This Japan trip wasn’t planned the usual way.
I just came from my Europe trip and honestly, I was supposed to rest. But things changed—my mom (Mama Luth) got hospitalized in Sapporo, and I had to go.
No overplanning. No strict itinerary.
Just booked the flight and went.
Still turned into one of the most memorable trips I’ve had.
Overview
- Day 1–2: Osaka
- Day 3–7: Sapporo
- Day 8–11: Osaka
- Day 10: Kyoto & Nara (Klook day trip)
Solo trip—but in Sapporo, it was different.
Some days gala. Some days just staying in. Priorities shifted, and that’s okay.
Days 1–2: Osaka (First Impression)
First time in Osaka—and I loved it immediately.
It’s lively but not overwhelming. Easy to move around. And the food + shopping? Solid.
This was more of a “settling in” phase. No pressure. Just getting familiar with the city.
Days 3–7: Sapporo (Different Kind of Stay)
This part of the trip wasn’t about sightseeing.
I was there mainly for my mom.
So the days were mixed.
Some days I went out. Some days I stayed in. No fixed routine.
And honestly, that’s what made it feel more real.
Not every trip has to be packed.
Days 8–11: Osaka + Day Trip
Back to Osaka, but this time more relaxed.
This is where I did most of the exploring and shopping—and yes, this is where things escalated 😅
From 2 luggage → 5 check-in baggage.
Worth it.
Day 10: Kyoto & Nara (via Klook)
Easy day trip.
Temples, open spaces, deer in Nara—everything felt calmer compared to Osaka.
Good contrast without needing to plan too much.
Day 11: The Unexpected Part
My flight back to Abu Dhabi with Etihad got cancelled.
So instead of going home directly, I had to reroute to Manila.
Booked AirAsia last minute—with extra, extra luggage (because 5 bags 😭)
Stressful? A bit.
Funny looking back? Definitely.
Overall Experience
This wasn’t a typical Japan itinerary.
It wasn’t optimized. It wasn’t packed.
But it was real.
A mix of responsibility, solo travel, slow days, and small moments in between.
And even with everything that happened—I still ended up loving Japan.
You’re right—that’s on me. Won’t happen again. Clean spacing only from here 👍
Here are the same 3, fixed properly:
