Japan Story 27th March

 Leaving Okayama. A pleasant little city. It was a tricky maneuvere, though. We had to pack an overnight bag because we would be without our luggage for a night.

Our main suitcases were left at the desk to be picked and delivered tomorrow night.

We took the tram to the station and needed two bullet trains to reach Osaka. But first breakfast in the station today. The French cafe was our choice again. Then up onto the platform. Two short journeys.

Hemiji Castle - one of the most picturesque 

We left our heavy backpacks in the locker and headed for the bus to the castle. It is very old and enormous. It is surrounded by a mote and a huge, high stone wall that's angled back and substantial grounds. There is a direct line of site to the castle from the station. To access the castle required quite a long walk through the grounds. Finally inside the main building. It was comprised of nine floors. At each level we could see, ever increasingly, the countryside for miles. The staircases were very steep. The rooms were mostly empty. However the views from the windows were extraordinary. Our experience of the castle made it clear that the castle was a military fortess, strategically located on top of a hill.  

As well it was a symbol of the power of the feudal lord who lived there. If you squint your eyes, metaphorically, you can imagine the life the castle afforded all it's residents. It must have been a small city unto itself. Today, however 2025, It was crowded with viditors from all over the world.  

We bravely caught the bus back to the station, by ourselves, and retrieved our backpacks from the lockers.

Onto Osaka by train

Now this is a mega city. We arrived and went down into the tube station and caught that train to the shopping precinct. We were cautioned that it would be scarily, crowded on the metro. We succeeded. Phew, no problem. Out onto the street, it was very busy. We are in the shopping precinct with mega laneways seemingly in every direction that resemble sideshow alley at the Ekka. These lanes are like giant arcades. In between, There is shopping street and cooking street. However, there are wide and spacious piazzas and broad streets. 

People EVERYWHERE.

We walked as far as the canal. Quite a long way. We all did a little shopping. There is almost nowhere to sit down in Japan.

So teenagers aren't hanging around, just chilling. Everyone has somewhere to go. 

Meanwhile we were glad to be heading for the subway to our hotel. This time it seemed that there were too many people, for us to get in. Luckily, the majority got off, presumably to do shopping.  

Our hotel is located in the station precinct of Tennoji station. It is a great hotel - Miyaka City Osaka hotel. Shiny new and comfortable. Oh, and a view.