Please note this is the original submission I sent Refinery29. In the current post,they have given me a second credit card with a 100$ balance, as well as generational trauma from World War II and cut context for other things. I am trying to get that fixed.
Per previous discussion in comments here: The espresso machine is a Bezzera, which ranges from 2-5K. We got ours on sale for 1.7K, it’s a work house and we use it everyday, still hurts that we spent that money on a coffee maker.
I do understand mortgage is debt but when you compare it to rent to a lesser value condo in Vancouver it feels like not debt at all, which is how I tend to think of it. Yes I owe my mortgage but also I get my house instead of renting-which may not have become clear.
Please see in full the diary, below (edit for formatting via mobile)
Occupation: Sr Business Analyst
Industry: Tech
Age: 30
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
Salary: 92,000$ (Spouse makes 60,000$ for a combined income of 152,000$ before tax)
Net Worth: ~ 1.2 Million ( house is valued at 989,000$ currently, we have a combined 150,000 in pension, and ~60,000 in various company stocks, and GICs)
Debt: 3,000$ in a zero interest credit card for a 10 month period. We balanced transferred and pay 400$/month. Debt was acquired in Q4 2023 when we had to buy Snow Tires, and do a full break replacement as well as Christmas. 480,000$ in a mortgage, we refinanced in September 2023 for five years fixed rate at accelerated biweekly, however I don’t consider our mortgage debt due to the equity we are gaining, and that our mortgage for a five bedroom, 3 bath single family home is less than rent for a two bedroom condo in Vancouver
Paycheck Amount (Every 2 Weeks): 2,555$ after taxes. (Just mine). Spouse makes 2,308$ after taxes. Our pay periods are alternating.
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses Mortgage: 1450$ biweekly (100$ extra to the principal).
Utilities: ~200$ (includes water [paid quarterly], hydro [paid bimonthly], gas, sewetrash [paid quarterly] phone [highly discounted due to work plans for spouse and myself] and car gas) Loan Payments: 400$/Credit Card
Car Insurance: 84$
Life Insurance: 167$ combined (67$ me, 100$ spouse)
Health & Dental Insurance: 60$ deducted from pay (coverage for myself and spouse from my employer. Spouse also has coverage for both of us deducted from pay)
Retirement Contribution: 400$ (Employee matches me), (Spouse has a defined pension through work and contributes ~200$ month)
Union fees: 70$ Spouse
Subscriptions: Crave 22$/month (Recent splurge for Binge watching the Rookie), Playstation Plus 100$ (annual bought on Black Friday Deal), Amazon Prime 80$ (Annual), BCAA 120$ (annual) Gym 30$/month (we both have one so 15$/pp)
Note: My spouse and I have completely commingled finances. I will be tracking both as it’s essentially I spent whatever they spent
Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
There was always the expectation. My father was very clear, we were very smart. There was no way we’d be wasting our potential. He wanted me to be a lawyer, but unlike other immigrant parents, I got to choose my major and went into social sciences and got my masters in history. I deferred my PhD too much so I got dropped by the program.
I chose my university by where I got a full first year scholarship and then after that took about 15k in student loans for my undergraduate. My parents paid my rent and I got a part time job for food.
For my masters, I had a student line of credit and 5 k student loans otherwise it was all my savings and scholarships. With the line of credit, I had a total of 30K in student loans and paid it off in about four years.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s)/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
Save. We talked about how you get a dollar allowance and half of it goes into long term saving with 25% in short term and 25% in spend.
Investing came after I was eighteen. Family would like us to invest in property, however I don’t really want to be a landlord, but also we wouldn’t get to really enjoy profit of owning a rental property due to other family circumstances.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
Ice cream parlour I was twelve and my parents made me get it for responsibility. I lasted three weeks because I hated it.
Did you worry about money growing up?
I grew up thinking we were not rich, because we didn’t get big plane vacations (I didn’t count flying from Toronto to Vancouver every summer as a vacation since we were just seeing family but staying in a house my parents owned) and I had only been to Disney twice.
But we had a big new build house in the rich end of town, my mom stayed home to raise all of us. We had to work for things (like going to see a movie opening night or a new CD) but we always had money and got what we wanted. In retrospect, my family was/is fairly well off.
Both my parents grew up poor, with parents working multiple jobs and different shifts to make ends meet, the strive/drive to not have that childhood, and for my father to be able to retire his parents really impacted mine and my siblings and cousins lives. My father showed me the apartment he grew up in Chinatown a few years back. It’s light years away from the house my grandparents owned when I was a kid and how I grew up.
Do you worry about money now?
Of course. Inflation is real and we are actively planning a wedding for the next year, as well as a baby in the next few years. We also need to buy a second car, so we’re saving for that.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
Fully financially responsible? Twenty five. I lived in a family property where I didn’t pay rent in one of the most expensive cities in Canada, so even though I paid all my bills (food and phone), I didn’t have to pay rent. I in fact made money, as I rented rooms out and used the income for house utilities, and paying my student loans down faster. When I moved in with my spouse, I just paid condo fees until we bought our house two years ago which gave me plenty of time to save.
Our financial safety net is family, and our savings. I know my family would bail us out. My spouse’s father would as well. Conversely, we are my spouse’s mother's safety net and we have to keep all our plans in mind that we will be subsidising her.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain. Yes, I received 50K from my parents once they sold my childhood home, as did both of my siblings. I have also received 10K from one set of grandparents which paid off my car and part of my student loans when I was 21. I will be receiving another inheritance when probate is done for around ~100K. My spouse also has received inheritance which allowed them to buy their first condo in their early twenties when the market was much better. That condo, 50k, and the subsequent upgrading helped us afford our house.
Day 1
10 AM: I drive to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. Not how I want to start my Sunday morning but y’know. Normally I’d walk since it’s about 20 minutes but I have a UTI. I’m “lucky” that despite not having a dr because of the health care shortage, my work pays for the Maple app so I could get a dr to write the prescription and order the lab work at 1 am. I’ll do the lab work later this week when I can get an appointment but will take the relief now. Insurance makes the antibiotics free, but I also buy hydrogen peroxide because we’re out and we have a dog that thinks everything is meant to be in her mouth. We’ll buy a bigger one at Costco later. I also bought some oral wound mouthwash because we were out. I come home and my spouse made us breakfast.
Total: 15.90$ paid with debit.
1-2:30 PM: We do our taxes. I have a mini meltdown when I realize the part time bakery job I had for a few months didn’t take off income tax last year, so I owe 800$. Luckily, my partner is getting a refund so we net out positive 400$. The bakery took off income tax in 2022, so unsure why they didn’t in 2023. I made us lunch.
3-6:30 PM: We walk the dog, and watch the Rookie. Some time during that time period, a venue emails us back and is surprisingly affordable at 3k. I also get told that the tattoo artist I want to book with, has not chosen me.
6:30-7:30 PM: I explain what lazy girl dinner is to my spouse and make a lazy girl dinner. After not really grocery shopping since Feb for things besides fresh veg, we need to do a big pantry shop and neither of us want that. We debate about buying a food saver and if we should wait for a sale. My spouse is more frugal than me and has determined we should.
8-9:30 PM: We start season 3 of The Rookie, and then after two episodes we go to bed
Day One Total: 15.90$
Day Two
5:45-8 AM: Wake up and start work. I get up to date with what’s happened on the weekend and check that my automated reports. Sometime before 6:30, I get the kettle on for my spouse’s pour over before I go back to my meetings. There’s a twenty minute gap where I get changed and do my skin care and brush my teeth. I’d love to be a skin care person but honestly I’ve spent too much money on product that I don’t use and that just goes bad. Washing my face and using sun screen is a win.
I also make sure that Spouse’s lunch is in his bag and I get our travel mugs ready. Before, we used to go to Starbucks every day. Starbucks used to do free refills on coffee and tea if you were a rewards member if you bought a coffee or tea so it would cost us $5/day (2.5/pp), and we could get refills all day. While that’s 20$/week, 80$/a month and yes, we could have saved it but back then, that 80$ wasn’t turning the dial anywhere significantly for us—a privileged view.
But now, after COVID where I stopped drinking tea after one day working from home having like 10 cups and thinking I was dying, and Spouse has bought a good grinder and we recently splurged on a stupidly expensive espresso machine we call his Engagement Espresso since it costs the same price as my stupidly expensive ring, we bring our coffees.
8-8:30 AM: We drive to work. Prior to buying our house, we were both work from home and lived in a city with amazing transit. We only needed the one car. Since buying the house and moving to a city where public transit is a joke (the one bus goes past our house every 1.5h), Spouse changed jobs and is in office every day and I have to go in 3 days a week. We need a second car or the e-bike rebate to come through. We debate this in the car, since I’m done at 1 pm, and Spouse works normal hours, I either have to take the bus home, or go to the gym for three hours. Today though, I drop Spouse off. I will pick him up later as he has a half day because of the dentist
8:30-12:30 AM/PM: Work. I find a tech manager and ask them to get me more triple a batteries. Work won’t provide or let me expense batteries for my mouse, despite them replacing my usb mouse with a battery one. The poor admin had to tell me the decision is that we’ll all supply our own batteries. Luckily the tech managers have to have batteries on hand and give them out freely.
I ask my boss how the work from home tax forms work, and he is going to find out.
I run more meetings and work on a request for a dashboard and a business case for a new feature that I have to convince leadership to spend money on.
12:30-1 PM: I drive back to my Spouse because he has a dentist appointment.
While I wait for a spouse, I am incredibly hungry. I’m usually not hungry/don’t eat a proper meal until around 1 in the afternoon and my two granola bars I already ate at the office. I go to the bakery by Spouse’s work and buy a cheese bun for me (3.65$), and an apple pie scone (2.55$) for Spouse as a snack. Spouse points out he won’t be able to eat until after his appointment.
Total: 6.20$ debit
1-1:30 PM: I drop Spouse off, and the car stops working. The engine won’t catch. I try multiple times and then run into the dentist to dramatically announce to Spouse and the receptionists that the car won’t start. Spouse asks me what he wants me to do about this, since he’s about to go into an appointment. A very kind receptionist tells me it might be the alternator. I don’t know what that is.
I go back to the car to Facetime my father. He also asks what I think he can do to help since he lives 3000 km away. Weirdly, and sexistly, I thought a man who grew up at race tracks, in a racing family, or the man who has collected and worked on sports cars for forty years might be able to help.
Spouse texts me to remind me we have BCAA while my father also tells me that. I finally get the engine to catch and drive the very long way home, going the speed limit and getting stuck in traffic, construction and a bus. It takes me 20 minutes to get home instead of 10.
1:30-2:30 PM: I walk the dog, mail a (late) birthday card and then start researching what an alternator is. The car is over a decade old and until the house, the most expensive thing I ever bought at 12K back in 2015. We have the funds for the cost, but it’s my first car and the fact it might be the end of its life is scary.
Alternators can cost between 400-800$ repair with labour, so that’s fun.
My dad calls me back and apologises for asking me what he could do away. He advises me that there’s probably a bald spot on the alternator and advises me to go to the mechanic to check or replace it, if the car doesn’t start again.
I call the mechanic to book an appointment, and to also get the snow tires off and to buy new rims for the snow tires. The mechanic lets me know that the alternator part is 500$, and an hour of labour so with taxes we’re looking at around 700$
That future appointment next week (we’re going down a highway this weekend which requires snow tires) will cost ~1.5K, assuming we replace the alternator.
I make lunch and sigh.
2:30 PM: The car starts thankfully. I drive incredibly slow. I pick up Spouse by idling the car. We get an email back from a venue saying they cost 75,000$ minimum. The timing is hysterical.
Due to the nature of the dentist, Spouse owes 618$, as they haven’t flipped it under my insurance. They split it in half, as he has a follow up in two weeks. After the next appointment they will flip the whole amount under me and we’ll get reimbursed for the whole amount.
Total 309$/credit card.
3-10 PM: We walk the dog, make dinner (Spouse makes white sauce pasta, with chicken and peas) and watch The Rookie. There are thirteen episodes in season three, and we will be busy every night this week besides Friday and Sunday, and I would like to finish season three so we can start season 4 next Monday. I don’t want to pay for more than one month of Crave. We have five episodes left
Day Two Total: 315.2$
Day Three
1 AM: 100$ is automatically transferred from our account to the credit card debit. We have an auto transfer of 100$/every Tuesday to a Visa where we balance transferred both our cards. We have an offer for 0 interest for 10 months, so we did that for some of the bigger expenses (snow tires, break replacement and general Christmas) and are on track to pay it back within the next 6 months. That visa is our emergency card that we just have in the back end and utilise for promos like this. It allows us to keep our two cards balances manageable and lets us pay in an easier way than taking big chunks out of our various savings.
Total: 100$/direct deposit
5:45-9 AM: Work. Meetings, reports, trying to convince a colleague that the process does include them and refusal to follow it means that their requests won’t be done. Spouse has another half day so I can go into the office at my leisure—if the car starts
9-9:20 AM: The car starts, I get into the office and refresh a data flow before a meeting with a new stake holder. It takes longer to drive into work today because the tourists are starting to come and their van builds or campers are not exactly highway speed and with a two lane highway, if you don’t merge over fast enough you’re stuck.
10:05-10:20 AM: Meeting done, car starts again and I drive home for more meetings. The least amount of time in the office is preferable for me.
10:30-11AM : Meeting with my manager where we discuss future salary and promotion. I am due for a promotion in the start of Q2, which would push me to six figures. I’ll believe it when I see it but, I’m really excited at that possibility for my family.
11:15 AM: Spouse leaves for work, we discuss what groceries are needed, as well if he’ll go to Home Depot tonight to buy more clover seeds for the yard, as we need to reseed before it starts raining. I eat a muffin and my dog and cat decide to try and eat each other.
11:15-1:30 PM: Work runs late. There’s some issues with the data and we can’t figure it out. We call it a night, and I’ll record the video presentations tomorrow, once we fix the data.
1:30-4 PM: Nap time! It’s bad for me, but honestly I don’t sleep well during the night so naps are what keep me alive.
4-6 PM I prep dinner (smash burgers and fries), and get chores done and walk the dog.
6-7:30 PM: Spouse comes home, we eat dinner. Groceries come to 96.83 for two 7 pound pork loins, two packs of bacon, chicken nuggets, coffee, pop, 8 pack of peppers, milk, tomato, pickles, rice, avocado, mushrooms, sour cream and lettuce.
Not too bad, we average about 300$/month in groceries because we can buy bulk and have a second freezer.
For the month of March we are currently at 123.61$ for groceries and there is twelve days left. We went on a small weekend away, so we ate out a fair bit but even then our current food budget is 272.27$ today.
Total: 96.83/ debit
7:30-10 PM: Spouse makes a coffee and plays video games with his friends. They do it every week. I have a shower, fold and put away laundry and read in bed.
Day Three Total: 196.83
Day Four
1AM: Our biweekly accelerated mortgage payment comes out of 1450$. I’m tracking it here to be honest on our spending but I tend not to think of it as money spent because in my head it’s already money gone. To pay for a house equivalent in Vancouver, the mortgage would be over 6k. Renting a two bedroom condo would be 3K. It feels like the mortgage is just cheaper rent, even though each time I own more of my house.
5:45-9 AM: Work. I find out the limits of how many people I can invite to a Teams Meeting as well as that the Thursday before Good Friday is a catholic holiday when a few people ask me to reschedule a training forum for over a thousand people. Sometime in there I make us coffee, make sure Spouse has lunch packed (leftovers). Spouse has walked the dog and has the recycling and compost out for pick up. I drop Spouse off at work.
10-11:45 AM: I leave the office for home and more meetings. I walk the dog and go record training videos. I get an email that Amazon is doing their big spring sale. I send a link to a robot mop and vaccum that’s on a big discount to Spouse. We want one, but I’m not in charge of the research on it. I send links to play grounds to my friends with toddlers
11:45-12:30 PM : I shove lunch in my mouth, last night’s left overs. I’m running late, and decide to get myself later by collecting all the random dishes and mugs that just show up places and start the dishwasher. I get to the lab ten minutes early but need to buy gas on the way home.
I tell my team I’ll be MIA for a bit and leave the work phone in the car.
I buy 15.6L of gas for 30$ at 1.879/l it sucks. I don’t fill up because we’re going to my in laws this weekend and there’s a Costco Gas Bar there.
Total: 30$/credit card
12:30-1:30 PM: Work goes long again.
1:30-2:30 PM: Nap!
2:30-4:30 PM: Walk the dog and drive to the gym. I usually go three times a week but with last week’s weekend away and this week’s weird half days from Spouse, today’s the only day. I make it up by doing both upper and lower body and a 30 minute circuit.
4:30-7:30 PM: I pick up Spouse and we go to Costco. We pick up nachos, ham, cheese buns and some other items. We debate buying our friend’s kid a toddler set of clothes and decide no. We end up buying work pants for Spouse, and a garden hose. It comes out to 116.90
I order our Costco dinner of hot dogs and fries for a grand total date night of 6.41$
Total: 123.31/ credit card
8-9 PM: Dance class! We bought a series of six lessons of introduction to ballroom back in December for a new date night idea. We paid 60$/pp and this is the fifth lesson tonight.
9 pm: We’re home, we let the dog out. Spouse spends an undetermined amount of time watching ballroom videos while I sleep.
Day Four Total: 1603.31$ or 153.31 excluding the mortgage payment.
Day Five
5:45-9 AM: Work. All the meetings. Thursday is the meeting day. I debate with a friend what’s the earliest call we’ve had. 4:30 am still wins. I pack lunch for Spouse and his coffee and he leaves. I end up cleaning up cat puke as the cat decides to drink milk from Spouse’s cereal and vomit it up on camera in a meeting.
9-9:30 AM: I make myself a matcha and walk the dog.
9:30-1 PM: Work and I treat myself to a lunch of a cheese bun and ham sandwhich. We used to eat it every Sunday while growing up but the cost of ham has been outrageous. The deal at Costco yesterday was 1.5$/100 g which is really good.
1-1:30 PM: I seal the wooden deer Christmas decoration we bought last year. It sits outside our front door and needs to be weather proofed, and I’ve been putting it off for five months. But the weather is good and we have newspapers. We have left over wood sealer after the sign we bought a year ago so I use that. The dog and the cat both don’t like my wooden deer.
1:30-4 PM: Nap!
4-5 PM: I basically just watch youtube and drink a root beer. I have no energy.
5-6:30 PM: Spouse comes home, we walk the dog and I make dinner (Kraft Dinner and nuggets–I swear we eat veggies but today is not that day). We discuss the possibility of our dog at our wedding as a flower girl, and if she’ll be in a tutu or a cheongsam like me. I am now researching if they make dog cheongsams and if she can match us. The cat, despite all my heart wanting it, won’t physically be there because he will have an anxiety attack and probably die.
6:30-10:30 PM: Board game night! We go to a friend’s to repeat the same scenario we’ve lost two weeks in a row.
10:30-11 PM: I pack Spouse’s breakfast (oatmeal and frozen berries), lunch (spicy tuna and mayo) since he’s trying to go to the gym before work, and feed the animals before we go to bed.
Day Five Total: 0$
Day Six Friday
5:45-9 AM: Work. I have a deep focus block which means I can get the script for the training I have to run. Public speaking is not my strong suit and it’s a group of a thousand people so I’m not looking forward to it. Spouse almost makes it to the gym. I get an email that my new work phone has shipped. I’m surprised because they wouldn’t order us any for the past four years, but I guess my new iPhone will show up next week. I might give my old work phone to my mother in law, since she smashed the camera on the phone we bought her last year.
9-9:30 AM: I walk the dog, make a matcha and make a todo list for what we have to get done before we leave to my in laws tomorrow. I text my mother in law happy birthday, and hope that she got the card in time. She did.
9:30-11:30 AM: My last meeting for the week ends and I’m debating calling it a day so I can nap. Instead I make lunch (cheese bun and ham), text my other mother in law our plan for Saturday, and unload and reload the dishwasher and go back to work for at least another hour.
12:30-1 PM: I shower and do skin care
1-3 PM: Nap! Somewhere in this time FedEx comes and since I’m sleeping, we have to pick up on Monday. I’m not too sure what it is, I assume it’s our custom address stamp from Etsy because that’s the only thing I’ve bought recently but not too sure. I just realized in retrospect, this might be my new work phone.
3-5 PM: I prep dinner (nachos), unload the dishwasher, pack my overnight bag and confirm all our venue tours by email. I start a load of laundry and do a quick clean. I feel like this is not the best image of our diet. I swear we generally eat healthy but we both have been feeling really blah over the past two weeks so have been going for quick and easy over healthy and balanced. I do have three whole peppers and two whole avocados in the nachos though.
5-7 PM: Spouse comes home, we walk the dog, have dinner, and plan out next week. We have a big Wednesday next week (mechanic, I have a nails appointment, dance class), and we are having our friends over for Easter so we need to prep for that. We pack the car so tomorrow is a very easy start.
Spouse also gets paid today. We’re lucky that we’re on alternating pay periods, we used to be on the same and it always felt stressful. Spouse also lets me know his union has secured a 3% cost of living raise to start in Q3. I really like his union for negotiating a base 2% year of cost of living raise, with potential addition raises depending on inflation. It’s a bit away but that’s still good news.
7:30-10:30 PM: We finish The Rookie Season 3 and head to bed. Crave reminds me that I have 10 days until I’m charged again. Sadly, I think we’ll have to pay for 2 months.
Day Six Total: 0
Day Seven Saturday
8:30-9:30 AM: Wake up. No one (except the dog) slept well so we’re not in a morning mood. Spouse makes coffee and walks the dog, while I finish packing the car and give the cat a lot of attention. Our first venue tour is at 11 and the one that is the most expensive (8-10K), but also the one we probably want the most. We live about an hour away but the highway is two lanes and one accident can back everything up for hours.
10:40-1 PM: We visit our dream venue. We stay way longer than expected. Basically if the quote is under 10K, we’ll get it. Just waiting now.
1-2 PM: We get to our in-laws and have a lunch of egg salad sandwhichs. We need to buy gas. My in laws drive us to a pottery painting store.
2-4 PM: We paint pottery. My mother in law only wanted to do this for her birthday. They’ll pick it up in a week after it’s been thrown. I paint a vase (28$), Spouse paints an Easter egg (18$), father in law paints a mug (30$), and mother in law paints a plate (50$)
Total:143.36/credit card
4-5 Pm: We see another venue. It’s an instant no. My in laws decide they want to try Korean fried chicken. We call ahead for take out to get two fries and 16 pieces of half and half. It comes to 50.83$ that my in laws pay for.
5-10 PM: We come back and see that our dog has pooped in their house and also has gotten into their pantry and eaten an entire bag of dog food. It is not a fun night.
We spend the night drinking wine and discussing the wedding and watching TV.
10PM: We go to bed. That’s the end of this week, but tomorrow we will be buying gas and probably lunch for my other mother in law as we will be touring another venue.
Day Seven Total: 143.36$

