May 16_Exploring Osaka

 

             We started out the morning with our first breakfast at the Yamatoya Inn down by the river at 8:30. Much like the monastery breakfast we have no choice over what we get, but it’s always very exciting. We got to cook our own fish over the little grill and it was such a treat.

            After breakfast we headed out to get to the department store before it opened to see quite an amazing scene. When the store opened a pair of adorab
le ladies acting perfectly in sync opened the door to us, much like a military procedure. As we walked in and approached the people working there, they all would turn to us and bow deeply. We walked around the Takashimaya department store to experience their showcase of craft and store design. To make this short, it was breathtaking to see a belt go for 8000 and a tiny suitcase go for well over 100,000, but the craft was so well done. Unlike most department stores in America where only showcase items are displayed, in Japan, the items are displayed out before you where you can have your pick, not only that, but they bring in the crafts person that makes the products. This is becasue the work behind the item is valued very highly. 

 

            We soon then left to Namba Parks, a new development in the city where stores, cafes, restaurants and beautiful gardens were scattered about a green hill. It was a beautiful example of landscape architecture where we saw all kinds of people eating at their leisure in the shade of a tree looking out over the city.

            Seeing other people eat made us hungry so we went and got some lunch. Our group went to a small restaurant run by what I believe to be a family. We got to practice some Japanese and got to eat the most delicious fried pieces of eggplant.

 

            Since we were already close, we went to the electronics district for a bit and browsed the popular culture for a bit. There was so many exciting toys and games that the 20 minutes we had wasn't nearly enough time to look through it all. Hopefully we'll come back.

            From there we went to the Osaka Castle which is huge. From the top of the castle it seemed like a small patch of green space in the middle of a forest of buildings. We went up in the elevator to the 5^th floor and made our way up and then down. Inside there were many historical articles, models and stories of how the castle came to be. There was also a duplicate of the three tatami mat tea room made with no nails and bathed in red.

            When we left from there most of us I guess were left spiritually refreshed and took in the sites around the castle and started to pick 4-leaf clovers ( I found a 5 leaf one, just saying!) most of us also already drained all our battery life from our cameras. With a little too much dilly dallying we made it to the train station just in time. It was a real rush and a close call.

            We were off to get our dinner in the basement of Takashimaya where the bentos can be bought. We got a bit lost, but nothing we couldn’t handle. It was a real fast paced experience where the vendors would again try and persuade us to try their food and convince us that theirs is the best. We split up and got our own bentos and headed back to the hotel where I’m confident to say that after we ate, we all passed out dead tired around 10pm or so.

Comments

[buehler]

Glad to see you guys are having a great time. Keep in touch. I'll check your blog daily to get a glimpse into your trip. Love you guys.