We left our hotel at 7:30 for the train to Osaka. If I impart no other knowledge in my life, do not travel on the rush hour tube metro, with large luggage, in Tokyo. It was not fun.
Other than that, the journey was seamless. The Shinkansen train was spacious with reclining seats and plenty of legroom. The only thing missing was a tea trolley and the cloud was too low to see Mount Fuji. I may be the only person to visit Japan and not see it.
We dropped our luggage at our hotel and took the Metro into the city to see Osaka Castle. The castle and its grounds were approached along paths lined with Gingko, cherry trees and Japanese pines. The main tower is the star of the show, rising eight stories from a raised fortified platform dating from the sixteenth century. The castle has been destroyed several times during its long and violent history.and now only a few turrets and shrines remain.
The main tower looked so beautiful from the outside that we decided to join the queue for tickets. It’s forbidden to take photos, inside the castle, so there is no evidence of our disappointment. Having expected a museum that recreates the living environment of the time, we entered something that felt like a very modern office block with exhibits around the walls. It was very crowded and disappointing with the exception of the Sangan sakura turret and the wood frame holding up a stone structure.
Our evening was spent in the Dotonbori area and shopping district of Minami. Bright lights, lots of noise and huge crowds!
If anyone has watched Midnight Diner on Netflix, our evening meal was taken in a diner with only two options on the menu. and the Katsu curry was delicious.
I am too tired to proof read properly so apologies for poor spelling, grammar and anything else that’s not quite right.
Finally, I have a special photo for Mum. She been a little concerned about the weather and earthquakes but Matt and I know where to shelter in case there is an earthquake…
