Osaka
I currently sit aboard a bullet train that is taking me from Osaka to Himeji. The content of this blog post takes place over the last four days. Our time in Osaka.
Four days earlier. It was 9:30am when we left the airport and headed for our Airbnb. Despite the fact that we were all quite pooped from the flights we had just disembarked from, the day was young and we still had a lot of exploring to do. Dropping of our luggage at the Airbnb, which was quite nice, but a little cramped for eight people, we headed back to the station to get the train to Namba, where the main markets and shops are. We spent the day basically just walking around trying different foods and getting to know the area in which we would be staying. For dinner that night we had the most amazing tempura, it was the first time I had ever had tempura and It was delicious.
The next day started like any other day should, with coffee and a pastry! I ordered my usual cappuccino and after we reached the pastry place, I couldn’t wait to try their almond croissant! It was good but not comparable to the almond croissants back home. I’ll be sure to let you know if I ever find one that comes close!
After our morning activities were complete, we were ready to take on the rest of the day. The plan was to go and check out Osaka Castle, one of the main attractions within the area. A juxtaposition of its surroundings, the castle was old and had so much history. In the evening we headed back to the markets and had various street food for dinner. I tried Takoyaki for the first time!
For our final day in Osaka we wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. So we jumped on the train and headed for Koyasan. After an hour train ride and then an hour bus ride we were up in the mountains, and it was freezing cold! Despite it being around 0°C it was awesome to be out of the city. Before setting off on our hike we thought we ought to fuel up and have some food. I had my first ever ramen! After our bellies were full we set off on our walk. It was an eerie experience walking through the cemeteries, however it was nice to embrace the quiet and take in our surroundings. The temples and shrines were unreal, a complete change from the city in which we had come from.
During the time it took me to write this post I have now made it to Hiroshima! We stopped off for most of the day in Himeji, but that adventure will be told in the coming days. All in all, Osaka was a great start to my five weeks in Japan. A little busy and hectic for my liking but a great experience all the same!
As this is my first official blog post i’m unsure as to how it will go. Is it too long? Too many images or not enough? Let me know! Anyway, I look forward to sharing more of my adventures as my trip continues. In the mean time I hope you are well. Remember to be kind to one another, the world will be a better place for it.
Till next time.
Charlie.