Finally got around sharing our wonderful experience in Kansai (1 Apr 2024 - 10 Apr 2024). We are a family of 4 from Perth, Australia (1 x Toddler turning 4 end of this month and 1 x Infant about 18 months old) joined by my MIL from Malaysia. It was our first time trip to Japan but the second time flying 6 hours long with 2 kids. We chose to travel during this period as it was during Easter holidays and also the most favourable weather for our kids. As we have 4 separate accommodations booked over 9 days, we try to travel as light as possible: 2 x large suitcase, 1 x medium suitcase, 2 x medium bags, 1 x bag pack, 1 x dedicated bag for infant carrier and kids' jumpers + 1 stroller. Our kids still take nap(s) during the day and our plan was having the toddler sleep on the stroller and the infant in the carrier or the stroller if toddler is not using.
After extensive research (mostly from this sub) we still found the first few days to be quite hectic and wish we know some of the things beforehand (listed below the itinerary). I hope this post can help young families who are considering travelling to Japan with kids or those who have travelled to Japan before kids came to the picture to do it again with confidence.

9 Day Itinerary (1 Apr 2024 - 10 Apr 2024)

Day 1 Osaka: Namba (Monday)
Our flight from KUL arrived KIX around 10am and boarded the Nankai Rapid (bought 1 month prior online) to Shin-Imamiya station after getting our luggage. We originally planned to take a taxi from there but failed to find any taxi for 20 mins so we end up walking to our accommodation as the kids were tired of waiting. After offloading our luggage we manage to hail a taxi and head to Namba Parks to rest and unwind. Had a refreshing lunch at Yasaiya Mei (mains + all you can eat side dishes including veg tempura) and went to explore the rooftop parks garden before putting the kids to nap. After the kids woke up we took a taxi back to check in officially. Everyone was quite tired thus we opted to stay in and get dinner from Life supermarket nearby. This was probably the most enjoyable part of the day for the kids wandering around a foreign supermarket as we bought dinner and some light snacks. After putting the kids to bed, we did some laundry and packed our 1st luggage to send away.
Day 2 Osaka: Tennoji (Tuesday)
While everyone was getting ready, I went to the nearby 7-Eleven to forward our 1st luggage to the 4th accommodation via Yamato transport. The shop attendant was helpful and guided me through the process as we communicated via deepL. We walked to the Lawson's at JR Imamiya to get brekkky before taking the Osaka loop Line to JR tennoji. We took quite a while to navigate towards Tennoji Zoo from JR Tennoji but eventually got there after a 15 min detour. It was quite crowded for a Tuesday morning but the kids get to roam around the Tenshiba garden while I queue up for tickets (500 yen per adult). One of the kids fell asleep in the zoo so we decided to just grab food to go at the supermarket outside the zoo for lunch. We then head towards Abeno Q's mall to shop and put the other kid to sleep. There was quite a lot of hot food along the way and we manage to grab some for the kids to snack on after their nap (butaman from Horai 555, mochi donut from Mister Donut, taiyaki etc). There's a fantastic area for kids to play (kid, play, study) at the ground floor with different sensory setup and soft blocks for stacking/ balancing. I spent close to 2 hours there with 2 kids while my wife and MIL went shopping. After that we had dinner at Grand Capital Toyoutei at the Kintetsu mall dining floor before heading to our final activity of the day: Abeno Harukas 300. Tickets were a bit steep (2000 yen per adult) but we end up staying there for quite a bit and the experience was pretty unique even though we missed the sunset timing. The elevator ride to the top though short left quite an impression. The kids enjoyed running around at the sky garden 2 floors below as we rest and enjoy the night view of the city from about 300m above ground. The journey back to our accommodation was pretty straightforward and the kids got knocked out when we got home. All in all Tennoji was a pleasantly great experience and we have a better understanding about JR station layout and navigating underground.
Day 3 Osaka - Kyoto (Wednesday)
This was a rather hectic day as it rained quite a bit and we struggled to get a taxi after checking out, getting turned down by several taxis with "空车". We eventually found one to bring us to JR Osaka station. Navigating at the station wasn't too difficult after yesterday but there were long queues when we arrived at 10am and I made the fatal mistake of leaving my physical credit card back in Perth and spent 45mins trying to redeem limited express tickets I reserved online. The JR staff were friendly and tried their best to help but they can only recommend me cancelling my initial reservation and buying new tickets (cancellation fee was about 2300 yen for 3 adults). As soon as we got our tickets we sprinted to the underground gate about 15 mins walk away. I even carried the stroller and kids through an escalator as we didn't want to waste time finding a lift and risk missing the train. We managed to board the limited express train on time and arrived at JR Kyoto which was even more crowded and larger than most international airports. The kids were quite cranky by now as it has been all rush and long waits since they woke up. I split up with my family with 2 luggage that we initially planned to forward to our Arashiyama accommodation via Sagawa. However I was told same day delivery service is only applicable to limited hotels so I stored the luggage at 2 coin lockers and then head to the Kintetsu line ticket counter to redeem the Kyoto-Nara and Nara-Osaka limited express tickets which fortunately doesn't require my credit card details (just reservation number). By the time I reunite with my family it was still raining and both kids fell asleep so we ditched the plan for Kyoto railway museum and instead went browsing for lunch at Porta and Isetan dining floor. We eventually queued to eat at Ejuan for about 25 minutes while one of the kid was still asleep. The wait was worthwhile as the grilled miso black cod was exceptional as was the kids' grilled chicken. Next we went to the skywalk at level 9 briefly before my family went to the toy section at Isetan while I retrieve our luggage from the coin lockers. We board the Saga line bound for Saga-Arashiyama and rested awhile at the accommodation before heading out for dinner after the rain stopped. We walked to Kijurou and fortunately they have space for us provided we order a main meal per adult. The yakiniku and Wagyu rib loin bowls were pretty good but we find the Hitsumabushi set a bit gimmicky. After dinner we stopped by Kimono Forest on our way back and this was probably the highlight of the kids day.
Day 4 Kyoto: Arashiyama (Thursday)
Had Lawson's for brekky before heading out to Kimono Rental Amuya to hired kimonos for my wife and toddler including hairstyling. The shop was actually a house with the living area turned into a studio and only the owner working by herself so we waited for about half an hour before walking towards the Bamboo Forest and Tenryu-ji gardens (500 yen entry from the north gate but well worth it for the blooming sakura and picturesque lake). It was crowded as expected and everyone was moving slowly so it took us about an hour to complete the loop back to the main tourist strip. We then had Udon for lunch at Ozuru, the chewy noodles were complemented by the broth which was a lot more flavourful than the kitsune Udon we are accustomed to back in Perth. After lunch we head home to put the kids to nap before venturing out in the evening towards Togetsukyo Bridge overlooking the pristine Katsura river flowing gracefully from Mt Arashi in the backdrop. The view was breathtaking and we crossed over to Arashiyama park where the kids had a great time running around free range. As the sun was setting, we head back to the town centre, took a novelty Randen ride and grab some food (Naruse's Unagi, Upit's Burger) en route to our accommodation to eat in before calling it a day.
Day 5 Kyoto (Friday)
After checking out we took the Saga line to JR Kyoto station and forwarded the medium sized luggage to the 4th accommodation in Osaka using Crosta. We then did some light shopping at Yodabashi Camera Kyoto as my MIL shoes had kick the bucket and we needed a replacement. Manage to sneak in the only ramen meal of the trip at Ramen Chabuton located upstairs. It was a fairly small shop but we were lucky to get a table just before the Friday lunch rush hour and our ramen cravings were thoroughly satiated. We put the kids down for a quick nap as we make our way back to JR Kyoto to take the Saga line towards Kyoto railway museum. This is an underrated attraction with so much to do and we could have spent the whole day here if I knew they had coin lockers. There were many interactive and educational displays relating to train components in addition to multiple play areas upstairs as well as an outdoor playground! There's also a mockup ticket gate for kids to learn how to purchase a ticket and pass through the gate. Our kids loved the ball pit, toy train area and large train simulator. We couldn't squeeze enough time to explore the 3rd floor or watch the diorama presentation or board the Steam Locomotive as it was getting late. We took a taxi to check-in at Kamoya Ryokan before taking the bus to Nishiki Market for dinner. It's about 6pm and most of the shops were shutting and the remaining ones that are open had queues building up quickly. We ended up waiting 30 mins to eat sushi at Sushi Say. There's a limited range of cooked food including skewers which we got for our kids while we share a nigiri platter and sashimi. After dinner we went to the basement of Daimaru Kyoto across the road to get some baked goods for brekky before taking the taxi home to crash.
Day 6 Kyoto (Saturday)
My MIL wanted to take it easy and explore the area at her own pace so we had a more spontaneous day. After brekky, we took the bus to Yasaka Shrine and started our trek towards Heian Jingu, stopping along the way to enjoy the blossoming park and munching on food from street vendors. We paid to enter the shrine garden (600 yen per adult) which was very worth it for a 30 minute stroll and escape from the bustling crowd outside. We grab some food to eat from the street vendors as one of the kid slept and then head to the playground across the road (Wagener Square) and spent a good 30 minutes there even though it was a bit basic (Perth is blessed with many great playgrounds). Once both kids are feeling refreshed we felt adventurous and took the bus to attempt the hike up Kiyomizu-dera. Since its a Saturday, the Sannenzaka path was packed with phenomenal crowds with the occasional car coming through and splitting the crowd apart. I carried the infant to sleep while my wife push our toddler on the stroller as we slowly make our way up, stopping by for a nice matcha latte and softserve at Here cafe to recharge. We eventually reached the base of the temple after 30 minutes and decided against entering due to the massive crowds (& stairs!). On the way down we reached the fork that branches into Ninenzaka and thought we try giving it a go. There were a lot more stairs over this side and we had to carry the stroller through the steps while waiting for the crowd to advance before us. As physically draining as it was, we felt a sense of achievement as we manage to snap a photo with the iconic Hokanji temple. We took the bus home after that and had an enjoyable dinner at Okonomiyaki Yoshino next door before an early night to recover.
Day 7 Kyoto - Nara - Osaka (Sunday)
We had some leftover food for brekky before checking out and heading to JR Kyoto via taxi. We head to the Kintetsu line and boarded the Vistacar limited express train to Nara. I've booked for the private room down stairs which was pretty spacious for the 5 of us and our luggage. After arriving at Kintetsu-Nara station, we took the 100 yen tourist bus to the famous Nara Deer Park and started exploring the area. There were plenty of deer roaming throughout/ resting on the ground and several vendors at the entrance selling deer crackers. After the kids were done feeding 2 sets of crackers, we head to Mizuya Chaya for lunch. There were limited seating so we sat by the side and ate with the bowl in our hands while feeding the kids. Probably the best Udon we had in our lives (level above Ozuru in Arashiyama and Hifumiya in Perth). Time for a nap so we put the kids down while making our way to have a closer look at Todaiji temple as there were too many stairs to Kasuga-taisha and we have yet to recover. We had our first Cremia here and it was amazing. After the kids woke up we took the bus back to Kintetsu-Nara station and explored the nearby street while waiting for our train. We then boarded the HINOTORI limited express bound for Osaka. While walking towards the hotel to check in, we were passing by Dotombori and opted to have a quick dinner and call it a day rather than coming out again after checking in and offloading our luggage. We ended up having curry at Hariju Dotombori Curry shop which taste d like a homely nourishing meal. After dinner we took the taxi to the hotel and fortunately our 2 other luggage that we forwarded days before are waiting for us to collect. Did some repacking and also laundry at a nearby laundromat before sleep.
Day 8 Osaka: Osaka Bay Area (Monday)
Started the day with brekky at MOS Burger just outside our hotel before taking the metro train to Osaka Bay Area. There were plenty to see as we approach the Kaiyukan, large LEGO animal displays, the large ferris wheel and Disney characters. The ticketing and entry time is staggered which is a good idea to control the amount of crowds going in and out. I started queueing at 1035am and got entry for 11am which was fair (opted not to book timeslot online as it can be unpredictable with kids and public transit) but we didn't felt like its a long wait as the kids were running around and enjoying the ocean view. The entry also have a photographer stationed to take a family polaroid with a whale shark replica for FREE. We were impressed with the aquarium's efficient layout where some prominent displays (Whale Shark, Seals etc) span across multiple floors so you can still enjoy them later on if you missed it earlier due to the crowds. Apart from sea creatures there are also Arctic mammals and birds (Puffins) from all over the world. The kids were over stimulated by lunch time so we head to the food court at Tempozan Market Place to refuel. After lunch we took the kids for a ferris wheel ride before putting both to sleep while we make our way to Shinsaibashisuji Shopping Street via metro line. As the kids were still asleep, I rested at Daimaru with my MIL while my wife went shopping. This turn out to be a fantastic place with a floor dedicated for kids (Pokemon centre, Pokemon cafe, BorneLund mini play area with many display toys available for sampling). The kids spent the rest of the day here after they woke up and we had dinner at the dining floor. There were queues everywhere and we chose to wait at Aozora Blue as they offer udon made with a higher wheat ratio here. Regrettably the kids didn't enjoy as much and prefer regular ones that we are used to. After dinner we took away cheescake from Rikuro for dessert back at our hotel. I made sure to online check in our flights before I go to bed.
Day 9 Osaka: Dotombori (Tuesday)
Our final day in Japan and we chose to do some shopping and take it easy. Tried Doutor Coffee for brekky (took a while to find as it was underground) before walking to Don Quijote at Dotombori. There's 6 floors crammed with various items: snacks, electronics, clothing, non prescription medication, toys, collectibles as well as a functional ferris wheel (operates after 2pm). That being said the kids got bored after awhile and didn't really enjoy much as there wasn't much space to move around. I brought them out to stroll around the Ebisu-bashi Bridge while my wife and MIL continue their haul. It was certainly a sight to behold: countless amount of large LCD screens with surround sound on full blast from every high rise building, street buskers vying for attention from crowds that were constantly on the move, tourists taking selfies in front of the iconic Glicoman. Sadly it started to drizzle so I quickly entered the Shinsaibashisuji Shopping Street undercover area and look for a place to have lunch. I stumbled across a Yoshinoya & Hanamaru joint food hall which was bustling with both locals and foreigners. You have to order and get your food from the counter before you can occupy a table so I waited for my wife and MIL to arrive before we start queueing up. We had the gyudon and beef Udon with onsen egg along with chicken karaage and tempura. There's also a condiment station with toppings to complement your udon as well as free tea and water. Everything was very affordable and best of all we didn't had to wait long. After lunch my wife continuing shopping while we head to Daimaru for the kids to have a nap and play afterwards. I noticed there's a bridge that connects each floor to the Parco next door and discovered a unique floor full of pop culture themed stores including a studio Ghibli store featuring Totoro and No-Face displays, a 2 ft tall Godzilla, Ultraman, Capcom superstore, Sanrio (Hello Kitty), Snoopy, Rilakkuma and also a LEGO store. The kids had a great time browsing and also playing with LEGO before my wife reunites with us. As it's nearing dinner time, I thought we try our luck getting a table at Ganko Dotombori and make our way towards Ebisu-bashi Bridge. The view here is even more spectacular at night with the contrasting lights as well as numerous LCD displays illuminating the area. Unfortunately there's a lengthy wait at Ganko and our party voted for street food instead which turn out surprising well. Kids devoured a dozen gyozas while we had takoyaki, kobe beef nigiri, yakitori and yakiniku skewers as we strolled along the street. It was still early so we made a detour towards Hozenji before walking back the hotel. Then we stumbled upon an arcade (Amuse Factory AXE) which naturally drawn the kids in, we got popcorn from a vending machine there and it was enough to keep the kids happy on our trek back. Before taking our last sleep in Japan, we organized our luggage and get them ready for check out the next day.
Day 10 Osaka: Sayonara (Wednesday)
Checked out of the hotel and took a private airport taxi to KIX. Had brekky at McD and Lawsons and surprised to find that the food here costs the same as outside (e.g. McD/ Hungry Jacks at Malaysian/ Australian airports cost more than the metro/ suburban outlets). Boarded the flight and bid Japan farewell for now while soaking in the surreal time we had.
List of accommodations for 3 adults and 1 child + 1 infant/ toddler
1. Orange House 701 (22,500 yen for 2 nights) 10/10
Location is not bad in a quiet area South of the bustling Dotombori area with Konbinis and JR Imamiya within walking distance. Washing machine, shower and stove took some time to figure out and my kid accidentally turned on the stove but luckily there's a safety button. Overall a brilliant accommodation at an affordable price and will consider returning if we come back to Osaka with kids.
2. Arashiyama bamboo guest house (55,650 yen for 2 nights + 1200 yen tax) 8/10
Prime location 1 min away from JR station, Lawson and walking distances to the local tourist strip, Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji and Togetsukyo Bridge. However the room is located on the 3rd floor with no lift so it can be a challenge for kids and older folk. The owner was kind enough to carry our 2 X 20kg luggage up and speaks a little English. The stay was rather comfortable even with futons to sleep on while my MIL slept on one of the single beds. We are unlikely returning to Arashiyama but would recommend this place if it suits your budget.
3. Kamoya Ryokan (35,400 yen for 2 nights + 2000 yen tax) 7.5/10
Not as central as the other accommodations but still within 10 mins walking distance to JR and bus lines. This is a shared accommodation so fridge, microwave and hot/ cold water is in the common area but we have a private bathroom to use. There are no beds so we all slept side by side on futons in the same room. For some reason kids are also taxed to stay a night here (200 yen) but the host was super friendly, spoke a bit of basic English and helped us with ordering a taxi when we checked out. For the price this is not a bad place for short term stay if cosleeping on futons together as a family is acceptable. Bonus: the okonomiyaki place next door is quite good albeit requiring a bit more effort to communicate but is worth it as plenty of locals seem to frequent there and our kids love the yakisoba.
4. Best Western Hotel Fino Osaka Shinsaibashi (40,450 yen for 3 nights) 8/10
Functional hotel relatively close to Shinsaibashi shopping street and Dotombori. 1 min walk away from Osaka metro station and 7 Eleven. There's also a 24 hour laundromat 5 mins walk away. Facilities are bare minimal but gets the job done as we only needed the place to crash and freshen up since there's a lot of shopping and remaining sightseeing to be done. All reception staff spoke English well and check in/ out was rather smooth. I would consider staying again if the rooms were larger but can't complain at this price point and location.
List of eateries we consider returning

