[Japan Fall Vacation] 3D2N in Okayama with a day-trip to Universal Studios Japan (USJ)

Finally, it's my turn to go for my year-end holiday.... 

I took a morning flight on Saturday to Osaka, and the flying time was about 6-ish hours. I had a short nap on the flight and woke up at 5pm local time. We reached the airport around 6-ish. It was a full flight, so we couldn’t use the empty seats to stretch and rest our legs!

We reached Kansai International Airport at around 3+ local time in the afternoon. Japan is around an hour ahead in time difference from Singapore's time. Prior to our departure, we had purchased our JR/SHINKANSEN PASS which allowed us to travel from Kansai Airport to Okayama! The train ride only took 1.5-2 hours with a stop at Shin Osaka for the transfer to reach our destination. We stayed within the Downtown Okayama area as it gave us the full advantage of allowing us to explore Okayama and the surrounding areas!

We stayed in ANA Crowne Plaza for 3 days, and it is literally located below the Okayama JR station. I liked how close it was to the JR station as it was really convenient. In addition to the hotel, there was a super wide selection of shops, restaurants and all kinds of small eating places to grab a quick bite instead of a sit-in meal. It was definitely an excellent option to stay in Okayama. 

The rooms were comfortable, clean and was of a decent size even though it was a Japanese Hotel, which are notorious for having small compact rooms. Furthermore, they were fully equipped with any amenities a guest might need!

After checking into our room, it was already 9pm, so we decided to have our late Izakaya dinner nearby. Our first meal for this trip was settled at Yaneura Bistro & Wine BanBan.

Our room stay was inclusive of breakfast, and we headed down to the café to enjoy a mixture of Okayama local dishes as well as American cuisine in the morning buffet. OMG! Their breakfast buffet was splendid!

The day trip to Naoshima Island is quite easily done from Okayama. If you have a JR Pass and you are traveling from Okayama, take the JR to Uno Port. The journey time is just under 30 minutes. Finally, when you arrive at UNO Port, do purchase the ferry tickets to Naoshima Island. 

Naoshima Island is the home to artworks from famous artists such as Yayoi Kusama and Lee Ufan.

The first thing that you notice when you get off the ferry in Naoshima is Yayoi Kusama’s ‘Red Pumpkin,’ which was constructed in 2006. It's the first indication that you have arrived on Japan’s art island.

Designed by Sou Fujimoto for the 2016 Setouchi Triennial, this crystal-like ‘island’ was created to provide an escape from the hot summer sun. It provided an immersive experience to create endless opportunities for photography. 

The Lee Ufan Museum (李禹煥美術館) is dedicated to the art of the Korean-born artist.

Simple details at the Lee Ufan Museum makes a big difference! 

What really got our eyes on was the Yayoi Kusama’s iconic Yellow Pumpkin. It is an arguably the most iconic installation on Naoshima, and definitely the most photographed.  

If you are an art lover, I would say that Naoshima is not to be missed. There is certainly no place like it in the world. 

We got in line to take the obligatory photo with The Yellow Pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama. It has become a must-see attraction on the island, drawing art enthusiasts and tourists alike to capture photos of its charm.

We also picked up some art souvenirs from Yayoi Kusama. 

Before leaving the island, we had our lunch at one of restaurants on the island.

Prior to our trip, Baby had made a reservation for our dinner at a restaurant named Kuikiri Ryori Happou at 6.30pm. We missed the earlier ferry back to Uno Port, and as we were rather sweaty from the hike on the island, we needed to head back to the hotel to get cleaned up and changed for our Kaiseki dinner. We took a taxi from our hotel, and the car journey took us less than 15 mins to reach. 

Kuikiri Ryori Happou is a Two Michelin-starred Japanese Restaurant in Okayama. 

We had more than a 10 course Japanese menu, and we were thoroughly impressed! We enjoyed scrumptious food in a unique atmosphere, and we love the art of Japanese cooking.

In terms of reservations, this place is always busy, but Baby still managed to book it for us via a reservation service called Pocket Concierge, where by a service charge was applicable. . Kuikiri Ryori Happou is a culinary gem that should not be missed if you are visiting Okayama. This dinner came with a pricey price tag about ¥70000 for 2 people but the experience and food quality made up for it. We had a wonderful experience, and it was truly the best food experience we had in Japan!

