Japan Honeymoon: Day 7 (Katsuo-ji Temple & Hep Five)

On Day 7 of our Japan honeymoon, we set out to experience the best of Osaka! We explored the amazing Katsuoji Temple, a place filled with wishes and beautiful sights. Then, we soared high on the Hep Five Ferris Wheel, watching the city spread out below us. Join us as we share all the exciting moments from our day in this vibrant city!

Here’s the day’s itinerary:

10:00 AM: We arrived at Minoh-kayano Station, ready to catch our bus to Katsuo-ji Temple.
11:00 AM: We reached the beautiful Katsuo-ji Temple, beginning our exploration.
03:30 PM: After our temple visit, we headed for a late but delicious unlimited shabu shabu lunch at Shabu Shabu Kirimine Oosakaten.
04:00 PM: Fully satisfied, we made our way to Hep Five for some afternoon fun.
05:00 PM: Our evening continued with a stop at Don Quijote for some shopping.

Our Morning at Katsuo-ji Temple: Daruma Dolls and Autumn Colors

Our first stop of the day was the beautiful Katsuo-ji Temple. We took a train from our hotel, a ride of about 40 minutes, to Minoh-Kayano Station. From there, we caught the Hankyu Bus directly to the temple, which took around 20 minutes. We arrived at the temple at 11 in the morning, and our timing was perfect because the queue for the bus quickly grew long! Our fare per adult costs ¥800 (one way), and we paid using our IC card.

We absolutely loved our time at the temple. Beautiful budding red maple trees greeted us, making the scenery incredibly picturesque. Katsuo-ji Temple is famous as the “Temple of Winning Luck,” with a history spanning over 1,300 years! Emperors and shoguns once visited to pray for victory. Today, people come to pray for success in all parts of life, and you’ll see countless Daruma dolls scattered everywhere. These round, red dolls symbolize perseverance; people buy them, paint one eye when making a wish, and fill in the other eye when their wish comes true, often returning them to the temple. The temple’s mountainous setting offered many colorful photo spots, and we made sure to collect the stamps for the famous Daruma doll postcards.

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Late Lunch in Umeda: Warm Shabu Shabu and Robot Servers

After our morning adventures, we took the Hankyu train to Umeda Station for a late lunch. It was already past 3 in the afternoon, and the day felt cold and rainy. So, we craved warm soup – shabu shabu was the perfect choice! We quickly found Shabu Shabu Kirimine Oosakaten, just a two-minute walk from JR Osaka Station.

Since it wasn’t a busy time, we easily got seats, though many people were still eating which surprised us. We loved the fresh vegetables they offered. What really caught our eye was the robot staff! These robots brought the meat right to our tables, making the meal even more fun. It was a delicious and comforting lunch, exactly what we needed on a chilly day.

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A Rainy Ride on the Iconic Hep Five Ferris Wheel

Following our shabu shabu lunch, we walked to Hep Five. Again, our Osaka 2-Day Pass came in handy because it included this attraction! We simply redeemed our ticket and then rode the famous Hep Five Ferris Wheel. This bright red Ferris wheel is a true landmark in Osaka’s Umeda district, built on top of the Hep Five shopping complex in 1998. Its highest point reaches 106 meters above the ground, giving riders a fantastic 360-degree panoramic view of downtown Osaka, the harbor, and even distant mountains on a clear day. Each of its 52 gondolas is air-conditioned and heated, making the 15-minute ride comfortable year-round. Although it was raining during our visit, we still enjoyed riding it right before the sun set, watching the city lights begin to twinkle.

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Last Stop: Don Quijote Fun!

Finally, we made our way to Don Quijote! We had held off visiting one when we were in Kyoto, but with plenty of time and a large store nearby, we took our chance. We spent almost two hours inside the Don Quijote Umeda Main Store. It was a true experience!

Each aisle inside was packed with so many intriguing items; it felt like a maze, and it was easy to lose track of time. We grabbed souvenirs for our friends and families, along with some things for ourselves. Don Quijote really does have everything you could ever want (and even things you didn’t know you wanted!).