Kansai with Kouchan.

After going to Tokyo Disneyland earlier this year, I knew I had to experience the other side of Japanese theme parks, Universal. What better time to do this than during October, when all the cuteness was juxtaposed by zombies roaming the streets after 6pm. Since one side of Kohei’s family lives in nearby Kishiwada, this trip really did kill two birds with one stone (with me being one of the birds absolutely flapping about meeting the fam).

USJ was more than I could have expected, especially after visiting Universal in America so many times. The atmosphere is really amplified with everyone dressing in costumes just like they do at Disney, so of course I jumped on the bandwagon. I have to say I was pretty impressed with our DIY Cookie Monster and cookie costumes, which so many people complemented and I made the night before our trip. I’ve got no idea where this wave of artistic talent has come from, but I’m praying it lasts until Halloween so I don’t look like a complete knob in my planned outfit.

Being the big child I am I was more interested in the whole Minion aspect more than anything else, and was thrilled to find even the minion meat buns were Halloween themed too. Who needs to go to Harry Potter and battle the crowds when you can see hundreds of cute kids running around dressed like Minions.

In Osaka we made a quick visit to a reptile café, which had so many it was hard to choose which one to hold. All I wanted was to hold a chameleon, but guess whose day off it was. Despite being a little bitter about that (come on, have you seen how cute a chameleons hands are?) I got to hold this thing. I don’t even know what animal it is, but oh my god I need one.

On the Sunday, Kohei and I ventured into Kyoto to visit a pug café which was frankly the most relaxing experience of my life. The puppies were even wearing nappies and I think Kohei’s developed a new found love for small dogs. That being said, no pug can replace Mimi Hattori in my life, even if little Yuzu-chan in her nappy came close.

Meeting Kohei’s family and friends was super overwhelming at times, especially with me being sick combined with their Osaka-ben Japanese, but overall I think it went well. I got gifted so much omiyage for my return, a bunch of oranges from Wakayama prefecture where his dad visited during our trip, and his auntie even messages me on LINE now. 

Despite scaring his step-sister into oblivion when she woke up to see me in the kitchen, I think I made an impression on the little 2 year old munchkin. We’re going to be best friends when I see her again, especially after I taught her how to make animal noises in English and she taught me to “nyan nyan” like a cat.