A Deer, a Donburi, and a Sticker: Ticking Off Japan on My Water Bottle Bucket List

Neon dreams and midnight energy — Osaka at night pulses with colour, chaos, and irresistible charm.

Each sticker stuck on my bottle is a quiet trophy. Not flashy. Not loud. But each one marks a moment when the world felt big and small all at once. Japan had long loomed large on my list — not just as a destination, but as a dream. So when I finally landed in Osaka, with a side trip to Nara on the itinerary, I knew this journey would end with more than just photos. It would end with a sticker.

Osaka: Neon Nights and Street Food Delights

Osaka is energy. It buzzes and crackles, a city with a pulse you can feel in your feet. My first night was spent wandering Dotonbori, where neon signs battled for attention and the smell of grilled takoyaki drifted through the air. I let myself get swept up in the chaos — slurping ramen at a standing counter, watching a street performer balance umbrellas on his chin, and ducking into arcades that felt like alternate universes.

But the beauty of Osaka is in its contrasts. One morning, I visited the serene Osaka Castle, where the white-and-gold façade stood against a backdrop of sakura trees just starting to bloom. Another afternoon, I lost time in Kuromon Ichiba Market, sampling skewers of wagyu and fresh uni like I was checking off boxes on a flavor passport.

Where ancient temples meet curious deer — Nara, Japan, where every path leads to a moment of quiet wonder.

Nara: Sacred Silence and Friendly Deer

A quick train ride from Osaka brought me to Nara, a place that felt like it had stepped out of a painting. As soon as I entered Nara Park, I was greeted — quite literally — by deer. Dozens of them roamed freely, bowing politely for crackers and photobombing selfies. It was surreal, this blend of playfulness and reverence.

I wandered through the park, eventually reaching Todai-ji Temple, home to the Great Buddha — massive, serene, and humbling in its stillness. Unlike the electric buzz of Osaka, Nara asked me to slow down. To listen. To notice the crunch of gravel underfoot, the way the light slanted through trees, the soft shuffle of robed monks passing by.

It was a different kind of magic — one that left room for reflection.

The Sticker Moment

Back in my tiny hotel room in Osaka, with my backpack slumped in the corner and the city lights filtering through the window, I finally pulled out the Japan sticker. It was bold, red and white with a subtle cherry blossom print — simple, but unmistakable.

I peeled it carefully and pressed it just below the Croatia sticker, next to Italy and Peru. It clicked into place like a puzzle piece. One more country. One more story. One more square inch of plastic filled with memory.

Why It Matters

People ask why I bother with the water bottle thing. Why not just take photos? Post a reel? But for me, it’s tactile. It’s real. Each sticker turns a bottle into a globe of personal geography — one I’ve built step by step, snack by snack, mile by mile.

Osaka gave me neon and noodles. Nara gave me peace and perspective. Japan gave me a reason to come back, someday.

And now, that little sticker on my bottle says it loud and clear: I was here.