• Yasaiya Mei
• Ejuan
• Kijurou
• Ozuru
• Upit's Burger
• Ramen Chabuton
• Okonomiyaki Yoshino
• Mizuya Chaya
• Yoshinoya & Hanamaru

Highlight of each day for the kids

1. Wandering around Life supermarket and exploring a new accommodation
2. Running around 300m above ground at the Abeno Harukas sky garden while having fruits/ snacks in between
3. Visiting Kimono Forest after dinner, watching the randen pass by at the crossing
4. Running around at Arashiyama park and watching the majestic Katsura river flowing rapidly
5. The outdoor playground at Kyoto railway museum among many other fun things there
6. The playground at Wagener Square across Heian Jingu
7. Interacting with deer and eating udon outdoors
8. Seeing different sea animals up close and ferris wheel ride after
9. Making friends at BorneLund and having imaginary play together despite the language barrier

Lessons learned (not in chronological order)

General tips

• We prepared about 160,000 yen cash before arriving at Japan but also have money via 1 x transfer wise debit card (digital), 1 x Westpac credit card (digital), 1 x ING debit card (physical). We ended up withdrawing a further 200,000 yen worth of cash. We opted not to bring any AUD as the rate is quite poor in Japan since most would prefer foreign exchangers would prefer USD.
• We didn't get to use our digital cards as most places in Kansai (Kanto might be different) that offer card payments still requires a physical card to read the chip.
• Please remember to bring the physical card of the credit card used for any online booking to avoid the stress I endured on day 3.
• We booked all the transit tickets online about a month prior and find it worthwhile rather than spending 15 - 30 mins in queue at the ticket counters. The limited express tickets go crazy fast and I recommend booking them the hour they become available (1 month prior your transit date and as soon as it is open in Japan time).
• We booked all 4 accommodations via booking.com and find the messenger via the app very handy in liaising with the owne receptionist on whether we can offload our luggage earlier or forward our luggage a few days in advance. One of them even told me that I can check in few hours earlier as the room was ready. Regardless of what platform you use, try to communicate with the accommodation prior your arrival if you are considering forwarding luggage or dropping them off before your official check in time.
• Booking multiple accommodations over a short span of time is very tiring as we are needing to worry about getting our luggage from A to B every second day but only able to check in the next place 5 - 6 hours after checking out the previous place (Most checkin starts from 3pm and checkout from 10am). Our transition days are always stressful as we don't get to do much due to the timing while handling multiple baggage so the kids are crankier.
• Rubbish/ garbage cans are mainly found on major train stations or shopping malls as well as konbinis. Most vending machines only have a recycle bin but we have plenty of disposable nappy bags which we use as rubbish bags if needed.
• We had 3 data Sims about 5GB each which was sufficient for the 9 days (navigation, Google translate, WhatsApp voice call). Free wifi is available at most places which we use whenever we need to photo dump on WhatsApp group chats or play YouTube for the kids.
• My eSim stopped working when we arrived at Kyoto from Osaka but luckily I tried rebooting my phone and it connected to the local network after. Another down side of data only Sim is there is no Japanese mobile number which can be handy (make reservations at restaurants or signing up for taxi apps to get taxi).
• We use Google Maps and Japan Travel by NAVITIME App to plan our overall route each day, public transit details is quite clear via Google Maps with several options for different J metro/ bus lines. While Japan Travel App is able to approximate cost of taxi which was useful for comparison.
• For translation, we used DeepL app when we wanted to converse with someone in Japanese and Google Translate for written Japanese translation via the camera.
• In Osaka, getting around via JR and Metro is optimal in terms of time and cost; In Kyoto, buses are more readily available but be prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder as the buses are not big and averages around 30 - 50 people. We recommend a taxi if travelling a short distance (<10 minutes) for a family that can fit into a single car.
• You can forward luggage at your hotel or local 7 eleven via Yamato transport within Osaka.
• The Jikan refreshing legs patch worked well for me but my wife got woken up few times as her feet felt cold due to the cooling effect. We got some heat patches the next day and it worked better for her.
• A few Japanese phrases go along way and perhaps it's why we mostly get friendly responses (arigato gozaimas, ohaiyo, konnichiwa, kore onegaishimas, doitashi mashite, hitotsu onegaishimas, daijorbudes, kodomo).
• The basement level of most department stores/ shopping malls sells a variety of package deserts and often a bakery opened till 8pm where we sometimes go to after dinner to get brekky for the next morning.
• Some malls have an express lift (stops only at 1F and 10F) and it may be quicker to use those in combination with escalators to get to the level you like quickly.
• Coin lockers are found is almost every major attraction and JR station but finding a large one that is available can be challenging so allow extra time. Most coin lockers only take 100 yen coins with the exception of newer ones which also takes IC cards as payment.
• Some food courts have drinkable water for you to refill your bottles but otherwise vending machines and konbinis will quench your hydration needs (the peach drink is pretty addictive).
• Other than Booking.com, Google maps, Google Translate, DeepL and Japan Travel by NAVITIME, we didn't really used the other apps we downloaded before hand but you might find a use for them: Mamamap, NERV, Ecbo cloak, Klook.

Child related tips

• Younger kids take awhile to acclimatize to a foreign environment and our kids were more lethargic than they normally are during the day, sometimes needing 2 naps instead of 1 so be prepared to adjust your plans and skip over some places that were catered specifically for them if needed.
• Google maps only tells you the distance to get you from Point A to Point B horizontally. Unfortunately it doesn't consider the routes involving travelling multiple floors to avoid heavy traffic even with wheelchair access enabled. For instance you can go across Tenshiba Garden from JR Tennoji via the overhead bridge (not ideal as the route is longer with a stroller) or underground (best with a stroller but unfortunately Google Maps doesn't show this route and we stumble across it by chance).
• Google maps navigation over multiple floors is also not very accurate but the local directory maps are very informative so take extra time to study it and find the nearest access (parents room, lift or exit to above ground/ underground).
• The lift (singular as most train station platforms only share one lift unless it's a major one like Osaka/ Kyoto etc), are often located at one end of the platform so allow additional 15 - 20 minutes when travelling with strollers or luggage.
• Most department stores/ shopping malls (Daimaru etc) have a floor suitable for kids with toy samples for playing and sometimes even a free play area (Bornelund).
• Our kids love the Butaman from Horai and we probably purchased from 5 different stores throughout the trip (they are located at almost every major station and department store). Find something that works for your kids that can be found readily (7-11, family mart, Lawson's, daily Yamazaki etc) as back up when they didn't want to eat where you were dining at or if they fell asleep and skipped a meal.
• 100 yen stores (Daiso, 3 coins, Seria, Can*Do, Watts) have plenty of cheap kid activities (e.g. sticker books, puzzles, bubble wand etc) that can entertain them throughout the day/ in restaurants/ in the showe in the accommodation before bed etc.
• Paid Attractions in Kansai that are worthwhile if your kids are under 5 (6 and above may be charged separately): Tennoji Zoo, Abeno Harukas 300, Kyoto Railway Museum, Osaka Kaiyukan, Tempozan Ferris Wheel.
• Other brekky alternatives that we liked apart from konbinis/ bakeries were MOS burgers and Doutor coffee. Gyudons (sukiya, matsuya, yoshinoya) morning menu was a bit too heavy for our kids and other options we would have tried were too far from where we stayed (Tully's, McDonalds, KoHiKan).
• Some places require you order a main meal per adult but we are small eaters so we make sure what we ordered was something our kids might eat (not spicy etc).
• Tabelog is useful to tell you the size of the restaurant and we avoided anywhere that seats less than 20 people to save time.
• We tried to eat at a restaurant for lunch and dinner the first few days but actually realize the kids enjoy munching on small eats from konbinis/ street vendors more than a casual sit down meal so we were a bit more spontaneous the second half of the trip.
• Watch out for deer poo at Nara especially when pushing your stroller! Most of the deer are quite friendly and let you pet them but don't touch their tail area as they can get defensive. If your kids are feeding away the crackers too quickly, break them in half so you have more 'ammunition'.
• Metro and JR Trains (including limited express ones) stop for less than 10 seconds. Please remember to unlock your stroller when you are approaching your next stop and prepare to jump out.

Finally got around sharing our wonderful experience in Kansai (1 Apr 2024 - 10 Apr 2024). We are a family of 4 from Perth, Australia (1 x Toddler turning 4 end of this month and 1 x Infant about 18 months old) joined by my MIL from Malaysia. It was our first time trip to Japan but the second time flying 6 hours long with 2 kids. We chose to travel during this period as it was during Easter holidays and also the most favourable weather for our kids. As we have 4 separate accommodations booked over 9 days, we try to travel as light as possible: 2 x large suitcase, 1 x medium suitcase, 2 x medium bags, 1 x bag pack, 1 x dedicated bag for infant carrier and kids' jumpers + 1 stroller. Our kids still take nap(s) during the day and our plan was having the toddler sleep on the stroller and the infant in the carrier or the stroller if toddler is not using.
After extensive research (mostly from this sub) we still found the first few days to be quite hectic and wish we know some of the things beforehand (listed below the itinerary). I hope this post can help young families who are considering travelling to Japan with kids or those who have travelled to Japan before kids came to the picture to do it again with confidence.

