Blogs from Osaka, Osaka, Japan, Asia - page 13

We started off our last full day in Tokyo visiting Ginza once again. Then it was off to celebrate darling Rupert's 2nd birthday at Ueno Park - the biggest in Tokyo - along with hundreds of Japanese families and other tourists. Despite Kev's earlier plan to visit to the Zoo, instead he went to see Ueno Lake and attended a free rock concert while I visited the Metropolitan Art Musuem. Earlier we both spent some time exploring the Tokyo National Museum which was very impressive. One of the musuem's four main buildings was closed due to building work to make it earthquake proof. Our man in Tokyo, who had been to a party the night before spent the day 'resting', joining us later for dinner. On the morning of our departure from Tokyo we arranged for ... read more

Day 451: Wednesday 23rd September - Rolling back the years I’m very ready to move on from Kyoto. Too many temples, too many shrines, too many gardens and too many tourists are not good for the health!! I’m done with sightseeing, I’m done with my guidebook and I just need to get away from it all. Thankfully I’m on my way to Osaka to meet up with an old university friend, Paul, who I haven’t seen for 10 years. I’m really looking forward to seeing him after a gap of a decade and catching up and meeting his family. First, I have to get there but Osaka is only a half hour train ride away. Kyoto runs into Osaka which in turn runs into Kobe, three cities indistinguishable from each other, with a combined population of ... read more

Monday we had a lunch with 2 of Ted's Kappore dance teachers. Kappore is a traditional Japanese Dance that portrays different stories. Ted is the first Westerner to be part of the troupe. In October they will be performing on stage at a prestigious Cultural Center in Osaka (The Osaka Bunraku Hall). Iemoto and Souke who are heads of Kappore dance in Japan - Ted is honored to be included in the program and more honored to have a solo dance Yakko-san - placed on the program amoung the best teachers. Two of his teachers Chiyomaru and Lanmaru took us to a most beautiful Japanese restaurant for lunch - they wanted us to enjoy the best of the best Japanese food. -Beautiful to look at - It was a lovely afternoon !... read more

The slimy seafood dish was tasted by Dad, I watched and decided to share mine with Ted and Nobu. It is a very healthful dish, filling those who partake with energy and youthful appearance - Nobu's mom Keiko looks 20 years younger than her real age, and despite all this, I just couldn't do it. Thankfully, while Keiko was in the kitchen Ted ate my portion!... read more

Great evening!... read more