02.11.2011 Snow covered Osaka Castle visit and new friends from KGU in Osaka

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For the first time it snowed in Osaka! I was very surprised when I woke up in the morning. I didn’t want to waist the day and I know it rarely snows in Osaka, so I wanted to go back to the Osaka Castle and get some pictures. The train ride was fun to snap shots and record video for the first time. I wanted to see what Osaka had during the snow days and I thought it would be fun to see Osaka Castle with snow. I wanted to stop by the ATM at Tenmabashi station but I didn’t know where the JP ATM was. Lucky I ran into very kind women who helped local Japanese students travel abroad, the program was called Intercultural student travelers. She spoke very good English and even had the chance to travel outside Japan to South America. She managed to find an ATM with the help of the info center and pointed me in the right direction.

While arriving on the castle grounds, I noticed one American couple accompanied by a friend who was also going to the castle. After quick exchange I found out that the couple Karen and her husband were escorting their daughter’s friend Tyler around Japan for a few days. The couple had been living in Japan for about two years as teachers at a high school that had close ties to Kwansai Gakuin University. The friend accompanying the couple named Tyler was a graduate at Valparaiso Indiana, like my brother, and studied in Risk Assessment Business. We chatted while walking to the castle eventually grouped together for the tour. They were very hospitable and were very informed about the castle grounds and Japanese history. We toured the Castle while everyone, except me, pointed out interesting facts and tips about the castle. The couple also spoke of the shrine inside, the little wooden prayer tables, and the year of the rabbit. Plowing ahead, I had the chance to walk into the castle again with a guide this time. We joked around and quizzed each other on history and events. Here is an example given by Karen “why is Osaka castle the most visited location in Osaka?”, “because it’s the only tourist attraction”. Our group walked through all the floors and past all the attractions. Tyler thought it would be a fun idea to try on some Japanese armor and pose for a picture; this was available to all tourists and was well worth the ¥300. After the tour through the castle we walked around and took in the beautiful snow covered views. Eventually people needed to split so we passed “meshi”, business cards from one to another and headed our own ways.

While abroad I have learned a few things, but I also admit that I cannot learn everything there is in the world. I always feel that the best way to have an adventure and learn more is to get out and wonder around, I feel very lucky to meet such great people along my travels. Thanks for traveling with me and be sure to tune in again for my China adventure.

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