9 Day Itinerary (1 Apr 2024 - 10 Apr 2024)

Day 1 Osaka: Namba (Monday)
Our flight from KUL arrived KIX around 10am and boarded the Nankai Rapid (bought 1 month prior online) to Shin-Imamiya station after getting our luggage. We originally planned to take a taxi from there but failed to find any taxi for 20 mins so we end up walking to our accommodation as the kids were tired of waiting. After offloading our luggage we manage to hail a taxi and head to Namba Parks to rest and unwind. Had a refreshing lunch at Yasaiya Mei (mains + all you can eat side dishes including veg tempura) and went to explore the rooftop parks garden before putting the kids to nap. After the kids woke up we took a taxi back to check in officially. Everyone was quite tired thus we opted to stay in and get dinner from Life supermarket nearby. This was probably the most enjoyable part of the day for the kids wandering around a foreign supermarket as we bought dinner and some light snacks. After putting the kids to bed, we did some laundry and packed our 1st luggage to send away.
Day 2 Osaka: Tennoji (Tuesday)
While everyone was getting ready, I went to the nearby 7-Eleven to forward our 1st luggage to the 4th accommodation via Yamato transport. The shop attendant was helpful and guided me through the process as we communicated via deepL. We walked to the Lawson's at JR Imamiya to get brekkky before taking the Osaka loop Line to JR tennoji. We took quite a while to navigate towards Tennoji Zoo from JR Tennoji but eventually got there after a 15 min detour. It was quite crowded for a Tuesday morning but the kids get to roam around the Tenshiba garden while I queue up for tickets (500 yen per adult). One of the kids fell asleep in the zoo so we decided to just grab food to go at the supermarket outside the zoo for lunch. We then head towards Abeno Q's mall to shop and put the other kid to sleep. There was quite a lot of hot food along the way and we manage to grab some for the kids to snack on after their nap (butaman from Horai 555, mochi donut from Mister Donut, taiyaki etc). There's a fantastic area for kids to play (kid, play, study) at the ground floor with different sensory setup and soft blocks for stacking/ balancing. I spent close to 2 hours there with 2 kids while my wife and MIL went shopping. After that we had dinner at Grand Capital Toyoutei at the Kintetsu mall dining floor before heading to our final activity of the day: Abeno Harukas 300. Tickets were a bit steep (2000 yen per adult) but we end up staying there for quite a bit and the experience was pretty unique even though we missed the sunset timing. The elevator ride to the top though short left quite an impression. The kids enjoyed running around at the sky garden 2 floors below as we rest and enjoy the night view of the city from about 300m above ground. The journey back to our accommodation was pretty straightforward and the kids got knocked out when we got home. All in all Tennoji was a pleasantly great experience and we have a better understanding about JR station layout and navigating underground.
Day 3 Osaka - Kyoto (Wednesday)
This was a rather hectic day as it rained quite a bit and we struggled to get a taxi after checking out, getting turned down by several taxis with "空车". We eventually found one to bring us to JR Osaka station. Navigating at the station wasn't too difficult after yesterday but there were long queues when we arrived at 10am and I made the fatal mistake of leaving my physical credit card back in Perth and spent 45mins trying to redeem limited express tickets I reserved online. The JR staff were friendly and tried their best to help but they can only recommend me cancelling my initial reservation and buying new tickets (cancellation fee was about 2300 yen for 3 adults). As soon as we got our tickets we sprinted to the underground gate about 15 mins walk away. I even carried the stroller and kids through an escalator as we didn't want to waste time finding a lift and risk missing the train. We managed to board the limited express train on time and arrived at JR Kyoto which was even more crowded and larger than most international airports. The kids were quite cranky by now as it has been all rush and long waits since they woke up. I split up with my family with 2 luggage that we initially planned to forward to our Arashiyama accommodation via Sagawa. However I was told same day delivery service is only applicable to limited hotels so I stored the luggage at 2 coin lockers and then head to the Kintetsu line ticket counter to redeem the Kyoto-Nara and Nara-Osaka limited express tickets which fortunately doesn't require my credit card details (just reservation number). By the time I reunite with my family it was still raining and both kids fell asleep so we ditched the plan for Kyoto railway museum and instead went browsing for lunch at Porta and Isetan dining floor. We eventually queued to eat at Ejuan for about 25 minutes while one of the kid was still asleep. The wait was worthwhile as the grilled miso black cod was exceptional as was the kids' grilled chicken. Next we went to the skywalk at level 9 briefly before my family went to the toy section at Isetan while I retrieve our luggage from the coin lockers. We board the Saga line bound for Saga-Arashiyama and rested awhile at the accommodation before heading out for dinner after the rain stopped. We walked to Kijurou and fortunately they have space for us provided we order a main meal per adult. The yakiniku and Wagyu rib loin bowls were pretty good but we find the Hitsumabushi set a bit gimmicky. After dinner we stopped by Kimono Forest on our way back and this was probably the highlight of the kids day.
Day 4 Kyoto: Arashiyama (Thursday)
Had Lawson's for brekky before heading out to Kimono Rental Amuya to hired kimonos for my wife and toddler including hairstyling. The shop was actually a house with the living area turned into a studio and only the owner working by herself so we waited for about half an hour before walking towards the Bamboo Forest and Tenryu-ji gardens (500 yen entry from the north gate but well worth it for the blooming sakura and picturesque lake). It was crowded as expected and everyone was moving slowly so it took us about an hour to complete the loop back to the main tourist strip. We then had Udon for lunch at Ozuru, the chewy noodles were complemented by the broth which was a lot more flavourful than the kitsune Udon we are accustomed to back in Perth. After lunch we head home to put the kids to nap before venturing out in the evening towards Togetsukyo Bridge overlooking the pristine Katsura river flowing gracefully from Mt Arashi in the backdrop. The view was breathtaking and we crossed over to Arashiyama park where the kids had a great time running around free range. As the sun was setting, we head back to the town centre, took a novelty Randen ride and grab some food (Naruse's Unagi, Upit's Burger) en route to our accommodation to eat in before calling it a day.
Day 5 Kyoto (Friday)
After checking out we took the Saga line to JR Kyoto station and forwarded the medium sized luggage to the 4th accommodation in Osaka using Crosta. We then did some light shopping at Yodabashi Camera Kyoto as my MIL shoes had kick the bucket and we needed a replacement. Manage to sneak in the only ramen meal of the trip at Ramen Chabuton located upstairs. It was a fairly small shop but we were lucky to get a table just before the Friday lunch rush hour and our ramen cravings were thoroughly satiated. We put the kids down for a quick nap as we make our way back to JR Kyoto to take the Saga line towards Kyoto railway museum. This is an underrated attraction with so much to do and we could have spent the whole day here if I knew they had coin lockers. There were many interactive and educational displays relating to train components in addition to multiple play areas upstairs as well as an outdoor playground! There's also a mockup ticket gate for kids to learn how to purchase a ticket and pass through the gate. Our kids loved the ball pit, toy train area and large train simulator. We couldn't squeeze enough time to explore the 3rd floor or watch the diorama presentation or board the Steam Locomotive as it was getting late. We took a taxi to check-in at Kamoya Ryokan before taking the bus to Nishiki Market for dinner. It's about 6pm and most of the shops were shutting and the remaining ones that are open had queues building up quickly. We ended up waiting 30 mins to eat sushi at Sushi Say. There's a limited range of cooked food including skewers which we got for our kids while we share a nigiri platter and sashimi. After dinner we went to the basement of Daimaru Kyoto across the road to get some baked goods for brekky before taking the taxi home to crash.
Day 6 Kyoto (Saturday)
My MIL wanted to take it easy and explore the area at her own pace so we had a more spontaneous day. After brekky, we took the bus to Yasaka Shrine and started our trek towards Heian Jingu, stopping along the way to enjoy the blossoming park and munching on food from street vendors. We paid to enter the shrine garden (600 yen per adult) which was very worth it for a 30 minute stroll and escape from the bustling crowd outside. We grab some food to eat from the street vendors as one of the kid slept and then head to the playground across the road (Wagener Square) and spent a good 30 minutes there even though it was a bit basic (Perth is blessed with many great playgrounds). Once both kids are feeling refreshed we felt adventurous and took the bus to attempt the hike up Kiyomizu-dera. Since its a Saturday, the Sannenzaka path was packed with phenomenal crowds with the occasional car coming through and splitting the crowd apart. I carried the infant to sleep while my wife push our toddler on the stroller as we slowly make our way up, stopping by for a nice matcha latte and softserve at Here cafe to recharge. We eventually reached the base of the temple after 30 minutes and decided against entering due to the massive crowds (& stairs!). On the way down we reached the fork that branches into Ninenzaka and thought we try giving it a go. There were a lot more stairs over this side and we had to carry the stroller through the steps while waiting for the crowd to advance before us. As physically draining as it was, we felt a sense of achievement as we manage to snap a photo with the iconic Hokanji temple. We took the bus home after that and had an enjoyable dinner at Okonomiyaki Yoshino next door before an early night to recover.
Day 7 Kyoto - Nara - Osaka (Sunday)
We had some leftover food for brekky before checking out and heading to JR Kyoto via taxi. We head to the Kintetsu line and boarded the Vistacar limited express train to Nara. I've booked for the private room down stairs which was pretty spacious for the 5 of us and our luggage. After arriving at Kintetsu-Nara station, we took the 100 yen tourist bus to the famous Nara Deer Park and started exploring the area. There were plenty of deer roaming throughout/ resting on the ground and several vendors at the entrance selling deer crackers. After the kids were done feeding 2 sets of crackers, we head to Mizuya Chaya for lunch. There were limited seating so we sat by the side and ate with the bowl in our hands while feeding the kids. Probably the best Udon we had in our lives (level above Ozuru in Arashiyama and Hifumiya in Perth). Time for a nap so we put the kids down while making our way to have a closer look at Todaiji temple as there were too many stairs to Kasuga-taisha and we have yet to recover. We had our first Cremia here and it was amazing. After the kids woke up we took the bus back to Kintetsu-Nara station and explored the nearby street while waiting for our train. We then boarded the HINOTORI limited express bound for Osaka. While walking towards the hotel to check in, we were passing by Dotombori and opted to have a quick dinner and call it a day rather than coming out again after checking in and offloading our luggage. We ended up having curry at Hariju Dotombori Curry shop which taste d like a homely nourishing meal. After dinner we took the taxi to the hotel and fortunately our 2 other luggage that we forwarded days before are waiting for us to collect. Did some repacking and also laundry at a nearby laundromat before sleep.
Day 8 Osaka: Osaka Bay Area (Monday)
Started the day with brekky at MOS Burger just outside our hotel before taking the metro train to Osaka Bay Area. There were plenty to see as we approach the Kaiyukan, large LEGO animal displays, the large ferris wheel and Disney characters. The ticketing and entry time is staggered which is a good idea to control the amount of crowds going in and out. I started queueing at 1035am and got entry for 11am which was fair (opted not to book timeslot online as it can be unpredictable with kids and public transit) but we didn't felt like its a long wait as the kids were running around and enjoying the ocean view. The entry also have a photographer stationed to take a family polaroid with a whale shark replica for FREE. We were impressed with the aquarium's efficient layout where some prominent displays (Whale Shark, Seals etc) span across multiple floors so you can still enjoy them later on if you missed it earlier due to the crowds. Apart from sea creatures there are also Arctic mammals and birds (Puffins) from all over the world. The kids were over stimulated by lunch time so we head to the food court at Tempozan Market Place to refuel. After lunch we took the kids for a ferris wheel ride before putting both to sleep while we make our way to Shinsaibashisuji Shopping Street via metro line. As the kids were still asleep, I rested at Daimaru with my MIL while my wife went shopping. This turn out to be a fantastic place with a floor dedicated for kids (Pokemon centre, Pokemon cafe, BorneLund mini play area with many display toys available for sampling). The kids spent the rest of the day here after they woke up and we had dinner at the dining floor. There were queues everywhere and we chose to wait at Aozora Blue as they offer udon made with a higher wheat ratio here. Regrettably the kids didn't enjoy as much and prefer regular ones that we are used to. After dinner we took away cheescake from Rikuro for dessert back at our hotel. I made sure to online check in our flights before I go to bed.
Day 9 Osaka: Dotombori (Tuesday)
Our final day in Japan and we chose to do some shopping and take it easy. Tried Doutor Coffee for brekky (took a while to find as it was underground) before walking to Don Quijote at Dotombori. There's 6 floors crammed with various items: snacks, electronics, clothing, non prescription medication, toys, collectibles as well as a functional ferris wheel (operates after 2pm). That being said the kids got bored after awhile and didn't really enjoy much as there wasn't much space to move around. I brought them out to stroll around the Ebisu-bashi Bridge while my wife and MIL continue their haul. It was certainly a sight to behold: countless amount of large LCD screens with surround sound on full blast from every high rise building, street buskers vying for attention from crowds that were constantly on the move, tourists taking selfies in front of the iconic Glicoman. Sadly it started to drizzle so I quickly entered the Shinsaibashisuji Shopping Street undercover area and look for a place to have lunch. I stumbled across a Yoshinoya & Hanamaru joint food hall which was bustling with both locals and foreigners. You have to order and get your food from the counter before you can occupy a table so I waited for my wife and MIL to arrive before we start queueing up. We had the gyudon and beef Udon with onsen egg along with chicken karaage and tempura. There's also a condiment station with toppings to complement your udon as well as free tea and water. Everything was very affordable and best of all we didn't had to wait long. After lunch my wife continuing shopping while we head to Daimaru for the kids to have a nap and play afterwards. I noticed there's a bridge that connects each floor to the Parco next door and discovered a unique floor full of pop culture themed stores including a studio Ghibli store featuring Totoro and No-Face displays, a 2 ft tall Godzilla, Ultraman, Capcom superstore, Sanrio (Hello Kitty), Snoopy, Rilakkuma and also a LEGO store. The kids had a great time browsing and also playing with LEGO before my wife reunites with us. As it's nearing dinner time, I thought we try our luck getting a table at Ganko Dotombori and make our way towards Ebisu-bashi Bridge. The view here is even more spectacular at night with the contrasting lights as well as numerous LCD displays illuminating the area. Unfortunately there's a lengthy wait at Ganko and our party voted for street food instead which turn out surprising well. Kids devoured a dozen gyozas while we had takoyaki, kobe beef nigiri, yakitori and yakiniku skewers as we strolled along the street. It was still early so we made a detour towards Hozenji before walking back the hotel. Then we stumbled upon an arcade (Amuse Factory AXE) which naturally drawn the kids in, we got popcorn from a vending machine there and it was enough to keep the kids happy on our trek back. Before taking our last sleep in Japan, we organized our luggage and get them ready for check out the next day.
Day 10 Osaka: Sayonara (Wednesday)
Checked out of the hotel and took a private airport taxi to KIX. Had brekky at McD and Lawsons and surprised to find that the food here costs the same as outside (e.g. McD/ Hungry Jacks at Malaysian/ Australian airports cost more than the metro/ suburban outlets). Boarded the flight and bid Japan farewell for now while soaking in the surreal time we had.
List of accommodations for 3 adults and 1 child + 1 infant/ toddler
1. Orange House 701 (22,500 yen for 2 nights) 10/10
Location is not bad in a quiet area South of the bustling Dotombori area with Konbinis and JR Imamiya within walking distance. Washing machine, shower and stove took some time to figure out and my kid accidentally turned on the stove but luckily there's a safety button. Overall a brilliant accommodation at an affordable price and will consider returning if we come back to Osaka with kids.
2. Arashiyama bamboo guest house (55,650 yen for 2 nights + 1200 yen tax) 8/10
Prime location 1 min away from JR station, Lawson and walking distances to the local tourist strip, Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji and Togetsukyo Bridge. However the room is located on the 3rd floor with no lift so it can be a challenge for kids and older folk. The owner was kind enough to carry our 2 X 20kg luggage up and speaks a little English. The stay was rather comfortable even with futons to sleep on while my MIL slept on one of the single beds. We are unlikely returning to Arashiyama but would recommend this place if it suits your budget.
3. Kamoya Ryokan (35,400 yen for 2 nights + 2000 yen tax) 7.5/10
Not as central as the other accommodations but still within 10 mins walking distance to JR and bus lines. This is a shared accommodation so fridge, microwave and hot/ cold water is in the common area but we have a private bathroom to use. There are no beds so we all slept side by side on futons in the same room. For some reason kids are also taxed to stay a night here (200 yen) but the host was super friendly, spoke a bit of basic English and helped us with ordering a taxi when we checked out. For the price this is not a bad place for short term stay if cosleeping on futons together as a family is acceptable. Bonus: the okonomiyaki place next door is quite good albeit requiring a bit more effort to communicate but is worth it as plenty of locals seem to frequent there and our kids love the yakisoba.
4. Best Western Hotel Fino Osaka Shinsaibashi (40,450 yen for 3 nights) 8/10
Functional hotel relatively close to Shinsaibashi shopping street and Dotombori. 1 min walk away from Osaka metro station and 7 Eleven. There's also a 24 hour laundromat 5 mins walk away. Facilities are bare minimal but gets the job done as we only needed the place to crash and freshen up since there's a lot of shopping and remaining sightseeing to be done. All reception staff spoke English well and check in/ out was rather smooth. I would consider staying again if the rooms were larger but can't complain at this price point and location.
List of eateries we consider returning

• Yasaiya Mei
• Ejuan
• Kijurou
• Ozuru
• Upit's Burger
• Ramen Chabuton
• Okonomiyaki Yoshino
• Mizuya Chaya
• Yoshinoya & Hanamaru

Highlight of each day for the kids

1. Wandering around Life supermarket and exploring a new accommodation
2. Running around 300m above ground at the Abeno Harukas sky garden while having fruits/ snacks in between
3. Visiting Kimono Forest after dinner, watching the randen pass by at the crossing
4. Running around at Arashiyama park and watching the majestic Katsura river flowing rapidly
5. The outdoor playground at Kyoto railway museum among many other fun things there
6. The playground at Wagener Square across Heian Jingu
7. Interacting with deer and eating udon outdoors
8. Seeing different sea animals up close and ferris wheel ride after
9. Making friends at BorneLund and having imaginary play together despite the language barrier

Lessons learned (not in chronological order)

