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Tokoyaki (たこ焼き or 蛸焼 or also known as Octopus balls) is a popular snack in Osaka. Takoyaki is has wheat flour batter, most of the time it is filled with octopus, tempura flakes (little crisps) and pickled ginger. It is then put into a special mould which turn them into the crunchy little balls, topped with worcestershire sauce (a sweet sauce similar to BBQ sauce), ginger and gereen laver orseaweed flakes.

A popular shop in Osaka where you can buy this snack is Kukuru Dotonbori Honten. (Fun places to go Around Kukuru Dotonbori Honten have more details)

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Japan has a few different kinds of including:

Shinto (70.5%)

Buddhism (67.2%)

Christianity (1.5%)

Other (5.9%)

Shinto is the religion which came from Japan. Shinto shrines stands for the worship of 'Kami'. Nearly every town in Japan has a shrine. Most of them worship Mount fuji and princess Konohanasakuya

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Mochi is a chewy Japanese rice cake which is originally from China. Mochi is made out of short grain japonica glutinous rice, water, sugar, cornstarch. It is similar to another snack called dango.

Mochi can have a huge variety of flavours the picture on top is a red bean, green tea mochi, there can be other mochi flavours like strawberry, mango...

Mochi is eaten on Japanese New Year

A popular shop for Mochi is nakatanidou, as it still uses the old classic highspeed mochi pounding way which uses wooden mallets and a wooden bowl like thing, this makes the mochi softer and spread out more. They will make the green tea flavoured mochi then add red bean paste then cover it in domestic soybean flour. Mitsuo Nakatani is the shop owner of nakatanidou, he is the fastest mochi pounder in Japan. This job is very dangerous because one mistake then he will have a chance of losing his finger. This shop is at the west of Nara Park.

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Wikipedia Contributors. (2024, February 29). Takoyaki. Retrieved March 7, 2024, from Wikipedia website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takoyaki

Osaka Travel | Best of Osaka | Travel Japan | JNTO. (2024). Retrieved March 7, 2024, from Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) website: https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kansai/osaka/

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Kukuru Dotonbori Honten in Osaka is one of the most popular Takoyaki shop in Dotonbori. There are lots of attractions around Dotonbori as it is known as the bright heart of Osaka, for example there is a boat cruise on the Dotonbori Canal, the famous 20 meter tall Gilco Running Man, and lots of shops around the area.

Dontonbori can be easily accessed by Nankai Electric Railway, Nankai Main Line, Nankai Koya Line, Osaka Metro, Midōsuji Line, Sennichimae Line and Yotsubashi Line, these lines will reach to Namba station which is 4 minutes away if you walk there by foot.

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Wikipedia Contributors. (2023, May 5). Namba Station. Retrieved March 8, 2024, from Wikipedia website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namba_Station

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Dotonbori Area: The Bright Heart of Osaka – Osaka Station. (2014). Retrieved March 8, 2024, from Osakastation.com website: https://www.osakastation.com/dotonbori-area-the-bright-heart-of-osaka/

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Ramen is one of Japan most popular meal, ramen's origin starts from China (The wheat noodle part). There are different soup /broth for ramen - Miso, Soy sauce and tonkotsu (pork bone broth). It depends on where you are at.

I chose one of the most popular ramen - tonkotsu soup ramen ((豚骨ラーメン), as it is originally from fukuokoa. The Tonkotsu soup ramen includes, wheat noodle, salt, water, tonkotsu soup and other ingredients to add on the top like a pueces seaweed (nori), one to three slices chasiu (roast pork fillet), Negi (green onion), akana-zuke (Pickled and seasoned mustard leaves), Seasoned, half boiled egg,(soy sauce egg),

Ramen is an important food in WW2 as it is eaten when everyone was starving in Japan.

A popular shop is called Ichiran, it is known as the perfect shop for introverts as you will not have to talk to anyone in the process. For your order, they will hand you a order form, it is in Japanese, English, Korean and Chinese. In the order form, they will include the noodle's tenderness, spice (they have their own spicy sauce), richness, flavour, cha siu(roast pork fillet), garlic and negi (green onion). It is also possible to add side orders like the egg. Ichiran is the most popular ramen shop in Japan. It is even in Hong Kong, but it is very expensive here.

