ThOuGhTs, iDeAs, oPiNiOnS, cHaTtEr: Day 1: Japan (Osaka)

Thursday, February 26, 2026

Day 1: Japan (Osaka)

Today, we (me and my two nieces) would be leaving for a Japan vacation. It is my nieces' gift for me. I am looking forward to this. This is my first travel after my retirement.

We should be at the airport for four (4) hours before our flight. So we left the condo around 9:30 AM with my niece, wearing my Casio G-Shock on my left wrist and my Apple watch on my right. We will be picking up my other niece in her condo.

Everything went smoothly on our check-in.

My two nieces have free access to the airport lounge. I don't have it. They paid (PhP 3,000.00) so that all three of us would be relaxed while waiting for the flight. Thank you! ❤

PAGSStop Lounge at Terminal 1

When we are on our way to Gate 4, that is when we learned that it is the last call for the passengers in the flight. But we did not hear it announced at the lounge?! So we ran. LOL

I think our flight only took less than 4 hours.

Manila from the plane

While on the flight, it is when I remembered I forgot the PIN of my GCash Visa Card. Then, I forgot the MPIN of my GCash app!!!

Upon landing in Japan, the processing is efficient--everything is automated. My nieces also rented a WiFi we can use. The van who will bring us to our hotel is already waiting for us.

Kansai International Airport (KIX)

It is about a 15 minute ride to ChaYa Hotel. The instructions on how to get in our hotel room have been sent. There is no receptionist where we have to do our check-in. Nice.

ChaYa Hotel

After leaving our things, we went out to have our dinner at McDonald's. I tried their offering which is not available in the Philippines--the Bai Teriyaki McBurger.

McDonald's

We then crossed the street to 7-Eleven to buy food for breakfast. Our hotel room has a mini-kitchen. It is also here where I withdrew money using my GCash Visa Card. Be sure to choose "no forex conversion".