Nara Park 🦌& Osaka by night

The day began with a walk through Nara Park. It was expected to be crowded, but instead, the park felt open and calm, full of deer wandering in groups. They looked peaceful and didn’t mind the presence of gaijin. One of them gently nudged Maciek awake from a nap - apparently, he smelled like snacks. A woman played the shamisen nearby, pink ume (plum) blossoms were starting to bloom, and a local artist painted in silence. The atmosphere was slow and soothing.

In the evening, the mood shifted in Osaka. First stop: Nipponbashi, a district known for manga, maid cafés, and, unexpectedly, extremely explicit sex shops-definitely a one-time experience. Later, in Dotonbori, we found gluten-free okonomiyaki, plus pho and ramen. Everything hot and comforting.

We spent the night on a rest stop by the highway. The camper shook with every passing truck, but we still slept well.Read more