We had a free day today, and despite yesterday’s exhaustion, I thought it would be cool to venture into Osaka with one of my group friends, Fabian. Our mission? To savor the famous fluffy cheesecake from Rikuro’s, a treat exclusive to Osaka. We had seen this thing all over the internet before, and were so excited to see how it tasted!

Before we got there though, we spent some time strolling through the streets of Dotonbori. It felt like Times Square with its crazy billboards and massive, over-the-top displays. A bunch of high class stores, crazy displays, neon signs, it was crazy! My favorite sights included a golden phoenix statue elegantly displayed in a store window, an intriguing watch sign, a mammoth fist sculpture with a golden “2025”, and an ultra-modern building with a peanut-shaped indentation which (quite randomly) housed a rock climbing wall! Just when you thought you’ve seen it all, man.

Our wanderings took us to the bustling Ebisubashi-suji shopping district. Despite it being so early, it was a whirlwind of activity, from colossal stores filled with an assortment of items – claw machines, appliances, and more food than you could ever eat – to the tranquil temple nestled amidst the urban hustle and bustle.

When we finally reached Rikuro’s, we found ourselves just late enough to miss out on the opening of the sit down cafe (despite being 15 minutes early, the queue was just too long. Waiting another hour wasn’t really an option, so we opted to grab a hot cheesecake and an apple pie for the walk back. My verdict? Absolute heaven! The cheesecake was more eggy than I had anticipated, but delicious all the same.

I decided to round out our trip with a visit to the Osaka Pokemon Center, perched on the 13th floor of a towering building near Osaka Station. Still no luck with finding a Gengar plushie, but I did snag some nifty Snorlax chopsticks. Fabian decided to stay behind, since the Monster Hunter store was on the same floor.

After a bit of confusion finding my way back to the correct train station (Osaka’s transit system is a whole beast unto itself), I boarded the Shinkansen back to Kyoto. It was a wonderful day of exploring, but I was exhausted by the time we got back. Before boarding, I wanted to try something I always saw: Station Bento! Was really good, would definitely have it again! Finally getting to experience that was unforgettable.

But the day wasn’t over yet. Following a brief rest at the hotel, we joined the others and headed over to KCG’s brand-new building. The fresh scent of construction materials still hung in the air, and the classrooms were seriously impressive. You could write on the walls, there were cameras to make online classes more interactive, and the whole vibe was just very modern and efficient.

We even got a peek at the staff area and the roof, which offered an amazing panoramic view of Kyoto. Seeing the mountains in the distance, framed by the skyline, was simply awesome!

Finally, after another busy day, it was time to crash. I headed back to my hotel room and fell asleep immediately yet again.