I didn't add the gold glitter to this one and instead used some gold triangle nail art that I had, which was annoying because I had to bend them by hand to lay on my nails (they are metal). 

Switching back to normal nail polish turned out to be a mistake, because my manicure almost immediately chipped. I couldn't stand it, so I redid my manicure in gel. I had to mix my own colors, but I think they came out pretty good! I added gold glitter to this, as well as the metal triangles. 

Then, the ramen. The broth was amazing, the char sui was to die for, and the braised pork was heavenly. It left you lips feeling sticky, like a good ramen should! 

After we were done, we stopped at Daiso and Don Quixote, to get some last minute omiyage. We said farewell to our friend, and headed back to the apartment to cool off in the AC, shower, and repack some things. 

BTW, check out this Pizza Hut menu from Japan. 

I didn't get to take a pic of it last year, but here it is. It doesn't look like much, but it's damn tasty. And that's the end of our trip. I'm not sure if or when we will go back again. I know some of my friends want to go in March, and I'd love to travel with them, but money is really tight right now, so we'll play it by ear. I'd love to be able to see some cherry blossoms though, and be in some nice chilly weather...but like I said, we'll see. I feel like I've definitely seen what I really wanted to see in Osaka, and I'd love to go back to Tokyo again because there are things there that I didn't get to see at all (Tsukiji Fish Market, Asakausa, Kamakura, Cat Street, etc.). But I'd also love to see Hokkaido too, other places I've never been. I definitely haven't lost my love for Japan. I'm sure we will be back again!

We went down the alleyway pictured above and found a restaurant that served chigae. Before we even left, I wanted chigae. I wanted chigae from the night before. My mind was set, and I was excited. So when we ordered, I had to order for Kevin since he didn't know the food. I got him bulgogi, and then the waitress disappeared. I thought she was coming back, but she didn't. Finally I called her and told her I wanted chigae, but I guess she thought I wanted bulgogi too, even though when I ordered I said "hitotsu." By then the guy had already made the bulgogi and it was too late to change my order. I was mad. What irritated me most is that when we got deeper into the place, there were a ton of other restaurants, some that just did chigae!! SO MAD!

There was a really kind looking man selling all kinds of pickled veggies. I asked if I could take a pictures and he was more than happy to let me. I think this is daikon in some sake lees. 

I haven't been able to paint my nails for a while because I had surgery on my thumb and I was all bandaged up. The moment I got my bandage off, I got painting. I'm still very much in love with water dotting. I wanted to do one that was strictly water, so here you go!

I ended up buying a knife from a store called Sakai Ichimonji Mitsuhide. The woman that helped us spoke good English (albeit with a heavy accent), explained the difference between Western and Japanese knives, and even explained how to use a whetstone. She was very helpful!