We did a day trip to Osaka for Universal Studios Japan (USJ), and we were here to experience the limited time Kimetsu no Yaiba XR Ride - Race to Swordsmith Village. It was an exhilarating ride that sent us into the World of Demon Slayer! 

We planned a full day at the theme park, as the main issue with Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is that it’s EXTREMELY popular with both local Japanese and foreign tourists. To save time, we purchased our USJ tickets prior to our departure from Singapore. Even though you can buy tickets from the front counter on the day itself, I wouldn't recommend it as there are large queues. We bought our tickets from KLOOK as the process is quite simple and the E-tickets were provided instantly. We only needed to scan the QR code from our E-ticket at the automated entrance gantry on the day of our visit, which will attest to how simple it was.

During this period of time, USJ offers a Tanjiro Gourd Bucket filled with Sweet Soy-glazed Popcorn! 

This ride follows an original storyline and is an XR Ride that combines a high-speed roller coaster with VR technology for a truly immersive experience. OMG! So fun! 

We were glad that we got a table to dine at Swordsmith Village Hyottoko Dining Hall. 

Baby had Sudachi-Scented Cerulean Soda - This special drink was inspired by the calm and collected Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka, whose swordsmanship is fluid and refined.

I had the Mint-Scented Stormy Ginger - The abrasive Sanemi Shinazugawa bears an obsessive hatred of demons like no other. This special drink was inspired by this hot-blooded Wind Hashira. 

We received a random special coaster for each drink ordered! 

We had the Vibrant Sushi Meal, and the meal came with assorted Sushi (Sardine, Trout Salmon, Pickled Daikon, Yellowfin Tuna, Great Amberjack, Crabmeat, Ikura), Assorted Tempura (Shrimp, Skewered Sakura Mochi, Stuffed Lotus Root, Asparagus and Corn, Shishito Pepper), Braised Dish (Soy-Braised Pork and Lotus Root Dumpling), Side Dish (Vinegared Eel and Cucumber), and Miso Soup. This luxurious meal was inspired by the radiant and free-spirited Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira. 

We also shared the Swirling Black Sesame Mousse. 

Universal Studios Japan offered a perfect blend of scary and fun this Halloween season. During the day, we enjoyed Pokémon Charge-Up Halloween Parade & Greeting. My Melody and Kuromi also made their appearances in exclusive Halloween costumes! Not to forget the Pokémon Jumpin’ Halloween Party at night, which is ideal for both children and adults. 

We had our dinner at Pop-up Pokemon Halloween Restaurant.

I had the Mimikyu’s White Cream Cutlet Burger. The Mimikyu bun doesn’t have eyes, but Mimikyu’s smile and rosy cheeks are displayed. Mimikyu’s ears stick out the top of the bun.

Baby had Black Beef Stew in a Pie Crust which included a crispy pie filled with rich, flavorful beef stew. 

We also ordered a Hitomoshi’s Gooey Yogurt Mousse Cake and a Round Pumpkaboo Pumpkin Cake to share between us. 

Both of our meal sets came with DJ Pikachu’s Lemon Soda and a light-up 'Pokémon Halloween' Coaster.

Apart from the usual rollercoasters and attractions such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World, we were also here to enjoy the Halloween Horror Nights. When night fell, a siren echoed through the streets. A horde of zombies then surged into the area, and we experienced the Street Zombies where we got to face off with security forces against vicious zombies, to the ultra-extreme ‘Chainsaw Man’ experience!

For those seeking a more thrilling experience, the night events are a must. When night fell, zombies started to roam the grounds–this is not an event for the faint of heart!

We joined in HAMI-KUMA’s Shout It Out Party! HAMI-KUMA is a cute and terrifying zombie teddy bear with many things protruding from his stomach

We left the park at 9-ishpm, as we have booked our time slot for the Shinkansen back to Okayama at 950pm. we needed to do some packing, as we will be checking out after our breakfast at ANA Crowne Plaza the next day!

Stay tuned for my next outing, as we left Okayama and travelled to Kinosaki Onsen.