routine.

On the first day, my kids and I decided to visit the majestic Osaka Castle which was a 2-kilometer walk from our apartment. There was a museum a stone’s throw away and being a history buff, I took that in too. The castle is a picture of opulence and feature that delighted me the most was the moat around the castle. I had never seen a real-life moat and immediately conjured up dragons and sword-fights in my wild imagination! The highlight of the day for the kids was the picnic we had by the park overlooking the castle. Our very first picnic in Osaka and we gorged on the fresh and juicy strawberries and melons that we had purchased from a street vendor during our hike up the castle path.

What is Osaka without a bout of shopping at the famed Shinsaibashi street shopping arcade?

This was our itinerary on Day 2 and with Kylash on my hip and Kirtu holding my hand, we meandered through the myriads of shops that sold everything from kitchen ware, fridge magnets, Anime character soft toys, Takoyaki (deep fried squid balls), Okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes), clothes and kimonos to paper fans and so much more. We bought interesting souvenirs for ourselves, friends and family, and had some delicious tidbits along our way.

That weekend, as hubby was also free, we took the train to the famed Kaiyukan Aquarium which houses a 12-meter whale shark. The aquarium itself is a huge tank that extends from the 1st to the 4th floor and houses thousands of species of sea creatures in 10 000 over tonnes of seawater within their tanks. Just beside the aquarium is the Tempozan Giant Wheel and despite my fear of heights, I got onto it with my excited children and a somewhat anxious husband. The view, of course, was beyond spectacular. I even nursed little Kylash at the highest point of the wheel since all that excitement had made him tired and ravenous!

On Sunday, we hit the market. Though there are many produce shops close to our apartment, with even the 7-Eleven outlets there selling packed chicken and fresh vegetables, we wanted to visit the famous Kuromon Ichiba Market which was dubbed Osaka’s Kitchen. I can only say that the market did not disappoint. Apart from sampling cooked food of various kinds at each stall in the market, we watched fascinating aspects of the market such as the fishmongers cleaning sea urchins, skewering baby octopus and selling albino strawberries, There was also a pre-loved Disney toy store, where the children went a little berserk, as they always do when they see Mickey and Minnie!

As days go on in Osaka, we do tourist things like visiting the Umeda Sky Building, Namba Shrine, Tennoji Zoo, Hankyu Building an Daiso Megastore. We also try our best to soak in the culture and emulate the delicate and polite ways of the Japanese who are always gentle, soft spoken, helpful and kind, even to complete strangers like my family and I. We go on numerous picnics and I allow my children to run and romp with other children or young toddlers on school excursions in the parks we visit. We play bubbles by the sidewalk and greet those who pass us by with cheery smiles.

The kids, especially my 3-year-old daughter is in awe of the place and does not want to leave!

For those parents visiting Osaka with young children, do make it a point to visit the Kids Plaza Osaka at Kita District. It is a 5-storey fantastical premise dedicated solely for children and houses science experiments, technology games, adventure, pretend play props, arts and crafts, sport and dress up activities that would entertain children and keep them happy the whole day. There is even a extravagant-ish castle within the premise that boasts a built-in slide and a maze for children to explore. Needless to say, my kids and I were regular visitors there, having already been there three times since we came to Osaka!

If I had my doubts that Japan is amazing, then these doubts have been quelled. The Land of the Rising Sun, I realise now, is also the Land of Beautiful People and Culture.