Universal Studios Japan | Review by Gina C

At Hozenji in Osaka, I came specifically to try the famous “Meoto Zenzai.” Two bowls of piping-hot sweet red bean soup with rice dumplings were brought to the table, and just looking at them felt so comforting. The soup was sweet, and the red beans were very soft!

After finishing the hot red bean soup with rice dumplings, I felt warm all over. When visiting Hozenji, I highly recommend stopping by for some Meoto Zenzai and experiencing this traditional dessert with a story behind it!

At Jiyuken in Namba, Osaka, it was my first time seeing a raw egg placed directly on top of curry rice. At first, I was actually a little hesitant to eat it and wondered, “Does raw egg really taste good with curry?”

But since I was already there, I worked up the courage to try a small bite! After mixing the raw egg into the curry rice, the texture became smoother, and the egg flavor mellowed out the curry quite a bit. It was surprisingly easy to eat.

We took a walk around Osaka Castle Park and had really been looking forward to seeing the cherry blossoms. Unfortunately, they hadn't bloomed yet when we visited, but we unexpectedly came across plum blossoms in full bloom, which was a different kind of pleasant surprise!

The plum blossoms dotted the branches, and they looked especially beautiful against the backdrop of Osaka Castle. Without the excitement of the cherry blossoms, it felt more peaceful and secluded instead. As we walked and admired the plum blossoms, we could occasionally look up and see Osaka Castle's main tower, a truly iconic Osaka view.

It was a little disappointing that we didn't get to see the cherry blossoms this time, but seeing the plum blossoms was also well worth it.