Japan 2024 Trip: From Fukuoka to Osaka

Here is the summary of our 2024 Japan trip in one post.  We spent 12 days 11 nights in total in Japan for this trip.  We mostly stayed in Kyushu Island as well as Osaka and some Hyogo prefecture.  I will conclude them in day-by-day itinerary below.  Then, if you require more information, you can click on each link that will take you to a blog where more information is given.  Hope it is something that you are after.  Enjoy reading, pals...

By the way, our trip was pretty laid back and no rush because we went with my parents who are in their 70's and one teenager also one toddler.  What a great combination of ages!!  Therefore, I needed to find something in the middle and tried to please everyone.  So, here is our 11 days trip that maybe only doing half of the other people would normally do.  Still, happy reading all...

Day 1: Just arrived in Yufuin then had a beef sukiyaki dinner in Yawaragi No Sato Yadoya Ryokan

Day 2: Whole day spent in Yufuin town

Day 3: Visited Hell Valley and stayed in Beppu for 2 nights

Day 4: Went to see Japanese macaques at Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden

Day 5: Ate at Ichiran ramen and snacks food at Yatai stalls as we stayed in Fukuoka for 4 nights

Day 6: Visited Dazaifu and Anpanman Children's Museum

Day 7: Spent time in Nagasaki and Yatai for second round

Day 8: Paid our respect at Nanzoin Temple

Day 9: From Fukuoka to Osaka and had an okonomiyaki dinner in Dotonburi 

Day 10: Strolled around Kyoto

Day 11: Brief stopped in Himeji and enjoyed teppanyaki Kobe beef at Steakland restaurant

Day 12: Universal Studio Japan and flew back home

From Hakata International Airport to Yufuin by bus

Part 1: Click here

Room in Yawaragi-No-Sato Yadoya

Part 2: Click here

Japanese hot pot "Sukiyaki" of the beef and raw egg "Ranou"

Part 3: Click here

Breakfast room in the ryokan

Part 4: Click here

Owl's Forest

Part 5: Click here

Onsen in Yawaragi-No-Sato Yadoya Ryokan

Part 6: Click here

Steam cooking at Jigokumushi Kobo

Part 7: click here

Nishitetsu Resort Inn, Beppu

Part 8: click here

Takasakiyama Monkey Park, Oita

Part 9: click here

Sushi from Kura sushi

Part 10: click here

Hotel Wing International Hakata

Part 11: click here

Ichiran ramen

Part 12: click here

Dazaifu Tenmangu

Part 13: click here

Fukuoka Anpanman Children's Museum

Part 14: click here

Nakasu Yatai Food Stalls

Part 15: click here

Meganebashi Bridge

Part 16: click here

Nanzoin Temple

Part 17: click here

JR Hakata Station

Part 18: click here

On the way to Osaka

Part 19: click here

Dotonbori

Part 20: click here

Shoyu ramen from Kadoya Shokudo

Part 21: click here

Old town Kyoto

Part 22: click here

Himeji Castle

Part 23: click here

Teppanyaki at Steakland Restaurant

Part 24: click here

Strawberry pancake sandwich from Mario cafe

Part 25: click here

Airport transfer booked through Klook

Part 26: click here

Thank you all for reading and Octie Appetie...

Japan 2024 Trip Part 24: Kobe Beef From Steakland Kobe-Kan Restaurant

Previously:

Japan 2024 Trip Part 23: Himeji 

My main purpose visiting Kobe this time was plainly to have Kobe beef from one of the popular restaurants in Kobe.  It is none other than Steakland Kobe-Kan restaurant.  We arrived there pretty early just to find out that the restaurant was still closed for dinner service and would re-open again at 5pm.  So, in the meantime, we were strolling around this harbour city and taking some snaps.  However, it was a cloudy afternoon at that time, so pictures did not come out nicely.

Kobe tower

Steakland Kobe-Kan restaurant is located right next to JR Sannomiya Station.  This premium teppanyaki restaurant offers high quality of Kobe beef with their set menu prices ranging from 3,200yen to nearly 12,000yen.  