General tips

• We prepared about 160,000 yen cash before arriving at Japan but also have money via 1 x transfer wise debit card (digital), 1 x Westpac credit card (digital), 1 x ING debit card (physical). We ended up withdrawing a further 200,000 yen worth of cash. We opted not to bring any AUD as the rate is quite poor in Japan since most would prefer foreign exchangers would prefer USD.
• We didn't get to use our digital cards as most places in Kansai (Kanto might be different) that offer card payments still requires a physical card to read the chip.
• Please remember to bring the physical card of the credit card used for any online booking to avoid the stress I endured on day 3.
• We booked all the transit tickets online about a month prior and find it worthwhile rather than spending 15 - 30 mins in queue at the ticket counters. The limited express tickets go crazy fast and I recommend booking them the hour they become available (1 month prior your transit date and as soon as it is open in Japan time).
• We booked all 4 accommodations via booking.com and find the messenger via the app very handy in liaising with the owne receptionist on whether we can offload our luggage earlier or forward our luggage a few days in advance. One of them even told me that I can check in few hours earlier as the room was ready. Regardless of what platform you use, try to communicate with the accommodation prior your arrival if you are considering forwarding luggage or dropping them off before your official check in time.
• Booking multiple accommodations over a short span of time is very tiring as we are needing to worry about getting our luggage from A to B every second day but only able to check in the next place 5 - 6 hours after checking out the previous place (Most checkin starts from 3pm and checkout from 10am). Our transition days are always stressful as we don't get to do much due to the timing while handling multiple baggage so the kids are crankier.
• Rubbish/ garbage cans are mainly found on major train stations or shopping malls as well as konbinis. Most vending machines only have a recycle bin but we have plenty of disposable nappy bags which we use as rubbish bags if needed.
• We had 3 data Sims about 5GB each which was sufficient for the 9 days (navigation, Google translate, WhatsApp voice call). Free wifi is available at most places which we use whenever we need to photo dump on WhatsApp group chats or play YouTube for the kids.
• My eSim stopped working when we arrived at Kyoto from Osaka but luckily I tried rebooting my phone and it connected to the local network after. Another down side of data only Sim is there is no Japanese mobile number which can be handy (make reservations at restaurants or signing up for taxi apps to get taxi).
• We use Google Maps and Japan Travel by NAVITIME App to plan our overall route each day, public transit details is quite clear via Google Maps with several options for different J metro/ bus lines. While Japan Travel App is able to approximate cost of taxi which was useful for comparison.
• For translation, we used DeepL app when we wanted to converse with someone in Japanese and Google Translate for written Japanese translation via the camera.
• In Osaka, getting around via JR and Metro is optimal in terms of time and cost; In Kyoto, buses are more readily available but be prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder as the buses are not big and averages around 30 - 50 people. We recommend a taxi if travelling a short distance (<10 minutes) for a family that can fit into a single car.
• You can forward luggage at your hotel or local 7 eleven via Yamato transport within Osaka.
• The Jikan refreshing legs patch worked well for me but my wife got woken up few times as her feet felt cold due to the cooling effect. We got some heat patches the next day and it worked better for her.
• A few Japanese phrases go along way and perhaps it's why we mostly get friendly responses (arigato gozaimas, ohaiyo, konnichiwa, kore onegaishimas, doitashi mashite, hitotsu onegaishimas, daijorbudes, kodomo).
• The basement level of most department stores/ shopping malls sells a variety of package deserts and often a bakery opened till 8pm where we sometimes go to after dinner to get brekky for the next morning.
• Some malls have an express lift (stops only at 1F and 10F) and it may be quicker to use those in combination with escalators to get to the level you like quickly.
• Coin lockers are found is almost every major attraction and JR station but finding a large one that is available can be challenging so allow extra time. Most coin lockers only take 100 yen coins with the exception of newer ones which also takes IC cards as payment.
• Some food courts have drinkable water for you to refill your bottles but otherwise vending machines and konbinis will quench your hydration needs (the peach drink is pretty addictive).
• Other than Booking.com, Google maps, Google Translate, DeepL and Japan Travel by NAVITIME, we didn't really used the other apps we downloaded before hand but you might find a use for them: Mamamap, NERV, Ecbo cloak, Klook.

Child related tips

• Younger kids take awhile to acclimatize to a foreign environment and our kids were more lethargic than they normally are during the day, sometimes needing 2 naps instead of 1 so be prepared to adjust your plans and skip over some places that were catered specifically for them if needed.
• Google maps only tells you the distance to get you from Point A to Point B horizontally. Unfortunately it doesn't consider the routes involving travelling multiple floors to avoid heavy traffic even with wheelchair access enabled. For instance you can go across Tenshiba Garden from JR Tennoji via the overhead bridge (not ideal as the route is longer with a stroller) or underground (best with a stroller but unfortunately Google Maps doesn't show this route and we stumble across it by chance).
• Google maps navigation over multiple floors is also not very accurate but the local directory maps are very informative so take extra time to study it and find the nearest access (parents room, lift or exit to above ground/ underground).
• The lift (singular as most train station platforms only share one lift unless it's a major one like Osaka/ Kyoto etc), are often located at one end of the platform so allow additional 15 - 20 minutes when travelling with strollers or luggage.
• Most department stores/ shopping malls (Daimaru etc) have a floor suitable for kids with toy samples for playing and sometimes even a free play area (Bornelund).
• Our kids love the Butaman from Horai and we probably purchased from 5 different stores throughout the trip (they are located at almost every major station and department store). Find something that works for your kids that can be found readily (7-11, family mart, Lawson's, daily Yamazaki etc) as back up when they didn't want to eat where you were dining at or if they fell asleep and skipped a meal.
• 100 yen stores (Daiso, 3 coins, Seria, Can*Do, Watts) have plenty of cheap kid activities (e.g. sticker books, puzzles, bubble wand etc) that can entertain them throughout the day/ in restaurants/ in the showe in the accommodation before bed etc.
• Paid Attractions in Kansai that are worthwhile if your kids are under 5 (6 and above may be charged separately): Tennoji Zoo, Abeno Harukas 300, Kyoto Railway Museum, Osaka Kaiyukan, Tempozan Ferris Wheel.
• Other brekky alternatives that we liked apart from konbinis/ bakeries were MOS burgers and Doutor coffee. Gyudons (sukiya, matsuya, yoshinoya) morning menu was a bit too heavy for our kids and other options we would have tried were too far from where we stayed (Tully's, McDonalds, KoHiKan).
• Some places require you order a main meal per adult but we are small eaters so we make sure what we ordered was something our kids might eat (not spicy etc).
• Tabelog is useful to tell you the size of the restaurant and we avoided anywhere that seats less than 20 people to save time.
• We tried to eat at a restaurant for lunch and dinner the first few days but actually realize the kids enjoy munching on small eats from konbinis/ street vendors more than a casual sit down meal so we were a bit more spontaneous the second half of the trip.
• Watch out for deer poo at Nara especially when pushing your stroller! Most of the deer are quite friendly and let you pet them but don't touch their tail area as they can get defensive. If your kids are feeding away the crackers too quickly, break them in half so you have more 'ammunition'.
• Metro and JR Trains (including limited express ones) stop for less than 10 seconds. Please remember to unlock your stroller when you are approaching your next stop and prepare to jump out.

Over the past month I gotten endless questions about myself, my newspaper, how its going, and so on. In this last few weeks the stars have seemed to align and quite a few important developments have taken place that are worth writing about. So as you might be guessing, this special edition is about the newspaper and myself.
For those of you who don't know, my name is Olyver, or preferably Ollie. My father tragically passed away a few months ago, so my mother decided to start a new chapter and move to Lower Duck Pond.
Quite a few days ago I got some... life changing news. I, in about eight months now am to have younger siblings. Yes, siblings. My mother is pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl.
More news pertaining to my mother. She has started a YouTube channel. Which features how she mothers and parents, her kids lives, and the like. Being featured frequently in her videos is... soooo fun. Please take note of the sarcasm.
She has also started selling essential oils. from experience do not, I repeat DO NOT diffuse more than three different oils at once. I have been stuck smelling lemon, tea tree oil, and Fennel, for well over two weeks. Let me tell you, it is not pleasant.
Just to clarify and clear up confusion, I am home schooled. But the school district has graciously allowed me to partially enroll, so I take a few classes at home and a few at the school. The arrangement works out really well for me.
On to other news. Since our great state has such,... flexible and undefined laws, I was able to get partially emancipated. This is a bit of a story though. Last year, before my father died, I was writing a newspaper for my old town as well, but legal issues came up, and as I did not legally own it as a child, it was taken from me. Of course I was furious, and wanted partial emancipation so I could legally own things, work, and generally take part in economic commerce. Knowing my mother my father and I never asked. We simply went up to the court house and did it. Up until the moment she reads this, my mother has had no idea.
So while still a minor, I have filed the paperwork and Lower Duck Pond is an official newspaper. I have also received many donations and sponsors to help keep this newspaper running.
Please. Come and stop by Pumphouse Bakery today. Feelin' hungry, come pick up a pie, or maybe a pecan bar is more your style. Even if neither of these sound good, I can guarantee we have something for you.
Sage Montgomery, a local senior has graciously let me rent out her childhood tree house. I must say, I love it. It's fully insulated, with doors and such, and it actually has electricity and plumbing, believe it or not. Complete with a mini split, kitchenette, bathroom, and bedroom, as well as a common room, this tree house is really more of a flat. The mayor's office has also let me set up it's own address. So Lower Duck Pond can officially receive mail. Thank you once more to our gracious landlords, the Montgomerys.
Now that I have funding, and an official status, Life in the Pond should really take off. As you saw last edition, I am beginning to make connections, connections that are bringing me new stories, and connections that help resolve the various...happenstances that go on here in our strange town.
Once again on a person note, my partial emancipation allows me to get an official job at such a young age. I am now officially employed at Pumphouse Bakery. This job has me biking all over town making deliveries and I have been in almost all the family restaurants already. I must say, Life in the Pond will get a lot more interesting from here on out.
For you who are interested, Life in the Pond is now running ads. Please just message me and I will run them, one per edition, for as long as I can. Each ad is two hundred dollars.
Lots of news this past few weeks, but it may not be over yet. Today I was approached by Bryan O Jared, our very own 94.5 stream broadcaster about possibly joining forces in our journalistic ventures. We'll just have to wait and see, but that's all for now. Catch you later! -Ollie

Hey all, I'm hoping somebody has a conversion for the recipes in the "Home Bakery Mini" cookbook that comes with the bread machine (I'm shocked it's volumetric and not weight based). Let me know!

I want to preface this story by saying that while I am pretty much agnostic on a good day and an atheist on a bad day, I am a fan of horror and grew up in a fairly religious environment via a very evangelical christian highschool, so my point of view may be skewed by those influences. However, I do think whatever my fiance and I witnessed was at the very least, an extremely dangerous person.
For context, I started college in fall 2018, going to a university in a somewhat rural area. The college itself sits on a large plot of land surrounded by farmland and vineyards, with sections that are forested and have little trails running through them, and a creek that runs the length of school property. The college has even had a murder victim dumped in one of the wooded areas on campus, but that’s a story for another day.
Freshmen were required to live on campus their first year and one of the benefits of that was that we had unlimited access to the school cafeteria, aka the caf. The caf was pretty nice, boasting a salad bar, sandwich station, mini bakery, hot food with different menu’s daily, and pretty much every fountain drink you can think of. I would get lunch and dinner there with my only friend at the time (and who is now my fiance), and we began to notice this boy who was always at the caf alone. It wasn’t uncommon to see students eating there alone, my school had pretty poor community outreach/ school spirit, but something was really off about this kid.
First off he had a very distinct look (this is important because we recognized him multiple times over 3 years), his skin was extremely pale and had this waxy fleshy look to it that I struggle to describe, like he was made of wax, he had red curly hair (insert ginger joke here), a mouth a little too large for his face, but what was the strangest thing about him was his eyes. They were the same color as his hair, that bright red auburn, his iris was almost too big for his eye, and his pupils were always extremely dilated. His eyes had a bulging look, very similar to Mark Zuckerburg, like they were trying to escape his face. It’s hard to describe here but he just had a very unsettling look to him, it just felt that there was something very wrong, like there was nothing inside him.
But his appearance wasn’t what caught our attention at first, what caught our attention was the amount of food this kid could eat. Of course, having unlimited access to food some kids went overboard, but this kid was another level. He always had 5 or 6 cups of juice, soda, coffee, and 3-4 plates piled with food. Mind you, he was not large or overweight, but he would clear every plate and then just sit in his booth alone, staring into space with his headphones in. That was another thing, he always had this blank, vacant expression, always staring into nothing. Whenever you walked past his booth you could hear that the music from his headphones was on full blast.
We began to notice that no matter what time we went to the caf, whether it be for a late-night snack, breakfast, a random afternoon craving, he was always there, sitting alone in the ruins of his empty plates. And we weren’t the only people who noticed his strange behavior. By second semester, people began approaching him, at first just some girls jokingly saying something to the effect of “we strive to be on your level,” referencing his eating habits, and he just stared at them blankly. People began to ask if he was ok, if he would like to join them, but he always just stared, sometimes with a knowing smile on his face, but would never reply, leaving the students to depart awkwardly. Once I even witnessed one of the caf attendants telling him he needed to stop spending all his time there.
My friend that I always ate with became my boyfriend, and we began to theorize what exactly this kid’s deal was. We said maybe mental illness, or maybe he was a competitive eater, or he was trying to bulk up, but his behavior seemed too empty, too neurotic to be explained away by any of these. Our main theory, the one I subscribe to now, did not come till much later.
My sophomore year I opted to live on campus again, and in the middle of my second semester, COVID hit. My school allowed us to remain on campus until the school year was up, and due to some personal reasons of not wanting to go home, I remained in my dorm, and my boyfriend joined me and we quarantined together. That time was so strange because our campus became an incredibly liminal space without all the other students. Some others remained with us, but on any given day you could walk the entire campus and not run into another soul. My boyfriend and I started running the wooded trails on campus to get exercise.
One day we stopped on one of the trails to do some burpees. As we did so, the kid from the caf, emerged from some trees, not on any trail, just walked out of the woods and started running toward us. This really caught us off guard because we rarely saw anyone, and he just maid a beeline toward us. RIght as he ran up on us he stopped. Just smiled at us knowingly, as if we shared some joke, but it was not a nice smile, it was incredibly nasty, sinister even. I don’t know if I felt that way because he had scared us, but something was off. We had never spoken to him those times at the caf but he seemed to recognize us. The other thing that was weird was that he was jacked, way taller and just larger than he ever had been freshman year. It wasn’t just that he gained muscle mass, he just seemed like scaled up, like he hit a massive growth spurt, which I suppose is plausible, but it just seemed really off.
We were both shaken by the experience and began to joke that he had been eating so much to store up energy so he could level up or something. Then one of us, I forget which, suggested he looked so strange because it was a demon wearing a human’s skin and was eating so much to build strength for his demonic powers, and that’s how he grew so quickly. Like I said it began as a joke, but the more we discussed it, the more it just seemed to explain not only his odd appearance but his odd behavior toward other students, the empty look in his eyes.
Here’s where things went from weird to fucking terrifying:
My boyfriend and I forgot about him, and moved out of my dorm into an apartment a few blocks from school as we were still finishing, and while school was mostly online now, I liked the area. The same creek that ran the length of our school campus ran behind our complex, and as it was still COVID lockdown and we had nothing to do, we would go on long walks up and down the creek.
One evening we went for a walk at dusk and by the time we got to the main road our apartment was on it was completely dark. It was extremely quiet, and as we walked along the road we saw we were coming up on a man walking very slow and deliberate. My hackles were up immediately as our apartment is in a seedy area and there were a lot of homeless and unstable people who sometimes hung out around the creek. And there was just something about his walk, it was so deliberate, and predatory. As we crossed paths with the man he walked even slower, and in the dim light of streetlamps I realized I recognized him as that same kid, that same waxy face, and bulging eyes. I also realized that in one hand he held a paper bag with something big and round in it, while in the other he held a crowbar. A fucking crow bar. He slowed down even more as he passed us and turned his whole head, and smiled at us. This time there was no mistake when I tell you it was the most threatening, sinister smile I have ever seen, and it had that same knowing in it, like he knew us and we shared some joke. He didn’t say anything, just stared at us with his horrible eyes. I don’t know if I’ve just read too many creepypastas or if I’m overthinking things, but I knew on an animalistic level he wanted to hurt us and wanted us to know he could.
After we passed him, we took off running, and when we returned to the apartment, we were both in a full-blown panic, even my boyfriend who tends to be pretty levelheaded and skeptical wanted to call the police. We did and as soon as we began to explain the situation we felt pretty foolish. They asked if he threatened us and we said not verbally but we felt threatened. Despite the absurdity of our call they said they would look into it because obviously there’s not a lot of non-nefarious reasons to be walking around at night with a crowbar. But we never heard anything, and we never saw him again.
To close this, I just think the whole thing is strange, how this kid kept showing up in our lives over 3 years, and always seemed to recognize us, always seemed to want to let us know he knew us. I think as people we know when there’s just something off about a person, when there’s nothing going on inside. People have said as much about sociopaths they’ve had run-ins with. But I want to know what you guys think, did I encounter the Antichrist leveling up? A demon? Or a really troubled kid who became a dangerous man? Maybe he was just a depressed kid, but I will hold firm that we were, at the very least, threatened by this guy, that we wanted to hurt us, and that we encountered something or someone evil. What do you think?
P.S. I did some rudimentary google searches for police reports in the area for assault with a crowbar, and some other things that might had related but could not find anything.

