Sunday, May 27, 2012

Japan - Osaka - 20120520


I got up at and met Ros for breakfast.  Betty joined us and decided to go with us to the Osaka Castle.  The cab fare turned out to be about 900 yen split three ways made the cost of the excursion 1200 yen (about $16).  I enjoyed the trip.  The grounds are quite extensive and extremely well kept.  We returned to the hotel in time for me to check my e-mail and pack up to get out of the room by noon.

Map of Osaka Castle Garden

Moat surrounding Osaka Castle

Moat with Modern Osaka in the background

Entrance to Osaka Castle

Description

Description

View of former moat

Torii Gate leading to a park area

Description of gate

Entering  one of the gates

Former museum

Description


 Castle

Another view of the castle


Well

Entrance into Castle

Gun at castle entrance

Lion in Castle

Views of Osaka from 8th floor of castle

Views of Osaka from 8th floor of castle

 Views of Osaka from 8th floor of castle
 
Views of Osaka from 8th floor of castle-baseball stadium

Views of Osaka from 8th floor of castle

Place to take picture as a Japanese lady or Samurai

Dressed as Sumurai warrior

Little garden - note crane. I initially thought it was a statue until it flew!

view of garden

Note frog on rock

Garden view

Tree growing at angle

 Statue dedicated to peace

Ros and I went out for lunch at Subway and then I got on the shuttle to take me to the airport.  Arriving early was not a good thing because the airline counter did not open until 3:00 pm!  I checked in, went through security and customs and purchased the bottle of Sake.
It turns out I had a problem with the sake when I hit Seattle.  I had placed the bottle in my carry-on and you are not permitted to carry more than 1.5 oz of liquid on a plane.  I had already checked my suitcase.  I was working with the young lady at the Delta check-in to try to figure out what to do.  Finally we came to the conclusion that I check my carry-on.  I took out my computer and put it in the plastic back that the sake had been in. 
The flight to New York was reasonably calm.  I did not get picked up and had to get a cab.  When I got outside, there were no cabs, but I was assured that cabs would be along.  Within 15 minutes, cabs arrived and I was driven home.  As usual, I over-tipped.

Japan - Osaka - 20120519


We are due to leave at 8:30 am.  Luggage must be out by 7:00 am. After breakfast, we took off for Okayama to see the Korakuen Garden which is very lovely.  They have a cage with several cranes; consequently I was hoping to get a figure of a crane.  No luck again!  I wish that we had had more time to just sit in the garden and let the peacefulness and beauty of the garden just wash over me.  

Entering Korakuen Gardens which is in Okayama

Views of Gardens

Korakuen Garden Views

Korakuen Garden Views

Korakuen Garden Views

Korakuen Garden Views

Carp swimming in pond in Korakuen Garden

Carp in Korakuen Garden

Korakuen Garden Views

Tea ready to be harvested in Korakuen Garden

  Korakuen Garden Views

Korakuen Garden Views

 Korakuen Garden Views-note waterfall

Korakuen Garden Views

Child in typical Japanese custom in Korakuen Garden

Korakuen Garden Views

Korakuen Garden Views

Korakuen Garden Views

 Carp swimming in pond in Korakuen Garden

Korakuen Garden Views

Korakuen Garden Views

Cranes in Korakuen Garden

We took off again and stopped at Bizen Yaki Pottery shop.  We were shown the pottery and how it is made.  I saw a vase that I wanted, but at $200, it was too rich for my blood.  I tried to find something else, but nothing else pleased me and I realized that if I bought something else, it would only remind me of the item that I really wanted.

Pottery for sale at BizenYaki
Kiln used to fire the pottery

At Bizen Yaki Pottery works - Kiln

Kiln at Bizen Yaki pottery works

Where pottery is made


We left Bizen and stopped at a rest area to have lunch.  The drive into Osaka took several hours and I was surprised at the traffic in Osaka when we arrived.  Our guide Hiro kindly offered to take us downtown to see some of the shopping arcades where people shop.  It is geared for local people as opposed to tourists.  We walked back to the hotel and then went for dinner at a restaurant in the department store next door to the hotel.


 Downtown Osaka

Downtown Osaka

View of canal in downtown Osaka

Downtown Osaka

 Downtown Osaka

Ros and I are planning to visit Osaka Castle tomorrow.