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Monjayaki (もんじゃ焼き or Monja) is a popular dish from the Kanto region. It is vey similar to its cousin Okonomiyaki from Kansai, both being a savoury pancake. Their ingredients are very similar which includes chopped cabbage, flour, egg, pork, shrimp and octopus, dashi and the batter. After that it will be poured into a grill, so the side with turn crispy .

Their differences is that Monjayaki has more dashi or water than Okonomiyaki so the texture inside is like melted cheese

There is a shop named Monjayaki Masuda-tei in Shibuya. Shibuya is a popular place in Tokyo as it is famous for Shibuya Sky and Shibuya crossing (5 crossings and lots of people). It is also more popular now because of the animate Jujutsu Kaisen Shibuya Arc (Art)

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About Us | ICHIRAN. (2024). Retrieved March 13, 2024, from ICHIRAN Official Site website: https://www.ichiranusa.com/about/

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Wikipedia Contributors. (2024, January 27). Mochi. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from Wikipedia website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochi

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Wikipedia Contributors. (2024, March 12). Ramen. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from Wikipedia website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramen

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Wikipedia Contributors. (2023, June 2). Monjayaki. Retrieved March 13, 2024, from Wikipedia website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monjayaki

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Tokyo | Kanto | Destinations | Travel Japan - Japan National Tourism Organization (Official Site). (2024). Retrieved March 13, 2024, from Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) website: https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kanto/tokyo/

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Great Big Story. (2016). Pounding Mochi With the Fastest Mochi Maker in Japan [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmSrULDVRPc

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NAKATANIDOU｜Looking for Nara souvenirs, try our fresh yomogi mochi, pounded at high speed. (2024). Retrieved March 13, 2024, from Nakatanidou.jp website: http://www.nakatanidou.jp/english/

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Hozenji Temple 法善寺 is a Buddhism temple in Hozenji is in the middle of Donotobori one of the bussiest place in Osaka they manage to keep the old Japan there. This temple is built in 1637, and is homeage to Fudo Myoo, one of five guardians of Buddhism, with the Hozenji Temple, we will be able to look into Osaka's past at Hozenji Yokocho.

Hozenji Temple is also famous for their Fudo Myoo statue which is also known as Mizukake Fudo, then you should splash it with water as it is said to bring you good luck.

After the temple visit, you can visit the Hozenji Yokocho, which is a narrow alley which includes lots of traditional Japanese street food.

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‌Japan National Tourism Organization. (2024). Hozenji Temple | Travel Japan - Japan National Tourism Organization (Official Site). Retrieved March 13, 2024, from Travel Japan website: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1109/

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Kyushu - Fukukoka - Sannoji Wind Bell Festival/ Tanukiji Temple

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Kyushu - Fukukoka - Sannoji Wind Bell Festival/ Tanukiji Temple

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The Sannoji Wind Bell Festival is one of the most popular festival in Japan and it is held in Tanukiji Temple.This festival is during early May - late September/ early October .Sannoji Temple is known as the 88 sacred places in Sasaguri Shikoku, it is also called "Tanukidera" because of the cute tanuki (racoon dog ) decorations there.

The Sannoji Wind Bell Festival is originated from Buddhism, the wind chimes are symbols of luck and prosperity. The wind bell festival held every year from May to early October. The temple are decorated by lots of colourful wind chimes decorated by the temple with different wishes on it. They also make beautiful sounds/ chimes. Visitors will be able to go to the temple and write their own wish and decorate it in the temple.

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Todaji temple is a Buddhism temple. Nara includes the most important temples in Japan as each time there is a new emperor, the capital will move. Until the year 710, Heigo (Nara) was set as Japan's first permanent capital, and during the time Buddhism was the most popular religion, which results in lots of important Buddhism temples in Nara. For this temple, the people age between 6-12 years old will have an entry fee of ¥300, for people 13 or above it will be ¥600.