So this is a marathon report of the marathon I just ran today.
So long story short : I Completed It!! 😁
There was a lot of attention on my first post
https://www.reddit.com/firstmarathon/s/LQ60dbdayX
and it’s apparently number 1 all time on most controversial post and was even featured on runningcirclejerk which I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. I’m not a troll, just a little crazy and enthusiastic about running. and I have my strava splits and medal at the bottom if u are interested. And I really DONT recommend everyone to try it. I’m not trying to invalidate anyone’s training, but there’s a lot of gatekeepers and traditionalists in this field that assume if u don’t do a certain thing you can’t do it . Needless to say it’s really important to lessen the risk of not getting hurt and don’t hold me responsible as u are risking ur body. but I will say to the naysayers that’s it’s not impossible albeit that you are risking yourself for injuries.
Guide:
So long story short : I Completed It!!
How I got there? I needed every little tiny advantage I could get when it comes to gear , diet and pacing because I’ve never trained for runs longer than 10k
Prep work GEAR: My friend graciously lent me his running vest and I equipped it with 2 Honey stinger jellys , and 4 running gels . 1 water bottle and another bottle full of coconut water and dissolved electrolyte/sodium tablets also SUPERFEET insoles are a god send please buy it before any big race I think that was the difference maker. It’s very important to take a jelly or jell every half hour after the 1 hour mark until end of race. You NEED to ensure your glycogen stores are not empty
DIET: lots and lots and lots of carbs leading up to it the night before I had a massive Greek souvlaki plate with a TON of carbs.
My breakfast this morning of the race was 2 eggs , a Chinese bakery sausage bun with peanut butter, 2 steamed mini potatoes , watermelon , lemon water with lots and lots of honey ,
Very very proud of myself. I’m not gunna lie this was quite tough! Especially as a runner that usually runs a “decent” 10k pace. I had great split around 6:00km UNTIL Kilometre 27 where for some reason I was doing fine but my quads started cramping like crazy. I really was questioning my ability to complete the race jogging but for some reason when I speed walked my quads didn’t hurt anymore so I speed walked all the way to the end as you can see my significantly slower times near the end .
Not the prettiest sight but hey it worked, I avoided the cramping but the pain did come up to my feet as I this was the longest run I’ve ever done but I kept it consistent and put one foot on front of the other . Hobbling and limping until the finish line. I wanted a sub 5 hour finish which would have been possible without the quad seizing up so ended up with around 5:39 but hey finishing is finishing. Getting home I’m very very lucky to not have any injuries , thankfully the quads were just a cramp and there’s no pain after the race other than some swollen feet from running
PACING: as this was my first marathon there’s a ton of stimulus in the environment you CANT get lost in the buzz and try to run faster than u think. You need a super comfortable pace that ensures u have fuel in the tank to take you the entire way . My mantra over and over I said to myself was “My pace is the best pace” YOU know your pace the best don’t get caught in the environment and get worried about racers speeding past you, stick to ur guns, you know your body the best.
I realize what I just ran is very controversial with my limited training but available for any additional questions and nice comments (hopefully) :) !
Big shiny Medal and strava splits : https://imgur.com/a/Wo74bkc

My fiancé and I recently got back from a 10 trip to Japan. I wanted to write up this post with some general tricks/tips we learned as well as tricks we learned regarding his diet and things to eat in Japan.
Please note that while my fiancé is celiac he is not a symptomatic celiac. If he eats too much gluten over his lifetime he will eventually lose the ability to digest any food. But he can still eat gluten and not get physically sick. So for this trip we were more easy going about his diet and didn’t worry as much as we normally do about cross contamination or sauces. So if you're more sensitive to gluten these places/tricks may not work.
We traveled to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Minakami and we spent around 4k CAD per person for our trip.
Yakiniku
This was our go-to meal whenever we were too tired to find one of the gluten free restaurants that I had researched in advance. In general, the nicer and more expensive cuts of meat would not have any sauce on them and since you get to cook it on a new clean grill there was little risk of cross contamination.
Lots of Restaurants Aren’t Open Until the Evening
A lot of the gluten free restaurants in Japan don’t open until the evening and also yakiniku and other types of gluten friendly restaurants don’t open till evening. This did catch me off guard a few times as the restaurant I had planned for us to go to for lunch would be closed and we would then instead have to just grab stuff at the convenience store as nothing that my fiancé could eat would be open until the evening.
Pocket Wifi
We went with Japan Wireless and would highly recommend them. It ended up being around $10 a day for unlimited data. We never ran into any connection issues and it was nice being able to watch videos on the trains without having to worry about running into any data limit. The battery would last about 8 hours before it needed to be charged but they provide you with a pocket battery and I also brought my own. I would recommend investing and bringing your own pocket battery if you don’t have one. I have one that has two USB ports so we could charge both the wifi and a phone if needed.
The pickup and dropoff was also incredibly easy. They have a counter right beside the train station before you leave the Narita airport. To return, you do have to mail the envelope back to them. I thought I could just go up to the same counter that I got it from and physically return it to the staff as I was worried about the package getting lost in the mail. The post office box was just a few steps away right before the security screening checkpoint.
Yamato Delivery
We brought a backpack and a large suitcase for our trip. Once we arrived in Tokyo we used Yamato to deliver the large suitcases to our hotel. We then had a change of clothes and other daily necessities in our backpacks. At the end of the trip we had Yamato deliver our suitcases back from Tokyo to the airport.
We found that this worked really well and it was nice not having to worry about our luggage while using the trains. Keep in mind that it will take 1 day for Yamato to deliver the luggage from the Airport to Tokyo and vice versa. We sent our suitcases back to the airport 2 days before our flight home as we weren’t going to be back in our Tokyo hotel until the night before our flight back home. If you do something similar make sure to give them 24 hours to deliver your luggage.
Get a nice hotel if you think you will need assistance
We stayed at Hotel Coco Grand Kitasenju while in Tokyo which was around $100 CAD a night. This was our most expensive hotel (all the other ones we stayed at range between $40-80 CAD a night). I would recommend doing so though as they had the staff available to help up make phone calls to our ryokan and they helped us fill out the Yamato delivery slips and arranged for Yamato to pick up our bags and deliver them to the airport.
Some of the other cheaper accommodations that we stayed at didn’t have front desk staff available all the time so I think it would have been hardeimpossible to get help or have our luggage delivered to another location.
Luggage Management
When we went to Kyoto and Osaka our hotel in Tokyo allowed us to leave our suitcases there for 4 days while we were away and we used our backpacks to carry clothes and other necessities. We mostly used our suitcases to change out clothes and pack away souvenirs.
We mainly did this as I didn’t want to book reserved luggage seats for the shinkansen in advance and we didn’t want to be a nuisance to others with our luggage. I had read it’s very rude to bring large luggage onto trains.
In hindsight I think this advice is a bit overblown as I saw many people bringing carry-on sized suitcases onto the trains all the time. I was personally fine with just my backpack but my fiance struggled with this a bit and found it heavy and uncomfortable to carry around our backpacks all the time. We did store some of our clothes and other things into lockers at the train stations and amusement parks when we saw them but other times we didn’t wander across them and didn’t want to waste time searching so we just toughed it out. So if you have more time on your trip you may want to consider bringing carry on sized luggage and then either storing that luggage for the day at the train station or going to your hotel in the morning to drop it off (most hotels do allow you to store luggage shortly before and after check in/check out).
Shinkansen & Reserved Seats
You can and should reserve your shinkansen ticket. We bought all of our shinkansen tickets the day of and on our first trip the station attendant asked us if unreserved seats were okay as that’s all they had left available. I didn’t completely understand what they were asking. I thought unreserved just meant you might not get a seat in your preferred car or you may not sit together with your partner. But what unreserved means is that you buy a place in the unreserved car and there may or may not be a seat available for you there. The train to Kyoto only had 3 unreserved cars and the rest of the cars (10+) were reserved seats. On our way to Kyoto we ended up purchasing unreserved seats not realizing that only the first 3 cars were unreserved. We ended up looking for a seat all the way at the end of the train and then going up to the front of the train and realizing there were no seats left. So for the first 1-1.5 hours we were just sitting on the floor. Eventually near the end of the trip someone got off the train and we were able to sit down. But sitting on the floor was not a fun experience so I would definitely recommend always buying reserved seats even if you aren’t able to sit together with your partner or have to take a later train.
Universal Studios Japan
My primary goal with going to USJ was to see and experience all of Nintendo World. We did buy the express passes so we had a guaranteed entry into Nintendo World at 12pm. But I wanted to get into Nintendo World as soon as possible as I knew the lines for the mini-games would get longer in the afternoon (and there were no express lanes for these) and that toad cafe would be harder to get into. This is the timeline of how our day went:
7am: Arrived at universal studios. Waited in line
8am: Staff started letting people into the park. Tried to use the USJ app to get a time entry ticket into Nintendo World once they scanned our tickets but they were listed as unavailable. We rushed to Nintendo World and were able to just walk right in. In hindsight, I believe the time entry tickets only start appearing once it reaches maximum capacity and they close off the area. So as long as you are one of the first people into the park like we were you should be fine getting into Nintendo World right away.
8:15: We waited in line and bought our power up bands. This took about 15-20 minutes. Later on in the day we noticed a seller on the lower floor so it may have been faster if we walked down and waited in line on the bottom floor for the power up bands.
8:30-8:45am: We waited in line for the Toad Cafe to open at 9am. We got let in and we were seated and served within 20 minutes of opening. If you want to eat here, I would recommend going first thing in the morning like we did.
9:45am-12pm: We did all the power up band mini-games.
12-1pm: Our scheduled express pass time for the Mario Kart ride and the Yoshi ride came up. This was actually perfect timing as we had pretty much finished all the other mini-games around the park and we were ready to leave after this.
1pm: We had a time entry ticket to Wizarding World but we never actually needed it as this portion of the park never reached capacity when we were here (this was on a Tuesday).
1:30-5pm. We rode the rest of the rides that our express pass allowed fast entry for. I get easily motion sick though so the only ones I actually enjoyed were the Flight of the Hippogriff and the Jaws ride. I did go on the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride and the screen made me immediately sick. Luckily I made it through and avoided all other screen based rides for the rest of the day.
Takaragawa Onsen Osenkaku
Was a highlight of our trip and I would definitely recommend it for anyone who is looking to experience a more traditional onsen experience.
It’s about a 1.5 hour shinkansen from Tokyo. The onsen then provides a free shuttle from the station back to the resort.
We got to the station at 10am as we originally planned to go to the tanigawadake ropeway for a picnic lunch on top of the mountain. Unfortunately, we only realized that the ropeway was closed for maintenance when we arrived at the station. So we ended up going and exploring a park near the Jomokogen station instead.
The park was absolutely beautiful. It had cherry blossoms, a water wheel, a big powerful river, and there was even a little shop in the park that you could order food from. There were only a few people there so it was really quiet and serene compared to the parks we visited in Kyoto and Tokyo. If you aren’t going up to the ropeway I would still recommend spending a couple of hours here before going to the onsen as it was really nice to enjoy these beautiful sights with minimal people around.
We ended up taking the bus to the onsen at 1pm. Once we got settled in we used the onsen both before and after dinner.
The reason why we picked this onsen in particular is because it had mixed-gender baths so both myself and my fiancé could enjoy the same bath together. They provide everyone with a swimsuit so if you are the type of person that gets shy about being naked in front of other people that’s not a problem here.
The facilities were beautiful. We had a lovely view of the river from our room. The hotsprings were right along the river and had some beautiful Buddhist statues and trees to look at while in the bath. When you got in they had a few different styles of nemaki that you got to choose from and could wear around the resort and at dinner. We also got to sleep on tatami mats which were surprisingly more comfortable and cozy than it looks.
The staff was also incredibly nice and accommodating. Our original plan was for my fiancé to just eat the rice and whatever else was safe for him to eat. We brought snacks for him to eat if he was still hungry. The week before our stay though they emailed and specifically asked if we had any dietary restrictions so I told them about my fiancé's wheat allergy. During breakfast and dinner they had a specific note placed about our table to signify which meal was gluten free and did substitute items with gluten friendly alternatives (for example, I had a battered fish for dinner and my fiancé got a cooked eggplant instead with tomato and cheese on top). They also had gluten free soy sauce that they provided. I’m still not confident at how gluten friendly my fiance's meal was as they did have to send a few clarifying emails and asked if battered foods were okay. But they were very understanding and said my fiance could leave whatever he couldn't eat and he was able to eat more than usual because of the extra effort so we really appreciated it.
When I initially posted my itinerary on Reddit many people recommended that I try to find a private onsen closer to Tokyo/Kyoto. But I’m so glad I went to this one and would highly recommend it to anyone else who wants to stay at a traditional ryokan that has mixed baths and is looking for a more rural location to visit.
Gluten Free Restaurant Reviews
These are the different gluten friendly restaurants we visited:

• Soranoiro Nippon Tokyo Station: It was a bit hard to find because Tokyo Station is so huge. They have salt ramen that uses rice noodles.Overall it was okay but not the best ramen we had on the trip.
• Gluten Free T's Kitchen: We had the karrage, takoyaki, and some gyoza. It was all very delicious and we would definitely recommend. The full sized order of karrage comes with 6-8 large pieces and it’s very rich so I would recommend doing a ½ portion instead.
• KYOTO ENGINE RAMEN: This is one of the best places and the best ramen places that we ate on the trip and I would highly recommend visiting. All of their broths are made gluten free so you can pick any soup you want and sub in rice noodles to make it gluten free.
• Genji-Soba: Soba place that uses 100% buckwheat noodles which makes their soba gluten free. They provide an english menu that specifies which soba dishes are gluten free and you can request a gluten free dipping sauce for the soba. Soba isn’t our favorite food but it was still worth the trip for the experience. It was a small restaurant with only 8 or so seats and the owner is the only one working there. You get to sit right in front of him and watch him as he makes you your meal which was a cool experience.
• Hokkaido Shintokucho Tsukada Nojo Akihabara Manseibashi: Delicious cheese options but the portions were small and expensive. My fiancé got the salted lamb that we thought would come with 3 lollipops based on the picture but it actually only came with one.

Trip Highlights
These were some other standout places we visited:

• Kyoto Botanical Garden: One of the most beautiful gardens we visited during our trip.
• Himeji Castle: Seeing the castle from the street as you start walking up to it, then seeing the castle from the grounds and then eventually going up and walking around it and seeing the view from the very top was an amazing experience. The cherry blossoms were so beautiful and we got a lot of beautiful pictures of the cherry blossoms around the moat of the castle.
• Universal Studios Japan (Nintendo World): I’m a big nerd and haven’t seen Nintendo World in America yet so this was an amazing experience. Seeing the Mario franchise re-created in real life was amazing and I cried tears of joy. My only regret was that we were a bit too early to see and experience the Donkey Kong portion of the park.
• Nara Park: I really didn’t think I would be a fan of this as we have plenty of deer where we live. But it was fun feeding the deer and once you got away from the main entrance of the park there were plenty of quiet places you could sit, relax, and enjoy the view of the park.

General Tips/Tricks

• A lot of bathrooms will not have any way to dry your hands and some won’t even have any soap in them. So carrying around a hand towel and bringing some hand sanitizer with you is a must.
• Garbage cans are rare to find even in places where you think there should be one such as a park. So bring your own bag or buy a bag at the convenience store (even when you don’t need it) to store your garbage in.
• Keep an eye out for reserved trains/train cars. Certain trains/train cars in Tokyo will require you to purchase a seat. We accidentally got on a train a few times and realized it was reservation only and had to quickly hop off.
• Everyone online said to bring comfortable shoes as your feet will get sore. We bought some sole inserts in advance and brought our most comfortable running shoes and socks. We walked a fair amount and I never once had issues with my feet being sore or uncomfortable.
• Give yourself more time to get to destinations. Especially for any train ride that you may be trying to take to get back to the airport. Google maps underestimates how much time it takes to walk and find your train platform. Most of the trains in Tokyo leave every couple of minutes but for other less popular locations you may be waiting up to 15 minutes if you happen to miss your train. If you have somewhere you need to be at a specific time, give yourself 15-30 extra minutes to get there and use the Google Maps feature to arrive at a certain location at X time to more accurately understand when you need to leave your current location.
• Would highly recommend booking hotels with onsens if you are into taking hot baths after a long day. Both my fiance and I love onsens and we visited 3 different ones during our 10 day trip. The one we ended up going to the most was our onsen located directly in our Tokyo hotel. After a long day it was a lot easier to mentally work up the energy to go to the onsen in the hotel. Whereas, when we stayed at other places that didn’t have the onsen located in the hotel we ended up not going to them as often as we didn’t feel like walking the 5-10 minutes it would take to get to the nearest one by our hotel.
• We did end up eating at convenience stores a lot for breakfast and lunch. Some of the more gluten friendly options (but may still be cross contaminated) includes apples, grapes, bananas, plain rice onigiri, salted chicken, peppered beef/steak, yogurt and salted popcorn. We used the lens feature in Google translate lens to double check the back of anything we were unsure about.

Finally, here are some more gluten friendly restaurants (either are entirely gluten free or have gluten free options) that I researched but didn’t get a chance to try. This is based entirely off of online reviews, some places only have 1-2 reviews mentioning gluten free options so proceed with caution if your gluten allergy is more sensitive.