Of course, in teppanyaki style, everyone is getting their chef table seat.  For this reason, we can get to see up close while the chef is preparing and cooking our food.  Here, there were 2 different chefs cooked for us.  One person for cooking vegetables only and another one was the one handling and grilling the meat.  

Once they took our order, we then have been given with some salad and soup.  Meanwhile they were preparing our meat cuts and heating up the hot plate.  After that, the chef kindly showed us the meat and asked how we like our steak done.  He was then carefully cooked that marbling red meat and served on each plate in front of us.  He also added some deep-fried crispy garlic and teppan-fried cucumber, mushroom and konjac to our dish.  

We ordered three different meat sets: 3,200yen, 6,400yen and 9,800yen.  They can be distinguished easily from the texture to their taste.  Obviously the one 6,400yen was slightly more tender and smoother texture than the cheapest one.  But the most expensive cut that we tried was absolutely wonderful.  It had that unmatched tenderness and flavoursome piece of meat.  It was literally melted in my mouth.

Overall, we had a great meal there and their service was amazing.  Although somehow it was quite a splurge meal, but nothing compared to the superior eating quality and the experience of indulging in Kobe beef justify the cost. 

Tomato and onion soup base

Steakland Kobe-Kan

Kitanagasadori, 1 Chome-19-7 

Ph: +81 78 332 1653

Open: 7 days lunch 11:00-14:00 and dinner 17:00-21:00

Stay tuned for the next blog for our last day in Osaka:

Japan 2024 Trip Part 25: Universal Studio Japan

Day 15: Tepanyaki Zensou at Crown Palais, Kobe

Previously:
Day 15: Kobe Haborland

As I mentioned in my previous blog that Kobe beef is one of the best and also most popular beef among Japan.  It is renown for its flavour and its well-marbled texture.  The meat is very juicy and tender, especially when it done in medium-rare.

We really like to savor this famous beef here while we were in Kobe.  So, we asked the lady in the information desk and she suggested this teppanyaki restaurant, Teppan Zensou, in one of the most luxury hotel in Kobe called Hotel Crown Palais.  Ehm.... why not, we already arrive here anyway far away from home.  As we are really willing to try this precious why don't we go for the best.

Here in Teppan Zensou, we have a private chef cook teppan right in front of us with the premium ingredients served also panoramic view from the huge glass window, what a truly extraordinary way to enjoying teppanyaki.

There are a few set courses available to choose and we went for the 15,000¥.  The menu consists of two seafood appetisers, salad, Teppanyaki of Kobe beef, garlic rice with miso soup and pickles, and finally dessert platter.

a glass of coke (drink is not included)

King Fish Carpaccio

The fish is ultra fresh and very flavoursome.  This dish is also nicely presented.  They really did pay attention in each elements to create such a lovely looking dish and taste-wise also well executed.

Salad

Scallops and Prawns

Hnother brilliant dish, look very simple and only 3 components in this dish crispy prawns, juicy scallop and crunchy asparagus with little bit of seasoning.  It was simply delicious.

Marvellous Kobe Beef

I love my medium rare meat and the chef cooked this piece of heave perfectly.  The meat was fatty and tender, as you can see from how many layers of marble in that Kobe beef.  It is even pleasant to enjoy it just as it is or with slightly touch of salt as their natural taste will shine.

Dipping sauce

Natural salt from different region in Japan

The chef use this fatty part of the beef to slightly charred and mix with those garlic rice.  What a great way to enjoy fried rice.  It totally bring that boring fried rice to a better level.

Rice set

Dessert Platter

I got a little disappointed with their dessert.  After a great and wonderful main course we had, their dessert is very ordinary compared to the rest of dishes that they served up earlier.  Their dessert platter consist of rose jelly, raspberry puree, small piece of not-so-good tiramisu, chocolate ice cream and pumpkin chips.

Sadly they didn't complete our night with a great dessert otherwise their food will get 10 out of 10 from me.  Well, overall it was a great and extraordinary experience in eating teppanyaki for us.

Teppanyaki Zensou

Level 17, Hotel Crown Palais, Kobe

Dinner time:

From 5pm - 9pm (last order 8pm)

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Day 16: Universal Studio, Osaka