Japan with Tyler & Diana, Part II

The following day we went to Osaka Castle. The castle is one of Japan's most famous landmarks and it played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. 

The main tower of Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly half a mile squared. It is built on two raised platforms of landfill supported by sheer walls of cut rock, each overlooking a moat.

There is a ramp that goes up to the castle gate.

Facing the entrance within the central core of the castle is a giant stone, the tako-ishi (octopus stone), the biggest single castle stone in Japan. It is 18 feet high, 38 feet wide and weighs about 108 tons.

This tour guide told us all about the stone. He was very informative. You could tell he enjoyed his job. He told a good story.

The central castle building is five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside, and built atop a tall stone foundation to protect its occupants from attackers. There is an elevator to access the top of the foundation and another inside to building. The guides at the park are very attentive, especially to those with special needs (ie those in wheelchairs and parents with strollers). They were most hospitable and helpful.

The view from the top was outstanding.

After touring the castle we were tired, cold and hungry. So we went to the restaurant onsite. It was a little fancy. We were a little under dressed but the food was delicious.

We traveled back to our hotel and went out later that night for conveyor belt sushi.

The restaurant was inside a shopping center. This was the night view.

We were looking for live music and stumbled upon a taiyaki shop. Taiyaki is a fish-shaped cake, commonly sold as street food. It imitates the shape of tai (red sea bream), which it is named after. The most common filling is red bean paste. Other common fillings may be custard, chocolate, cheese, or sweet potato. We had the custard.

Taiyaki is made using regular pancake or waffle batter. The batter is poured into a fish-shaped mold for each side. The filling is then put on one side and the mold is closed. It is then cooked on both sides until golden brown.

During our search for live music we discovered Eiji Kitamura—a real class act!

Click HERE to HEAR to some of his music.

The following day we took the train to Kyoto…

…a winter wonderland!

Our brave Diana crossing the icy bridge

Warming up with some udon noodles

In December 2017, when we visited Kyoto before, there was no snow.

It was beautiful!

Lotus pond

Exploring the bamboo forest

Time to warm up with a rich cup of coffee

In need of nourishment, late in the evening at an izikaya

居酒屋

stay • drink • place

Gachapon: Japan's irresistible capsule toys you never knew you needed

Train at rush hour

Back in Kyoto the next day…

…because we wanted THIS ramen!

Later back in Osaka we tried okonomiyaki BECAUSE,

in case you haven't noticed, it's all about the food!

We parted ways in Osaka. Aaron and I went to the airport to catch a flight home. And Tyler and Diana took the bullet train back to Tokyo to begin their long journey back to Puerto Rico.

Home again!