• Shimbu Sakiya Ramen (Shibuya)
• Nabezo Shinjuku Sanchome Store (gluten free hot pot)
• Nabezo Shinjuku Meijidori (gluten free hot pot)
• Teppan Baby Shinjuku (gluten free okonomiyaki)
• Kuriya (Izakaya Shinjuku)
• Namiki Yabusoba (soba near tokyo tower)
• Otsuna Sushi (gluten free soy sauce)
• Moyan (curry chain with gluten free options)
• Coco ichibanya (Curry chain. Has an allergen free curry option)
• Gonpachi (Chain restaurant that has gluten free izakaya items/rice bowls)
• Azabujuban Yakuzen Curry (Shibuya)
• Nabezo Shibuya Center-ga (gluten free hot pot)
• Gluten Free 61 Cafe and Bar
• Komehiro Bakery
• Biossa (bread)
• RiceHACK/Onden House (pizza)
• Setagaya Gluten Free Cafe
• Comme’N Gluten Free (bakery)
• Ikinari Steak (steak house chain)
• KYOTO ENGINE RAMEN
• Ramen Kazu (Kyoto)
• Kobe Beef Steak Mouriya Gion (Kyoto)
• Teppan Tavern Tenamonya
• Karasuma Rock (yakuniku)
• Cafe & Bar Maru ＠恵花 Gluten free (Kyoto)
• Teuchi Toru Soba (Soba Kyoto)
• Ikkakuju Karasumaten (gluten free okonomoyaki Kyoto)
• Sugarhill Kyoto
• Steak House Pound Kyoto Honten
• Pound Kyoto Ekimae (yakuniku)
• 薬膳スパイスカレー＆グルテンフリーバルSpys Oasis (Osaka curry)
• Genji-Soba (Osaka soba)
• Afuri (gluten free ramen chain) Order with konnyaku noodles and Shio (salt) broth

All remaining land is available including Everest!
More available in the patch notes! https://www.disney-magic-kingdoms.com/news/patchnote_upd82
All of the Haunted Mansion Ghost tokens are getting shifted to and from different characters (which makes me think they are setting something up for them or the characters collecting them in the future updates.
They are really jumbling the Thrill Zones requirements, taking away magic boost percentages and upping and lowering magic costs across the game.
Hercules fans rejoice! Hera and Zeus are swooping into the Kingdom for our limited-time Hercules event.

Plus, be on the lookout for the ferocious three headed Hydra.

But that's not all. If you loved the Underworld boss battle from our first Hercules update, then get ready! Our brand-new Underworld attraction is here, so seize the chance to add some divine darkness to your park.
Download the update on Tuesday, May 7th
Cascading Tappers Event begins on Thursday May 9th
Hercules Event begins on Thursday, May 16th

\Note: Some platforms may receive the update at a later time, but don’t worry—everyone will be able to take part in our time-limited events at the same time!*
Note II: This is a time limited event. Hercules is not permanent content.

New Content

Characters

• Hera
• Hydra (Premium Character)
• Zeus

Concessions

• ZPD Bowler Hat Stand (Cascading Tappers Event Leaderboard Reward)
• Decorations
• Meditating Yax Monument (Tapper Leaderboard Reward)

Attraction

• The Underworld

Float

• None this update, stay tuned!

Costumes

• None this update, stay tuned!

Note: Tokens available from Token Sources—e.g. Attraction, Enchanted Attractions, Character Activities, etc.—are balanced on an Event/Update basis and are subject to change.

Upcoming Events

Cascading Tappers Event – May 9th – May 15th

Enjoy 3 Tappers in 1! Turtles, Frogs, and Honey Bees will soon be arriving in your Kingdom.

A Cascading Tappers Event runs 3 Tappers simultaneously! Put your tapping skills to the test, Kingdomers! Read on for some important, strategic information.

Turtles

No helper characters or attractions required. Simply tap them away, and wait for more to appear!

Spawn time: Up to six (6) Turtle Tappers every two (2) hours

~Milestone Rewards:~

• Common Blueprints
• Extra Small Elixir Ingots
• Happiness

~Leaderboard Rewards:~

• Magic
• Bronze Chests
• Decoration Chest

Frogs

In order to maximize your success at this stage, you can rely on Boo, Roz and Mickey Mouse for help!

Spawn time: Up to six (6) Frog Tappers every four (4) hours

~Token Sources – Frog Net~

• Turtle Tappers
• Token Sources – Frog Tank
• Bo Peep – Check Al’s Toy Barn (Level 2)
• Buzz Lightyear – Space Orbiting (Level 2)
• Hamm – Getting a Toy Tour (Level 2)
• Rex – Make New Friends (Level 2)
• Alberto – Counting Down the Days (Level 2)
• Ercole – Practice Harpooning (Level 2)

~Milestone Rewards:~

• Small Elixir Ingots
• Uncommon Blueprints
• Happiness

~Leaderboard Rewards:~

• Magic
• Silver Chests
• Concession Chests

Honey Bees

In order to maximize your success at this stage, you can rely on Luca, Goofy and Tinker Bell for help!

Spawn time: Up to six (6) Honey Bee Tappers every four (4) hours
~Token Sources – Honey Bee Dipper~

• Frog Tappers
• Token Sources – Honey Bee Honeycomb
• Celia Mae – Meet for Sushi (Level 4)
• Sulley – Laugh it Up (Level 2)
• Pete – Evil Laugh (Level 3)
• Pluto – Take an Afternoon Nap (Level 3)
• Buzz Lightyear – Go to Buzz Lightyear’s Astro (Level 4)
• Giulia – Join the Portorosso Cup (Level 3)
• Machiavelli – Lay About (Level 4)

~Milestone Rewards:~

• Medium Elixir Ingots
• Rare Blueprints
• Rowlf (Fallback: Attraction Enchantment Chest)

~Leaderboard Rewards:~

• Magic
• Resource Chests
• ZPD Bowler Hat Stand

Hercules Mini Event – May 16th – May 31st

Chapter 1: May 16th
Characters unlocked: Hera, Hydra (Premium)
Chapter 2: May 18th
Attraction unlocked: The Underworld

Chapter 3: May 25th
Character unlocked: Zeus

Event Ends: May 31st

Tapper Events

Pegasus Clouds – June 7th – June 10th

Spawn Time: Up to ten (10) Pegasus Clouds Tappers every two (2) hours
~Possible Milestone Rewards Include:~

• Silver Chest
• Uncommon Blueprints
• Resource Chest
• Concession Chest
• Happiness

~Possible Leaderboard Rewards Include:~

• Magic
• Rare Blueprints

Jeweled Crabs – June 3rd – June 8th

Spawn Time: Up to five (5) Jeweled Crabs Tappers every two (2) hours
~Characters Involved:~

• Moana
• Pete
• Goofy

~Token Sources (Crab Gem Lure)~

• Rapunzel – Create Artwork
• Woody – Orbiting Some Space (Level 4)
• Eve – Solve a Cube Puzzle (Level 3)
• Maui – Seek New Adventures (Level 3)
• Gramma Tala – Guiding the Way (Level 4)
• Hei Hei – Walking Along
• Token Sources (Crab Net)
• Randall Boggs – Go Scaring
• Jessie – Visit Pizza Planet Aliens (Level 4)
• Woody – Go on Duty (Level 5)
• Sina – Collecting the Coconuts
• Chief Tui – Check Fish Traps (Level 3)
• Pua – Wander About (Level 2)

~Possible Milestone Rewards Include:~

• Common Blueprints
• Decoration Chest
• Resource Chest
• Yellow Ribbon Chest

~Possible Leaderboard Rewards Include:~

• Uncommon Blueprints
• Silver Chests
• Meditating Yax Monument

Sand Whirls – June 5th – June 10th

Spawn Time: Up to five (5) Sand Whirls Tappers every four (4) hours
~Characters Involved:~

• Pinocchio
• Zurg
• Hamm

~Token Sources (Dust Whirl Duster)~

• Roz – Sushi Dinner (Level 3)
• Daisy Duck – Strut Your Stuff (Level 6)
• Mickey Mouse – Visit Minnie’s House (Level 7)
• Geppetto – Take in the Sights (Level 4)
• Jiminy Cricket – Keep Out of Trouble (Level 4)
• Honest John – Pull a Gambit (Level 3)
• Token Sources (Dust Whirl Container)
• Mike Wazowski – Check on the Laugh Floor (Level 2)
• Goofy – Play the Tuba (Level 4)
• Toy Alien – Cowboy Alien (Level 4)
• Figaro – Prance Across Cobblestones (Level 3)
• Blue Fairy – Provide Hope (Level 3)
• Stromboli – Curse at Misfortune (Level 3)

~Possible Milestone Rewards Include:~

• Uncommon Blueprint
• Decoration Chest
• Resource Chest
• Kermit’s Swamp (Fallback: Attraction Enchantment Chest)

~Possible Leaderboard Rewards Include:~

• Bronze Chests
• Common Blueprints
• Epic Blueprints

Striking Gold Events - May 17th – May 30th

Find gold trophies hidden throughout the Kingdom by collecting from Attractions and Character Activities!

Chapter 1: May 17th – May 20th
Chapter 2: May 22nd – May 25th
Chapter 3: May 27th – May 30th

The following Character Activities will drop Gold Trophies:

• Cinderella – Galloping Around
• Prince Charming – Jousting Practice
• Tinker Bell – Find Lost Things
• Goofy – Attend a Show
• Mickey Mouse – Play the Trumpet
• Bo Peep – Check Al’s Toy Barn
• Buzz Lightyear – Go to Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters
• Hamm – Getting a Toy Tour
• Jessie – Visit the Snack Roundup
• Sarge – Meeting at Al’s Toy Barn
• Woody – Rest up at the Roundup
• Simba – Learning of Past Kings
• Nala – Taking a Break – Nala
• Timon – Explore the Tree
• Pumbaa – Favorite Grub Spot
• Rafiki – Visiting a King
• Zazu – Keeping an Eye Out
• Scar – Spy on the Advisor
• Shenzi – Locate Lions
• Banzai – Watch for Lions
• Ed – Hehehehehehe!
• Hera – Appreciate Flower Arrangement
• Hydra – Ravenously Roar
• Zeus – Throw Lightning

The following Attractions will drop Gold Trophies:

• Astro Orbiters
• Mickey’s Fun Wheel
• The Circle of Life
• Tree of Life
• Festival of the Lion King
• Scar’s Den
• Training Grounds
• Zeus’ Temple
• The Underworld

~Possible Leaderboard Rewards Include:~

• Event Currency
• Hercules Relics
• Hercules Gold Trophy

Quality of Life Changes

None this update, stay tuned!

Balancing Changes

Why do we rebalance the game? Disney Magic Kingdoms is a game with many interconnected systems. Since our initial launch, we have added a lot of new features and content, and each time we do this, it can significantly affect how these systems interact with each other. To ensure that the gameplay experience remains as intended, we are sometimes required to make balancing changes. Ultimately, rebalancing the game is necessary so that Disney Magic Kingdoms is fun and enjoyable for all. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Activities

The following Character Activity rewards have been changed:

• Cinderella - Sing for the Guests:
  • Phineas Ears Hat has been removed from possible drops
• Boo - Surprise Guests:
  • Ezra's Top Hat has been removed from possible drops
• Celia Mae - Head Count:
  • Ghostly Hatbox has been removed from possible drops
• Celia Mae - Manage Desk: • Ezra Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Mike Wazowski & Sulley - Rehearse Show:
  • Ezra's Top Hat has been added to possible drops
• Randall Boggs & Roz - Lecture by Roz:
  • Ezra's Top Hat has been added to possible drops
• Jack Sparrow - Live the Pirate's Life:
  • Hatbox Ghost Ears Hat has been removed from possible drops
• Daisy - Visit Minnie's House - Daisy:
  • Ezra Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Donald - Clean the Deck:
  • Hatbox Ghost Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Minnie Mouse - Check on Donald - Minnie Mouse:
  • Hatbox Ghost Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Chip - Explore a Boat:
  • Hatbox Ghost Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Dale - Feeling Goofy:
  • Ghostly Hatbox has been added to possible drops
• Fauna - Spreading Green Cheer:
  • Hatbox Ghost Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Mother Gothel - Recruit Help for Plans:
  • Hatbox Ghost Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Rapunzel & Flynn - Visit Strange Kingdom:
  • Hatbox Ghost Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Bo Peep - RC Racing Lady:
  • Ghostly Hatbox has been added to possible drops
• Zurg - Do Some Lurking:
  • The Bride Hatchet has been added to possible drops
• Jessie - Racing Queen:
  • Phineas Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Bullseye - Visit the Barn:
  • Phineas Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Bullseye - Run Around the Planet:
  • Gus Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Toy Alien - The Claw:
  • The Bride Hatchet has been added to possible drops
• Ducky - Go For a Ride:
  • The Bride Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Bunny & Ducky - Get Excited!:
  • Gus's Ball and Chain has been added to possible drops
• EVE - Scan for Lifeforms:
  • Ezra's Top Hat has been added to possible drops
• EVE - Find Malfunctioning Robots:
  • Hatbox Ghost Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• The Captain - Explore New Home:
  • Hatbox Ghost Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• The Captain - Look at Earthly Objects:
  • Ezra's Top Hat has been added to possible drops
• WALL•E - Re-Charge:
  • Ezra Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Jack Skellington - Thinking Time:
  • Ghostly Hatbox has been added to possible drops
• Oogie Boogie & Jack Skellington - Scary Face-Off:
  • Phineas Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• The Mayor & Sally - Work On Holiday Ideas:
  • Hatbox Ghost Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Lock - Knock Three Times:
  • Ezra Ears Hat to Ezra's Top Hat has been added to possible drops
• Barrel - Sweet Tooth:
  • Ezra Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde - Grab a Small Snack:
  • Ezra Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Nick Wilde - Walk Downtown:
  • Phineas's Carpet Bag has been added to possible drops
• Chief Bogo - Track Down Suspect:
  • Ezra Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Chief Bogo & Judy Hopps - Downtown Car Chase:
  • Gus Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Mowgli & Bagheera - Dangerous Sleeping Spot:
  • Hatbox Ghost Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Bagheera - Avoid Hypnosis:
  • Gus Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Huey - Following the Clues:
  • Ezra Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• Dewey - Discovering Solutions:
  • Phineas's Carpet Bag has been added to possible drops
• Coco Rivera - Spending Time With Family:
  • Gus Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• The Bride - Here Comes the Bride:
  • Gus Ears Hat has been added to possible drops
• The Bride - Floating About:
  • Gus Ears Hat has been removed from possible drops
• The Bride - Peruse Wedding Gifts:
  • Phineas Ears Hat has been removed from possible drops
    • Hatbox Ghost Ears Hat has been removed from possible drops
• The Bride & Phineas - Lurk in the Shadows:
  • Ezra's Top Hat has been removed from possible drops
• Gus - Pick Up a Ride:
  • Ezra Ears Hat has been removed from possible drops
• Phineas - Appear in Photos:
  • Ghostly Hatbox has been added to possible drops
• Phineas & Gus - Make Floors Creak:
  • Ghostly Hatbox has been removed from possible drops
• Hatbox Ghost - Disappearing Act:
  • Phineas Ears Hat has been removed from possible drops
• Hatbox Ghost - Haunt the Attic:
  • Ezra Ears Hat has been removed from possible drops
  • Phineas Ears Hat has been added to possible drops

Expansions

NEW – Adventure Land Center Expansion:

• Magic cost – 14,000,000
• Time to unveil (hours) - 24

NEW – Adventure Land Left-Center Expansion:

• Magic cost – 12,000,000
• Time to unveil (hours) - 24

NEW – Expedition Everest Expansion:

• Magic cost – 1,000,000
• Time to unveil (seconds) - 6

Attractions

Hercules – Training Grounds:

• Token 1 changed from Muses Vase to Phil Training Doll
• Token 2 changed from Phil Training Doll to Pegasus Wings
• Token 3 changed from Meg Ears Hat to Meg Flower
• Token 4 changed from Pegasus Ears Hat to The Hydra’s Broken Vase Painting
• Token 5 changed from Hades Ears Hat to Hercules Belt

Hercules – Statue Garden:

• Token 1 changed from Meg Flower to Phil Ears Hat
• Token 2 changed from Pegasus Wings to Pegasus Ears Hat
• Token 3 changed from Hercules Belt to Meg Ears Hat
• Token 4 changed from Panic Ears Hat to The Hydra Ears Hat
• Token 5 changed from Pain Ears Hat to Hercules Ears Hat

Hercules – Zeus' Temple:

• Token 1 changed from Phil Ears Hat to Hera’s Flower Bouquet
• Token 2 changed from Pain Potion Vial to Panic Potion Stopper
• Token 3 changed from Panic Potion Stopper to Pain Potion Vial
• Token 4 changed from Hades Buckle to Zeus’ Thunderbolt

Magic Production

• The base Magic generation of Attractions has been changed as follows:
• Base Magic produced per hour changed from 30 to 10
• Magic now scales proportionally with the production time of attractions

Enchantment Recipes

• The Collection Tokens required to enchant a building have been adjusted as follows:
• Enchantment Level 1: from 10 Collection Tokens to 0 Collection Tokens
• Enchantment Level 2: from 20 Collection Tokens to 0 Collection Tokens
• Enchantment Level 3: from 30 Collection Tokens to 0 Collection Tokens
• Enchantment Level 4: from 40 Collection Tokens to 0 Collection Tokens
• Enchantment Level 5: from 50 Collection Tokens to 0 Collection Tokens

The Magic cost to upgrade an Attraction has been changed as follows:

• Enchantment Level 1: Magic Cost increased from 2,000 to 2,500
• Enchantment Level 2: Magic Cost unchanged
• Enchantment Level 3: Magic Cost unchanged
• Enchantment Level 4: Magic Cost increased from 50,000 to 60,000
• Enchantment Level 5: Magic Cost increased from 150,000 to 300,000

