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Published: April 8th 2014
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Cherry Blossom
They all over the city Day 2 - Osaka to Kyoto, 5th April 2014
I woke up for the first time in Japan nice and early, refreshed after a good sleep with a positive attitude and ready to go exploring ! I only had till checkout time, which was 12 lunchtime (loving that) and due to the short nature of my trip it was then off to the old capital of Kyoto. I had found a really cool app called Triposo which is a tourist kind of guide type thing, basically you dictate how long you have to explore and it works out a map for a walking tour of the city to see all the highlights, genius. Thanks to Vodafones new overseas option I only have to pay $5 a day and I have access to my normal plan of calls messages and data, no more $500 bills for my wife to get angry about lol. Since I was starting out so early I wanted a quick easy breakfast so off to Maccas, hook that down and the walking tour begins. I always think the best way to see a city and the true underlaying feeling and how it
City Backstreets
So many wires lol works is to walk round the streets including the business districts, shopping, entertainment and also many of the different residential sections. Definitely the best way to get the feeling of a city, Japan especially as it's so foreign. As I start walking around I notice many things, firstly there are random appearances of the famous cherry blossom trees all over the city, they are so beautiful I am forced to stop and photograph them pretty much every time. I also notice that there are a million cabs everywhere but none of the drive like the Sydney dickheads and even though language is a barrier they are polite and respectful. My walk went for 18km and I saw some gorgeous riverside buildings, parks, monuments, architecture of old buildings splashed with the modern and various different residential areas but then I came across my last stop, Osaka Castle. Wow this place blew my mind, never had I seen anything as old and gorgeous as this. It was built in 1597 and basically is an old school Japanese castle built in the middle, massive stone walls, a mote and surrounded by a massive park and of course at least 1000 cherry blossom trees
River
A river runs through the city all in full bloom. The setting was just stunning and oh so pretty but of course rammed with visitors both foreign and Japanese especially since it was a public holiday. I walked round thinking of he history and how pretty it was until it was tine to race back to my hotel, charge my camera and phone then off to Osaka-shin station to take the Shinkansen to Kyoto, which was barely a 20 minute train ride. On arrival in Kyoto it was easiest to jump in a cab and head to Hotel Monterey, what a gorgeous hotel ! I dumped my things and headed out for a stroll before dinner, again so many streets filled with people and different atmospheres. I found what they call Kyoto's Kitchen, a 400 meter long street with a covered roof that houses over 120 fresh food stalls which was mind blowing to see the range of weird stuff for sale. I dint know when zucchini on a stick became popular nor do I know what is purple and comes in a liquid filled vacuum sealed bag or even the various array of what appeared to be seafood creatures including sea horse. Weird as hell
Selfie
Osaka Park and not for me but very cool to see it all and be part of the atmosphere. Dinner time is the hardest point of the day for me as I am a very picky eater and everything is in Japanese so picking a restaurant is no easy task, I walk around for half hour before seeing some photos on a menu board the looked doable and in I went. Success. Obviously first thing I do is take my shoes off as I am led to a table, manage to order a beer and yes thank god a part English menu. I pass on the horse meat tartare and settle on a few dishes such as spicy chorizo, Japanese skirt steak and fried rice with beef gristle and Kim chi. Absolutely delicious and cost round about 3000 yen or $30 Australian, all that and it included a few beers. Stoked. I roll back to my hotel stopping by 7 11 for a big bottle of water ready for a big sleep as I had a full day tour of Kyoto booked for the next day. Another day gone and I absolutely loved it and the challenges it bought.
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