Prologue
"An Overseas Workshop for Our 20th Anniversary? Exciting!"
The moment I heard about an overseas workshop to celebrate our company’s 20th anniversary, I was thrilled. The thought of flying off to Osaka filled me with excitement.
Time flew by, and reality started to sink in. We sorted out the participants, checked our passports, gathered flight and accommodation details, and even organized teams.
A total of seven teams were formed, and we were Team 5!
Our team members? Manager Lee Seoyeon and Assistant Manager Kim Yuna from the DC Division, Senior Manager Kim Yongseok from Seconds Factory, and me!
We held a team meeting to plan our trip together. Since there had been little interaction between our team and the DC Division in our daily work, our first discussions were a bit cautious, with everyone carefully sharing their thoughts.
To make things more exciting, the trip budget was awarded through a contest, where each team presented their travel plans.
Our bold and confident presentation turned the meeting room into a theater filled with laughter and excitement, like popcorn popping at the movies.
"Wait, are we actually an amazing team?"
"Is this really happening?"
Hello,
Osaka!
Running through the dark to make it on time, we cleared departure procedures just in time. As the sun came up, we squeezed in our departure Reels mission at the boarding gate.
A quick two-hour flight, and Osaka greeted us with perfect weather. We dropped our bags at the hotel, stomachs growling from the early start, and went straight for food.
In Umeda, we filled up on okonomiyaki and fluffy pancakes, then hit the streets.
Through towering buildings, under highways, and along the riverside, we finally reached our first stop—Nakano-shima Museum of Art.
The museum's mascot,
a space cat, welcomed us.
There was an exhibition called‘Connection: I to Eye’, all abouthow we connect with the world, perspectives, and relationships. The space was huge, and the artwork—mainly usingred threads—totally pulled us in, both physically and visually.
After finishing at the museum, we stepped outside, leaving behind the warm evening sunlight reflecting off the glass buildings and river. We headed to a sushi spot in Umeda’s food district, and wow—sushi hits different in its hometown.
For dessert, we grabbed crepes, then made our way to the Umeda Sky Building to soak in Osaka’s night view, wrapping up our first day.
Kyoto
Outing
Early in the morning, we took a bus to Kyoto, keeping an eye out for good spots to complete our team mission. Had to repeat "embarrassment is temporary" a few times. 😅
We visited two of Kyoto’s famous historic sites.
First stop—crossed Togetsukyo Bridge, once favored by the emperor, and strolled through the peaceful bamboo forest. Lunch was at a character-themed restaurant.
On the way to Kiyomizu-dera, we truly felt the unity of humanity—Kyoto was packed with travelers from all over the world. Osaka is definitely a hot tourist spot, and now is the perfect time to visit!
After exploring Kyoto, we headed back to Osaka.
For dinner, we needed to refuel after two days of nonstop action—wagyu was the perfect choice.
Each bite melted on our tongues, leaving us all in awe.
Wish this perfect night didn’t have to end...
3rd Day
Goodbye,
Osaka
With no time to feel tired, we quickly packed our bags and headed back home.
After the long COVID-19 pandemic, passing by each other in the office halls felt awkward, and eye contact was rare. But spending three days in Osaka with my amazing DC Division colleagues turned out to be such a special and fun experience.
Leaving behind three unforgettable days of our lives in Osaka, we promised ourselves—we’ll be back. And with that, our Osaka trip came to an end.