My Stays in Sakaisujihonmachi Osaka

... 10 minuutin päähän Kiotoon. Ja näin tehtiin.

Kiidettiin siis hirmu kyytiä Nagoyaan asti, jossa hypättiin ulos ja alettiin miettimään, että mitäs nyt sitten? Aseman näytöllä luki, että juuri on lähdössä juna Takaymaan, joten ei kun äkkiä ovesta sisään ja matkaan. Junan hurjasta diesel-murinasta jo kuuli, että nyt ollaankin sitten lähdössä hiukan erilaisille reiteille. Sen verran ymmärrettiin Japanilaista kuulutusta, että matka-aika Takaymaan on yli 3 tuntia ...

... mitään ihmeempiä suunnitelmia, niin tehtiin pikapäätös suunnata Kobeen katsomaan Lumiere valoteosta, jota on paljon mainostettu joka puolella Japania. Kobe Lumiere on muistomerkki vuoden 1995 maanjäristyksen uhreille ja se järjestetään aina joulukuussa. Vuoden 1995 maanjäristyksen uhreja oli kaiken kaikkiaan melkein 6500 ja aineelliset vahingot aivan järjettömiä, että mistään pikkujutusta ei ollut kysymys.

Matka luotijunalla Osakasta Kobeen kesti ...

Today we spent the morning to touring around Kyoto before catching our train back to Tokyo. We stopped to visit the Nijo Castle which was originally bulit in 1603 as the official home of the first Tokugawa Shogun. Although it didn't have the beautiful gardens like the temples it was still a very interesting place. It even had a moat like European castles. We then went to see the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to go ...

... countries simply sharing their sympathy with the people of Nagasaki. It was a very emotional morning for all of us, visiting the hypocenter, learning about the bombing at the museum, and then moving on to the peace park. After spending our entire morning at the A-bomb memorials, we only had time for lunch before catching our train back to Kobe. So we stopped by a restaurant recommended by our hostel to try the champon (the delicious local delicacy, a seafood soup of sorts ...

... laser pattern on the floor when I sat down.

After making my way back down to Osaka station I jumped on a train for Osaka Castle, in the eastern part of the city. Apparently one of Japan's most famous castles, it played a major role in the reunification of the country in the sixteenth century. The surrounding grounds were quite pleasant, with a wide moat, fort and gardens. The exterior of the castle was also quite interesting ...

... see two behemoths slap their bellies and go at it, enough said! Sumo wrestling is the most popular sport in Japan and when you think of sumo wrestling you think Japan and the other way around. Tickets weren't too bad and the stadium was not anywhere near as large the size of the Staples Center, so anywhere you sat you can still see the action. But don't let that fool you. The stadium was alive with people ...

... Japan. I have arrived here after almost 18 hours on the plane. The only thing I want is a nice shower and change of clothes...food is for later. The trains here are efficent and clean...the problem is trying to read those characters again...I am lost...lets correct this, `We are lost`, even though Keith arrived here 8 hours earlier. Forget about reading Chinese...what about ...

... before World War II, when the armed forces had pervasive influence on Japanese society. This abusive pattern, persists in business and education, often times in ways that are far more psychological than physical. 'As a society, Japan has yet to go through a full democratic review of this kind of behavior,' he said." That brings me to a whole new issue..suicide in Japan. I'll leave that for another blog. Have a great day everyone :) <3 Kate

... a nap. About 6pm we headed out again, feeling well rested, to move on to the Minami district (using our subway passes again of course). The bright flashing lights and gimmicky signs that were around were fascinating! There were so many, too. We walked around Dotomburi, and although the hunger pains were striking fiercely, all the food places were stupidly overpriced or smelt bad. Total tourist trap area! There were ...

We hit all the furthest corner of Kyoto from the hostel. We bought One-Day bus passes and headed out to the furthest reaches of the city. We saw Kinkakuji (the Golden Shrine), and the most famous rock garden in the world, Ryoanji. I think this Zen rock garden is the one that inspired those ****** "Mini-Zen rock gardens" that you find at Urban Outfitters or your friendly neighborhood kitsch-supplier. Unfortunately, the rock garden wall was under construction. I'll upload a ...