Osaka-jo: Plum Blossom (and cityscape) Viewing

So, I've been to Osaka-jo, not once, but twice, actually.

Host brothers!

Firstly, sorry for being so lax on updating these entries.. I've been too busy actually living life to write about it. (and this past week I had, like, 3 tests, and twice that in quizzes! Ick!) But, I've also been hanging out with my host family.. I'll throw in a picture of my little host brothers, so that you know I'm not just making them up. They also took me to Nara, but that will be my next entry.. sans photos. Those I'll do on a later trip, like maybe Sunday, when I go near Nara for a field trip. (Yep, a field trip on Easter Sunday. Well, they don't celebrate it here, what can I say?)

Entering Osaka-jo koen (park)

So, Osaka-jo.

The first time I went was about two weeks ago with my friends Russ and Lauren, the latter of whom is throwing a Girl's Day (girls day is celebrated on Monday, actually.. I'll write all about that tomorrow) party tomorrow, and I'm really excited! Anyway... we left from Hirakata-shi eki, our home base, to go to Osaka station, then transfer there to the Loop Line and ride the train to Osaka-jo koen (Osaka Castle Park.) Luckily, Lauren had already been, so she led the way. We walked through the cobblestone streets of a beautiful park, beneath a stone bridge, and then up the ramp and through the gate to the Plum Blossom garden (I know, it sounds like directions from Legends of the Hidden Temple, right? Hmm..) Well, spring had just started here (I still don't believe that, but it must be true, because the plum blossom is the first tree to bloom...) and there were only a few trees with blooms, but they were very beautiful. We wondered around lost in thought and conversation, finally coming to a central sidewalk where there were some vending machines and restrooms. There, we ran into some tour groups and (semi-)professional photographers who were contorting themselves for the best shots of the blossoms.

tower by Osaka-jo hall

From there, it was up to the next tier, past the giant stone ramparts and into the next level of the castle. ( So much climbing up stairs! Ugh!) There, we sat on a bench, chatting and snacking. We looked out from the lookout points and saw the whole city vista spread out and scattered to the hills in every direction. There was also a young Japanese couple with their pet squirrel (? ... whatever...) hanging out by a stone statue in the middle of the little park. Then, up another level, to the construction site (everywhere in Japan is a construction site) then up (finally!) to the castle! We grabbed some soft cream (soft ice cream) and watched a guy doing some magic tricks and fire juggling.Then, Russ and I climbed up the castle, to climb to the top.. That's right! After all those stairs, we climbed 8 steep floors in the castle to the observation deck! Talk about a workout! Well, we circumambulated (or, square-ambulated, as the castle wasn't round..) the castle on the roof, looking out over Osaka and adjoined suburbia. It gave a nice overview of the area, to the hills in every direction, and the strange buildings in the Osaka business district (one had a giant circle in the very bottom of it? I don't know.. they have some odd buildings here...) Then it was back down, some looks at the "samurai outfits" that we had gone to see (Lauren, our friend, was right... the museum there isn't completely.. impressive. But the outfits are kind of interesting. The armor was rather complex, compared to what I was expecting. And a little boring.)

entryway to the castle grounds

Then, it was back down to meet up with Lauren, and walking back to the subway...

My second visit is the one I have pictures posted of.

This past Thursday, my friends Kathie, Brad, Nicole, and I all went to Osaka-jo because they were interested in seeing the plum blossoms and, just like I'd hoped, there were more (and a greater variety!) blooming. We walked from the subway to the plum garden, then wandered around just snapping photos until it got dark. Then, we wandered a different way back to the subway and ran into a gardening gimmick of shrubbery (! shrubbery!) called the Citizen's Forest. They were basically a bunch of coniferous trees shaped like elongated hersey's kisses. It was more than a little creepy. Then, there was a rainbow colored fountain, that became a bloody fountain when red lights shone from the bottom of the fountain up to the tip of the water. The whole time it felt like I was in the garden of the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland! It was rather strange.

Osaka-jo castle off in the distance

Well, then was a night out in America-Mura, a sprawling shopping district in Osaka's hot Shinsaibashi district, that was basically like walking through Japan/Queens/the Village. I saw a wide variety of people there. Oh! and we went into a Gothic/Lolita style clothing boutique... I'm not really into that style, but it was cool to go in and see everything. The girl that worked there was of Japanese descent, but was born in Long Island,NY. It's weird how many US transplants are here (I think it's fascinating because it is. So, Different.)

Then, on to dinner.. we ate at a chicken place. It turned out to be a Rasta-Reggae dive bar, with some great chicken pizza. And that was the night! Interesting.. and quite a diametric opposition to Nara....

the castle moat

entryway.. a closer view

Beginning of the plum blossom park

Interesting plum tree

Kathie and I admire the blossoms

More Blossom Boughs..

My friend Nicole, looking sullen..

More trees

Several paths that looked like this..

Nametag hanging from a plum branch

The yellow blossoms were the most fragrant

More plum blossoms

Group of Gaijin! Nicole, Brad, I, and Kathie

Kathie, Nicole, and I

More views of the blossoms

End of the plum blossom lane..

Walking around the garden..

Yellow Blossoms!

Osaka Castle

View of plum blossoms from above

Osaka-jo Castle

Fountain at exit of park