This temple is made in the year 728, and has a long history of 1200 years. Inside there will be a huge statue of Buddha. Toward the back pillar, there is a hole which is the same size as the Buddha statue's nostrils, and it said to bring good luck for people who passes through it

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japan-guide.com. (2019). Top 5 Things to do in Nara | japan-guide.com [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbz3E1INyVw

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SAMURAI JUNJIRO Channel. (2023). Nara Japan Street Food / Things to do in Nara (Deer Park, Mochi) Travel Vlog [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loN2iBxKmpY

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Anime (Japanese cartoon/ animation) is one of the most popular aspect of Japan. In Osaka, Den Den Town (short for Denki no Machi or Electric Town) is known as the anime street due to the amount of manga (anime books), anime merchandise (figure, keychain, badges...), claw machine (for anime things/ dolls), games/ card stores (Pokemon, mario...), a bit of art supplies (for making figure) and Cosplay (costume, wig, contact lenses...)

Some of the most popular store in Den Den Town is

Animate Nipponbashi - The Animate store is a chain anime store throughout Japan, the one in Den Den Town is one of the biggest in Japan. There is a anime cafe in the same building, which always colab with other anime. This store is also quite affordable.

Gee! STORE - an anime store with lots of high quality anime merchandise.

Bandai Namco - Bandai Namco is known for its anime figure and arcade.

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Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine (Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Jinja) , Japan - What To Know BEFORE You Go | Viator. (2024). Retrieved March 16, 2024, from Viator.com website: https://www.viator.com/en-MY/Japan-attractions/Kawaguchi-Sengen-Shrine/overview/d16-a21908

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teamLab is an interactive art museum expressed in a digital way. It lets people be creative and discover things around them. In the teamLab Forest in Fukukoka. There are two sections:

The Catching and Collecting Forest - the creators of teamlabs says that "For humanity catching and gathering are fun, educational, and part of life." They believe that we should study our own interest individually instead of focuses on teaching.

In teamsLab's Catching and Collecting Forest, you will be able to capture creatures around the forest and collect them on your phone.

The other part is called The Athletic Forest is a creative physical space, in this space, it helps with growth in the hippocampus of the brain (for memory). It also means knowing and understanding the world with your body body and thinking of the world three-dimensionally which stands for physically challenging, three-dimensional space and involving you to an interactive world.

In teamLab's Athletic Forest, There are the following 8 activities:

Graffiti Nature in a Beating Valley - Symbiotic Lives is a place where three-dimensional terrain that shifts visually, In there you can draw on a paper it could be a salamander > snakes > frog > butterfly. The creatures you draw will be projected and will multiply if they eat other animals, but they will die if they don't eat enough or eaten by other creatures.

You will be able to enter the Rapidly Rotating Bouncing Spheres in the Caterpillar House, where you will be able to jump on the spheres and bright colours will pop.

There is also the Soft Terrain in Granular Topography where there is a three-dimensional slope with lights beaming on it. Balance Stepping Stones in the Invisible World

There is also the Balance Stepping Stones in the Invisible World, where people will be able to step on soft cubes, a balancing beam or a few broken up balancing beam. They will change the glowing colour of it and make an interesting noises when ever you walk by it.

The Waterfall Droplets, Little Drops Cause Large Movement is where lots of little droplets will fall and follow the terrain. When people uses their body to touch the droplets, they will separate and bounce like balls.

Animals of Flowers is where there will be animals made out of flowers, depending which season you go there, the flower will be different but they die when people touches them.

Typhoon Balls and Weightless Forest of Resonating Life - 9 Blurred Colors and 3 Base Colors is a place with giant light balls, you will be able to blend the 3 based colour balls into 9 blended colour balls.

Flutter of Butterflies, Ephemeral Life is a wall full of butterflies is similar with the animals of flowers, where their colour change depending on the season and dies when people touches them. But when there is no one in the room of Flutter or Butterflies, it will be pitch black and empty. When someone enters, their feet will make the butterflies born.

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written by Chris Rowthorn. (2024, January 22). Den-Den Town Guide. Retrieved March 17, 2024, from Inside Osaka website: https://insideosaka.com/den-den-town-guide/

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Top 5 Anime & Manga Stores in Osaka (Den Den Town) | OTAKU IN TOKYO. (2021). Retrieved March 17, 2024, from Japantour.xyz website: https://japantour.xyz/2021/08/24/anime-manga-stores-osaka/#1--what-is-den-den-town-in-osaka-

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The Nara Kingyo Museum is one of the biggest goldfish museum, it displays about 3000 goldfish in a cut-edge way. Cut edge way is an art style where people design by using projection to map, flowers, a terrarium, and mirror balls.