Thrill Zones

New Thrill Zone

• Expedition Everest Zone has been unlocked

Magic Pedestal
The values for the Magic Pedestal of all Thrill Zones have been changed as follows:

• Level 1 Magic produced every hour changed from 60 to 25
• Level 2 Magic produced every hour changed from 100 to 75
• Level 3 Magic produced every hour unchanged (150)

Bonus Magic

• The bonus Magic rewarded by Thrill Level 3 has been changed from 50% to 25% to all buildings in the zone

California Screamin’ Zone
The requirements for Decorations and Concessions Thrill Level requests have been changed as follows:

• Amenity Decorations required decreased from 12 to 10
• Scenery Decorations required increased from 8 to 10
• Food Concessions required increased from 10 to 11
• Headwear Concessions required decreased from 10 to 9

The requirements for Attraction Thrill Level requests have been replaced with the following:

• 5 Attraction Enchanted to Level 1 required
• 4 Attraction Enchanted to Level 2 required
• 3 Attraction Enchanted to Level 3 required
• 2 Attraction Enchanted to Level 4 required
• 1 Attraction Enchanted to Level 5 required

Space Mountain Zone
The requirement for Decorations and Concessions Thrill Level requests have been changed as follows:

• Souvenir Concession required decreased from 6 to 5
• Headwear Concession required increased from 8 to 9

The requirements for Attraction Thrill Level requests have been replaced with the following:

• 10 Attraction Enchanted to Level 1 required
• 8 Attraction Enchanted to Level 2 required
• 6 Attraction Enchanted to Level 3 required
• 4 Attraction Enchanted to Level 4 required
• 2 Attraction Enchanted to Level 5 required

“It’s a Small World”: Zone
The requirement for Decorations and Concessions Thrill Level requests have been changed as follows:

• Amenity Decorations required increased from 9 to 10
• Greenery Decorations required increased from 9 to 10
• Scenery Decorations required decreased from 12 to 10

The requirements for Attraction Thrill Level requests have been replaced with the following:

• 15 Attraction Enchanted to Level 1 required
• 12 Attraction Enchanted to Level 2 required
• 9 Attraction Enchanted to Level 3 required
• 6 Attraction Enchanted to Level 4 required
• 3 Attraction Enchanted to Level 5 required

Big Thunder Mountain Zone
The requirement for Decorations and Concessions Thrill Level requests have been changed as follows:

• Amenity Decorations required increased from 9 to 10
• Greenery Decorations required increased from 9 to 10
• Scenery Decorations required decreased from 12 to 10
• Drink Concessions required increased from 7 to 8
• Headwear Concessions required decreased from 8 to 7

The requirements for Attraction Thrill Level requests have been replaced with the following:

• 20 Attraction Enchanted to Level 1 required
• 16 Attraction Enchanted to Level 2 required
• 12 Attraction Enchanted to Level 3 required
• 8 Attraction Enchanted to Level 4 required
• 4 Attraction Enchanted to Level 5 required

Enchanted Chests: Decoration Chest

The following Decorations have been removed from the possible rewards:

• Hero's Duty Arcade
• Fish Fountain
• Friendship Statue
• Light in the Forest
• Pillar Bench
• Peppermint Evergreens
• Tiny Treehouse
• Beauty and the Beast DMK Billboard
• Chessboard

The following Decorations have been added to the possible rewards:

• Stargazing Telescope
• Tropical Bonanza
• Olaf's Summer Fun
• Palm Tree Bench
• Stacked Honey Pots Sign
• Sunflowers
• Pirate Aquarium
• Fisherman's Getaway
• Pirate Plunder

Enchanted Chests: Concession Chest

The following Concessions have been removed from the possible rewards:

• Bakery
• Stitch Headband Stand
• Dalmatian Macarons Stand
• LeFou's Brew Stand
• Unbirthday Hat Stand
• Blackberry Pie Stand
• Robin Hood's Hat Stand
• Lei of Flowers Stand
• Scrump Backpack Kiosk

The following Concessions have been added to the possible rewards:

• Face Paint Studio
• Pasta Stand
• Gummy Grubs Stand
• Coconut Smoothie Stand
• Lion King Mask Shop
• Pizza Concession
• Baby Bird Plushie Stand
• Captain Hook's Hat Stand
• The Queen's Crown Stand

Attraction Enchantment Chest

• Hercules Relic has been changed from Uncommon to Common

Silver Chest

• Hercules Relic has been changed from Uncommon to Common

Resource Chest

• Hercules Relic has been changed from Uncommon to Common

Hercules Legendary Chests

The following items have been removed from the possible rewards:

• Training Grounds
• Zeus’ Temple

Token Shop

The following items have been added to the Token Shop:

• Critter Net
• Critter Tank
• Honey Dipper
• Honeycomb
• Brush
• Dustpan
• Gem Lure
• Net
• Hercules Relic (Unlimited, Price: 150 Elixir)
• Lion King Relic (Unlimited, Price: 150 Elixir)
• Hydra’s Broken Vase Painting
• Hydra Ears Hat

The following items have been removed from the Token Shop:

• Refresh Token
• Shadow Lantern
• Shadow Candle
• Wreck-It Ralph Relic
• Robin Hood Relic

Building Shop

The following item has been added to the Building Shop

• Training Grounds

1. Make a bonding activity out of it. Prepare food together for a picnic in a nice park or outdoor area. Just be sure and bring your Tazer or other means of self defense. Wouldn’t want quality time interrupted. 2. Visit a bakery 3. Pick an event you both like 4. Go shopping for new clothes 5. Go to one of those fun park places with mini golf and go karts 6. Visit some historic buildings or local attractions in your area. 7. Spend time at one of your places of dwelling and learn more about each other 8. Go to a nearby ice cream shop and make a date out of it right then 9. Go to a Bookstore or your local Barnes and Noble 

1. That “best friend” would use up valuable time and resources you should spend on your Yandere lady 2. That “best friend” may try to steal away a love interest (over the years I heard about this happening to people where the best friend would steal someones woman or man.) 3. The likelihood of a “best friend” betraying you is rather high. 4. They’re a distraction 5. They would make the Yandere jealous 6. The Yandere would likely tell you to stop talking to them. 

This is the weekly recap of approx. 144 monetized posts from Kylea and Joseph "Joe" Gomez of Kylea G. Weight loss Journey.
(For anyone following longer, she has/they have made approx. 399 posts in 3 weeks. 😲)
💰 🤑 💸 💲 🪙 💶 💰
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Royal Caribbean or WW. I am not a mental health professional. These opinions are my own based on social media content, medical sources, Missouri public court records, and internet searches used primarily to estimate/locate purchases on actual/potential purchases. Due to Kylea heavily editing many posts 3+ times it was difficult to keep up with posts that had been edited vs delete/reposts. I wish no harm to Kylea or Joe Gomez.
Financial Disclosure: I am not a paid content creator or influencer. I have made $0.00 from my work.
"Do not save what is left after spending but spend what is left after saving." Warren Buffett
The tagline of Kylea G Weight loss Journey is, "I changed my life with prayer and a playlist of songs. No surgery, no meds. Just Jesus."
Of the approx. 144 monetized posts last week on the topic of faith:
0/144 discussed which version of the Bible she prefers.
0/144 revealed her church home, a service she attended online/in person, or how she worships when traveling.
0/144 discussed a personal/group Bible study she completes/attends.
0/144 were a favorite scripture or Bible quote.
Of the approx. 144 monetized posts on the topic of music:
5/144 discussed the impact of music on her life.
Of the approx. 144 monetized posts on the topic of health:
4/144 posts contained intentional movement that could possibly be considered exercise
0/144 shared a food, water, or exercise log
0/144 discussed meditation, deep breathing, attending grief group, or therapy for her mental health
0/144 shared reputable medical sources for nutrition or weight loss content. (She mentions WW points but does not list a website or how to access their app.)
0/144 shared a recommendation for another weight loss influencer to follow
0/144 shared a source for recipes
0/144 shared a recipe
So, what is her "weight loss" content about? Let's dive into her purchases to find out.
📢 Disclaimer: Kylea was secretive about the money spent on her Mom and Stepdad for this all expense paid cruise. I strongly feel that these estimates may be lower than the actual amount spent. Buckle in 🚗
Her subtotal from 04/21/24-04/27/24 was $10,094.76 + all applicable taxes, tips, and fees.
(For anyone following longer, her 3 week combined subtotal is $13,193.79 + all applicable taxes, tips, and fees.)
🚨 Per Missouri public court records, she has not satisfied her current medical judgment and is only able to pay $25 per month.
Weekly Takeout Purchases: $154 est + tips
Sunday 04/21/24 Dutch Bros for KG= $8 est + tip; *Possible Dutch Bros for 3 adults= $24 est + tip; Sunflower Bakery & Cafe for 2= $25 est + tip; *Possible Sunflower Bakery & Cafe for 2= $25 est + tip; Starbucks for KG & Joe= $16 est + tip;
Monday 04/22/24 Starbucks Flavored Tea for KG= $6 est + tip; Starbucks Flavored Tea for KG= $6 est + tip;
Wednesday 04/24/24 Starbucks cold brew for KG= $8 est + tip;
Thursday 04/25/24 Starbucks coffee for KG= $8 est + tip; Fresh Pineapple Stand for 2= $5 est + tip; *Possible Fresh Pineapple Stand for 2= $5 est + tip; Coca Cola & Diet Coke at bar on excursion= $5 est + tip; *Possible beverages for 2= $5 est + tip;
Friday 04/26/24 Starbucks Cold Brew for KG= $8 est + tip
📢 These additional shopping/travel expenses do NOT reflect her rent, utilities, phone, 2 car payments, etc.
Additional shopping/travel expenses: $9,940.76 + all applicable taxes, tips, fees
Sunday 04/21/24 Gas from Houston, TX to Galveston, TX= (51mi/33mpg) x $3.85 est = $5.95 est; Target= unknown
Wednesday 04/24/24 Magnet souvenir= $7.99 est; Palo Alto Cafe Artesenal 100% Hondureno coffee beans: $12.50 est; LFK Sloth Farm & Full Island= $109 x 4 Adults = $436 + tip; LFK Resort Mini Pig Add On= $20 x 4 Adults= $80 + tip; Taxi round-trip for 4 Adults= $16 est + tip
Thursday 04/25/24 Chacchoben Ruins Tour (taxi included) $58 x 4 Adults= $232 + tip;
Friday 04/26/24 Mr Sanchos All Day Inclusive Pass= $68 x 4 Adults = $272 + tip; Taxi round-trip for 4 Adults= $34 + tip; Custom Neon Friendship Bracelets for Drue and Kylea= $15 est;
Saturday 04/27/24- Royal Caribbean Fees included an estimated 60% off 2nd guest and 35% off photo packages paid in advance. I believe Kylea used a medical exemption to have a different drink package than Joe.
2 interior rooms for 7 nights = $6,592.96 est; Deluxe Beverage Package for 1 Adult= $80 est per person/day = $560 est; Refreshment Package for 3 Adults= $35 est per person/day = $735 est; VOOM Surf & Stream (Internet) for 2 devices for 2 Adults= $18.99 per person/day = $265.86 est; Photo Package up to 50 prints × 2 = $535.50 est; Parking for SUV for 7 days= $140 est;
⚠️ Trigger Warning: Disordered Eating, Mental illness, and Religion
Final thoughts: 🤔 What have you learned in the last 3 weeks via approx. 399 monetized posts or in the last week via 144 monetized posts to help you on your weight loss/health journey?
I learned that Kylea Gomez glorifies disordered eating in the name of Jesus for monetary gain. She ate 1/4 to 1/5 of her allotted WW points most days of this cruise via photo evidence and posts. I learned she is a vain, narcissist, who I believe is mentally ill, and will exploit anything and everything to live a frivolous lifestyle. She is not budget-wise or financially savvy and should pay her debt(s). She has NO business offering any form of budgeting or financial advice.
In general, I am frustrated with social media influencers and paid content creators who REFUSE to disclose how, when, and why they are paid. Your "followers" should know the details of your social media income from the platforms and companies you work with so we can make an informed decision on how we spend our time and money. There is a fine line between advocacy/education/influence and dishonesty/hypocrisy/lack of transparency and accountability.
I am fortunate to have grown up without social media. To all influencers and content creators, we don't NEED you. Quite the opposite. Many of us lived without you once. We can do it again. We will hold you accountable.
All info from Reddit. ✌️

I'm not sure if $30 is worth it. I don't live near a mexican bakery or else I wouldnt be asking!! Wegman's near me never has it either !!!
But I got the mini one and it was so good it reminded me of home :) (I lived in DC and I'm hispanic) I have to go to UPS tomorrow and our crumbl is right next to it 🤔 So I might buy it unless you guys convince me its just not worth it

I searched the internet but could not find a recipe and programming for making bread with Einkorn wheat in a bread machine that worked for me, so I figured it out the hard way through experimentation. Think of Einkorn wheat as the "ancient grain" that's still wheat, but not bred for maximizing yield. Some gluten sensitive folks can eat this stuff with no problems. Credit to the Zojirushi recipe book that came in the box, a Jovial bread machine recipe, and the Zojirushi troubleshooting guide for serving as a starting point for experimentation. I hope this is useful to someone.
I have a Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker BB-PDC20, which allows you to save custom presets. If you run this in a bread machine without configurable rise times your loaf will probably collapse in the center, resulting in a dense loaf. The taste and texture will still be better than a standard recipe though, you'll just have short bread with funny edges. Even with programing the loaf top isn't picture perfect, but it's close enough.
Ingredients

Ingredient	Amount
Flour (Einkorn/Jovial)	553g
Water	300g (345g if using whole wheat)
Sugar	4 Tablespoons
Dry Milk	2 Tablespoons
Salt	2 teaspoons
Unsalted Butter	2.5 Tablespoons
Active Dry Yeast (rapid rise / bread machine)	1.25 teaspoons

Custom Preset

Step	Minutes
Rest	30
Knead	10
First Rise	60
Second Rise	60
Third Rise	35
Bake	56 for white flour (1:03 for whole wheat)
Keep Warm	0

You can use a delay timer for this recipe.
Whole wheat needs more water and more bake time.
Speculation
I don't actually know anything about the science of baking, but I'll pretend. I think the gluten in Einkorn in wimpy, so it doesn't resist yeast as well as modern wheat. If you use a standard recipe, the bread will rise higher than normal, then all the bubbles will pop while it's baking, and the center of the loaf collapses. Using less yeast and a short final rise time seemed to do the trick. Also, Einkorn needs less water.

i’m recently transferred to community college and i’m halfway done! i’m planning to go apply to any of these schools for spring 25(i wanna start preparing early) but since there’s so many i need help narrowing it down.
College gpa: 3.6
extracurriculars: working at a beauty store, owning my mini at home bakery, I make prom dresses. Train service dogs up in NC, Volunteer at the animal shelter.
I do also plan to cheer in college(i took a break from cheer)
so it’s between: UofSC, Clemson, CofC, UGA, UF, and UCF

Hi All! I had my wedding reception dinner recently and it was amazing - I'd love to offer my thoughts and suggestions, as well as things I'd do differently. I hope this is overall helpful!
For starters, my now husband and I valued QUALITY over QUANTITY. We had a black-tie wedding and splurged on the little things (ie. chanel lip balms as favors, magnolia bakery pudding, levain bakery cookies individually wrapped to take home) to make our guests feel like kings and queens, but we only invited our closest 40 friends to keep the total cost under 25k (33 people ended up coming). We had a lot of guests come from out of town since we're from the West Coast originally, so they appreciated the NYC specific desserts to take.
Our venue was the Wythe Hotel (13kish total - Saturday in March), but since we had less than 40, we were able to use their Penthouse Loft, which is luxe and beautiful with the chandeliers, wooden tables, and amazing Manhattan skyline through their floor to ceiling windows. They have super yummy and luxe food vs in my opinion, traditional wedding catering. We found a great florist that fit our natural & trendy floral arrangement aesthetic, but since we had a small wedding we could go a la carte (spent <$1000 total), 8 centerpieces + 1 larger bar arrangement). We eliminated everything else - photobooths, cake, dancing. I also bought tapered candles on Amazon that still looked really luxe and not DIY. It was an intimate luxe dinner celebration, cozy and sweet. We did play bingo that was specific to knowing us, and had some nice but still affordable gifts ($75 massage gun, $50 sephora gift card, $40 le creuset mini cocotte set, etc). We got a small gypsy jazz band that completely fit the rainy day + general NYC vibes ($2000ish). We also had an amazing photographer shoot for 5 hours (1 hour before the dinner and 4 hours during, which was cheaper than usual, as it was technically "elopment photography" - $4200ish?) We also probably would not have been able to do much without our day of coordinator, who was amazing ($2000).
I know people may have a hard time cutting down their guest lists, but I can't emphasize how special it was to have our closest 40 friends/family there in such a special setting. I'd much rather have a really amazing night with our closest friends, offering them a top-notch wedding dinner experience, over a mediocre wedding with 100+ people we know.
A regret I do have is not getting a videographer. We had 10 short speeches given that night from our honorary bridal party (since we didn't have actual wedding party duties), and they were all super sweet and overall the night was a vibe with the dim, chandelier-lit and candle-lit room, with the manhattan skyline, so I think having it in video would have been amazing. But waiting on the photos, and I think they'll be amazing too :')