Osaka -- Koyto Japan, October 7, 2010

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October 7, Osaka, Kyoto Japan
Well this certainly isn’t China; we were unable to get our landing permits to China so we landed in Osaka, booked into the Nikko hotel at the airport. A complement to Travel Guild is that when things started going wrong they hustled and came up with an alternative airport to land, hotel accommodations, plus planned tours. Yesterday, there was a brief tour of Osaka, and a visit to Osaka Castle. The Castle appears quite formable but was taken once in the past and then rebuilt but suffered a serious fire. In 1931 the citizens of Osaka contributed funds to restore it to its former state. Lunch was down a small lane and into a narrow but long building. The lunch was traditional Japanese and was very good. (For comparison with home a beer, 2 cokes and an orange juice were 2,000 yen about $30 U.S. However I have to say that the beers in Russia and Japan are much larger than those in North America.) Then we were off to Kyoto the former Imperial Capital to visit one of the oldest temples in the country, followed by dinner. The dinner was set in a restaurant with a number of buildings and again the food was excellent. A show was put on for us with geishas.
Now for some observations,
• At all national spots Osaka Castle, the temple in Kyoto there were swarms of school children all dressed in their uniforms. It must be an assignment for some of them to speak to foreigners in English and ask a series of standard questions “where are you from, etc.
• What a comparison between the cleanliness of japan versus Russia (Worlds apart)
• There is little to no wasted land in Japan on computes between cities there are homes and small cultivated fields everywhere. One will see a small patch of land in a city and there will be something planted on it.
• Politeness is definitely part of the Japanese culture.
I will let the attached pictures tell the rest of the story for this part of our trip.

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Photos

Leaving Toronto
I was remiss not to have included thios shot of our departure from Toronto at the start of our Around the World Tour

Mare and her new friend
There was some kind of a promotion on at the exit from the subway stop at the airport so we grabed a shot

Osaka Castle
The children are being told some of the history of the castle before they enter.

Osaka Castle
One of the views from the top of Osaka Castle

Divider with birds
Taken in the grounds of Osaka Castle

Geishas Dancing
Slow and smooth

Parking Lot
The cars slide sideways to an area where they can then be lowered or raised to another level

Koyto
Wandering down a street we came across Buddist Temple. It was too late to go in but I took this shopt with the setting sun shining on Budda

Comments

[Kelly McCague]

Love the photos
Hey Dad and Mom! Sorry my internet has been down a few days. The photos you took are amazing! It looks like you both are seeing some amazing things. The parking lot is cool, but what if you have to get out in a hurry? hmm... Miss you both tons. :)