The Kingyo Museum is created by multiple artists using projection mapping, lighting, stained glass and mirrors to give a unique style to the fish swimming around it.

Japanese Aquarium DISCO is the area where there are a traditional Japanese setting, with a mirror ball and goldfish.There is also the world’s first diamond cutting technology in the room, this way everything in that room is shiny and glamorous.

AQUAOASIS is the healing fantasy of this goldfish exhibit, with goldfish swimming in a nice colourful background by projection mapping images such as water, forests...

JAPONE Trial is where the make a view similar to Oiran Dochu (it is like ancient Japan), combined with all four seasons, goldfish, Japanese styled art and Japanese umbrella welcoming you to the area.

Trick Art is the area where it is interactive and perfect for photos, because in here, you will be able to scoop up some gold fish and ride on them!

Human Aquarium is where you will experienced what a gold fish sees, with everything about 10 times bigger! It is the only one in Japan too!

Infinite Goldfish is a trick they used to have different colours light diverse together. This lets people know that different colours can make its own aesthetic.

500 Goldfish is where there are goldfish lanterns made from Yanai City, Yamaguchi. This project is collabed between lots of different artist. This artwork is made during COVID 19, as a wish to link emotional bonds for the whole of Japan.

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teamLab Forest Fukuoka - SBI SECURITIES Co., Ltd., Fukuoka. (2020). Retrieved March 17, 2024, from teamLab Forest Fukuoka - SBI SECURITIES Co., Ltd., Fukuoka | teamLab website: https://www.teamlab.art/e/forest/#

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Enjoy the Nara Kingyo Museum at M!Nara! | The Largest-class Goldfish Entertainment in Japan. (2018). Retrieved March 17, 2024, from Enjoy the Nara Kingyo Museum at M!Nara! | The Largest-class Goldfish Entertainment in Japan. website: https://mina-ra-fan.com/mk0001/english/

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Go to the neighbouring city of Tokyo! - Yokahama (It takes about an hour) to visit the Gundam Factory Yokahama! The entry fee to visit this place is (7 to 12 years old) 1,100 yen (13 years old and above)1,650 yen. There is a record breaking moving gundam and is the only one in Japan! There is a cafe, a merchandise shop and an academy (to see how they work and built it).

Its last day is March 31 before replacing with a new gundam, so if you want to go there!

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Nara park is a must visit place in Nara, as the Todaji temple is in it. There are over 1100 deers, they are really friendly to people, so you can approach them. We recommend you to buy the 200 yen deer snack to feed them PLS DONT FEED THEM ANYTHING ELSE. You can also bow to them (They will bow back).

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Nara Park - Official Nara Travel Guide. (2024). Retrieved March 19, 2024, from Official Nara Travel Guide website: https://www.visitnara.jp/destinations/area/nara-park/

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The Akura Sengen Shrines is one of the most viral and popular place in Japan because of the amazing view of mount fuji that can be seen. The Akura Sengen is located at the at the foot of Mount Fuji. It is made for the goddess Konohanasakuya, who is believed to be the goddess of Mount Fuj.

Akura Sengen Shrine's entrance of Akura Sengen has a red torii, symbolising that the Akura Sengen Shrine is a shinto temple. There are cedar trees over 1,000 year old , they were believed that they can protect the temple. Behind it is a hiking trail up Mount Fuji.

Recommended times to visit this temple for people who wants to view/ see Mount Fuji: March - April This is when there are sakura/ cherry blossom in Japan creating a pastel pink atmosphere around Mount Fuji, there is also high chance of snow on the mountain.

May - August This time is not recommended to visit Mount Fuji because the clouds from typhoons and rain will block the mountain. Also all the snow will have melted at the time. But it will be interesting to visit during late August because of Yoshida Fire Festival (Yoshida no Himatsuri) where there will be bonfires

September - October This is when there are red/yellow/golden shaded leaves in Japan creating an orangey atmosphere around Mount Fuji, there is also high chance of snow on the mountain.

November - February This is when there is snow everywhere in Japan creating a white atmosphere around Mount Fuji. And there will be lots of snow on the mountain.