FAM IN JAPAN - PART VI - OSAKA

The fam in Japan posts keep coming! 

Now up...our time in Osaka!! My brother, Russ, has friends who live in Osaka so we made it a point to go visit them in their city after our time in Kyoto. I had never been to Osaka before so I was so curious to finally see it all!!

1H7A2123.jpg

Here was our Airbnb in Kyoto. It was so cozy and really fun to all stay at together. 

1H7A2128.jpg

REAL LIFE: waiting for the shinkansen with 6 adults, 5 kids and a LOT OF BAGS. hahaa...my siblings are all so chill though so it made traversing the public transit quite fun! Plus the kids are all amazing and the most fun travel buddies. 

1H7A2131.jpg
1H7A2145.jpg

On the short shinkansen ride from KYOTO to OSAKA...we had the whole car basically to ourselves and Eden was really letting her personality shine! 

1H7A2156.jpg

Cam too! He has the sweetest smile.

1H7A2171.jpg

I love this picture It is so real...and so US!! I love being with my family so much...this makes me really miss them!

1H7A2175.jpg

My sissy and her three girls <3

 

After a short train ride...we arrived in OSAKA and were immediately greeted by the most amazing Osaka friends PLUS... sakura trees!!!!!!

 

1H7A2178.jpg
1H7A2186.jpg

We headed to a big park to meet up with my brother's friends to have enjoy HANAMI (sakura viewing!!) and I have to say...we were there on the most perfect day!

1H7A2188.jpg
1H7A2193.jpg
1H7A2203.jpg

My brother Russ and his amazing friends Ai, Keiko and Mako!! He met them all over a decade ago when he came to Japan on a missions trip. They all attend a church in Osaka and are really the coolest, sweetest, friendliest ladies! 

1H7A2219.jpg
1H7A2223.jpg
1H7A2236.jpg
1H7A2245.jpg

Shout out to my amazing sister-in-law and brother-in-law for being amazing parents! 

1H7A2258.jpg

I love these kids of sakura blooms...they are so delicate looking! 

1H7A2262.jpg
1H7A2289.jpg

Off to our next destination...a boat ride to see more sakura! 

1H7A2310.jpg
1H7A2320.jpg
1H7A2335.jpg

This is just the best photo ever!!! Our kiddos plus Ai's two adorable boys...all hanging out in Osaka under the sakura trees!!! AHHHHHH....I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!!!!!

1H7A2350.jpg

OKAY OSAKA....YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. 

1H7A2366.jpg

Ai and Mako gave my sisters and I the cutest little gifts. There is nothing like Japanese hospitality. 

1H7A2372.jpg

I told Lenny here..."funny face!!" HAHAA..oh man, she is too cute. 

1H7A2421.jpg
1H7A2391.jpg

HAHAHA I love this pic of Cam. I don't even know what he was doing... but I happened to snap this pic while we were on the boat! hahahaaa makes me laugh. 

1H7A2392.jpg
1H7A2393.jpg
1H7A2410.jpg

Hunter is really growing up so fast!! Love that kid. 

1H7A2440.jpg

Sweet father son hugs in Dotonbori...the most famous spot in Osaka. 

1H7A2442.jpg
1H7A2453.jpg
1H7A2459.jpg

Dotonbori is really a craaaazy place!! It has a totally different vibe from Tokyo, which is why most Tokyo and Osaka people really like to differentiate themselves. It's loud, fun, wild, humorous, and lively. WOW

1H7A2467.jpg

While we were cruising the streets at night, I stopped when I saw this group of men standing outside this restaurant. To me, they really represent the quintessential Japanese business man lifestyle. The suits, the bags, the group mentality, the drinking parties...so Japan! 

1H7A2475.jpg
1H7A2480.jpg

For dessert we stumbled upon a CREMIA bar to get the best icecream ever!! BUT...what was even more impressive was piece of paper the man was using to record his icecream sales. It was so oldschool and I absolutely loved it!

 

Our next day in OSAKA...

1H7A2486.jpg

This was the view from out airbnb...can you believe it!!???? This is precisely why I am in love with Japan. The tiniest little street down a random alleyway in Osaka has THIS VIEW. 

1H7A2489.jpg

first stop...cruising the streets to Kuromon market. The kids are all at a perfect age to be carried on the shoulders of any willing (and gracious) adult. I love this picture because it is a moment in time I want to freeze forever! Cam, Eden and Lenny all being this size...with my brothers...on a street in Osaka...ahhhhhhh **tears**

1H7A2499.jpg
1H7A2500.jpg

First purchase at the market...these crazy "white strawberries" that were actually so sweet! 

1H7A2504.jpg

madness at the market. 

1H7A2506.jpg
1H7A2512.jpg
1H7A2513.jpg
1H7A2520-2.jpg

I absolutely love this photo of Hunter. It might be one of my favorite shots of him. We were at ROUNDONE (arcade center) and he really wanted to play games. He was running around and saw this game and turned around right as I snapped this photo of him in pure 6-year-old excitement!! I love him. 

1H7A2540.jpg
1H7A2553.jpg

It was really cool to spend some time with my bro D. Him and I share a love for fashion and style, so we got some creative shots while we were killing time waiting for the others. 

1H7A2564.jpg

This was inside our airbnb...and staying here really made me fall in love with a house with a city view. It is pretty magical. This place had floor to ceiling windows that offered views all around...amazing! 

1H7A2565.jpg
1H7A2571.jpg

I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT. 

Looking back at all these photos makes me even more thankful for the time I had with my siblings and their kiddos in Japan. What a crazy blessed life we get to live!