Something akin to what seasoned travelers do when Tokyo Disney is off the table; We take the Shinkansen! Here we are catching the train from Shinagawa station in Tokyo to Shin-Osaka station.
Authentic veiws of the Namba district of Osaka. The top is Dotomburi Canal, most likely cursed. And second, Dotomburi Street, named for the after mentioned canal. I have nothing witty to add.
Enjoying the good weather we walked around the old fortifications of Osaka Castle one morning. We saw lots of locals taking advanage of the great early spring weather like us and bus loads more tourists on the way to the castle. We decided to passed on the castle since it's a fairly modern reconstruction that pales in comparison to Himeji Castle, which can only be described as the "very real thing".
My sharp eyed Uncle and Aunt spotted a mexican restaurant high above the Shinbashi shopping arcade that has been in continuous operation since the early 80s. A sure sign of quality in my books. We had happy hour (at prices for Carona we couldn't say no too). Tastes eaten denied for years nearly brought tears to my eyes.
This picture bears repeating. Sure it's funny I'm distracted by this thing on the ceiling, but the location is insane. Namba station is one of Japan's largest. (And it doesn't even have a Shinkansen line!) It's an indoor labyrinth of shops, department stores and exits that no one in their right mind would build. But, wait, its size does have purpose. Utilizing all usable space, it also protects travellers and shopper alike from the deluge accompanying the rainy season and offers a controlled climate for the humid Osaka summers. You'll be partway there if you imagine a bigger verison of the Vancouver international airport with less windows that's older and more confusing; all filled with a hundred times as many people. That should give the reader a rough idea. What really blows my mind is that it isn't even the biggest station per square foot in Osaka. That title is held by the imposing Umeda/Osaka station north of Namba. People have actually been lost inside. I've gone through it by train but never stepped off.
On our day trip to Nara, about 40 minutes from Osaka, on the grounds of Nara's historical park, we visited Kasuga Shrine, which is famous for its lanterns. My pictures don't do the temple justice with it's thousands and thousands of lanterns of every description. It was an awesome sight that has to be experienced.
Also located on the same park grounds is Todai Temple. Probably Japanese for "very big". This temple nearly turned me into a Buddhist. It's an awesome sight. The top image is the Buddha's house, so-to-speak. Still the largest wooden structure in the world. Inside is a brozen Buddha statue of mind boggling proportions surrounded by a fiery goldern mandala that recalls heaven. Here the majestic entrance gate is seen from the temple. One has to imagine entry from the proper direction to get the full impression of what it must of have been like for anicent worshippers to approach the temple.
To help the restoration of the temple roof there was an option to buy and donate a ceramic roofing tile under a sign stating that purchase guaranteed eternal tranquility. Under the supremely peaceful face - but fierce eyes - of the Great Buddha, Uncle Terry empty his pockets. Why am I writting the one writing then? From the "drop-in-the-ocean" dept.: they only need another 199,999 tiles to finish the project.
As yes, the Nara deer. It bears repeating to never ever even give said dear the slightest impression one might be carrying food. And who would be foolish enough to actualy try to feed them? Don't say you haven't been warned.
The day after we had fugu we all noticed colours seem brighter and Japanese food more tasty. Everyone liked the fish but not all the vegtables were recognizable to Albertans. And I got to pet a puffer fish. How cool is that? I was really hoping it would puff up. Some gourmets look down on fugu, saying it's just for the experience, but what an experience! Besides, in reality, fugu does sometimes make it to the plates of fine restaurants. The place we visited took the preperation and presentation of fugu to the a high degree of seriousness. Only accepting the highest quality fish between 1.2 and 1.3 kg. Noticing later in other tanks fugu distinctly fell below and above that magical 100 gram range.
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