Our First Plan and Changes
Our original plan for Day 3 was to visit the Umeda Sky Building and Kuchu Teien Observatory before taking the Hello Kitty Shinkansen to Himeji. But, we realised that the observatory is close to Osaka Station, while the Hello Kitty Shinkansen departs from Shin-Osaka. To avoid the hassle, we decided to drop the observatory from our itinerary.
Morning: Breakfast and Shin-Osaka Station
We began our day with a quick breakfast from a convenient store before heading to Shin-Osaka Station. At the station, we bought tickets for the unreserved seats on the Hello Kitty Shinkansen. Coaches 2 and 3 are for unreserved seats, conveniently close to Coach 1, where the shop and decorations are located.
With some extra time on our hands due to the change in plans, we explored the shops at Shin-Osaka Station. We found adorable children’s bento boxes shaped like bullet trains. There were various designs, but my youngest daughter, of course, chose the Hello Kitty design.
Train Ride to Himeji
The train ride to Himeji was short, about 45 minutes. We spent most of the journey taking photos and browsing the shop, so we didn’t have time to eat our bento boxes. We decided to save them for when we arrived in Himeji.
Exploring Himeji Castle
Our first stop in Himeji was the magnificent Himeji Castle, a 15-20 minute walk from the station. You can also take a bus or taxi, but we opted for a leisurely stroll. The castle is fascinating, with stunning views from the top. Be prepared for a lot of walking and climbing stairs. Inside the castle, you need to remove your shoes, so wear appropriate footwear. They offer bags to carry your shoes.
Himeji City Zoo
Next, we visited the Himeji City Zoo, located close to the castle. It’s a small zoo and inexpensive – ¥250 for adults and ¥50 for children. You can easily finish exploring it within an hour.
Relaxing at Kokoen Garden
After the zoo, we headed to Kokoen Garden for a relaxing stroll. The garden is a beautiful and serene place, perfect for unwinding after a day of exploration.
Evening: Exploring Dotonbori and Dinner at Ramen KAZUYA
After our relaxing time at Kokoen Garden, we took the local train back to Osaka and spent the evening exploring the vibrant Dotonbori area. For dinner, we chose Ramen KAZUYA, a small ramen restaurant off Dotonbori and close to our hotel. The restaurant has about 8 seats, and you order from a vending machine, then give the ticket to the chef.
I enjoyed the ramen, which had a rich, thick broth, but my family preferred the plain or clear broth ramen. After another long day, we headed back to our hotel, conveniently located just across the road from the restaurant.
This day was filled with delightful experiences, from the charming Hello Kitty Shinkansen to the majestic Himeji Castle and the serene Kokoen Garden. It was a perfect blend of excitement and relaxation, making our Japan adventure truly memorable.
The Travelling Wee 
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