Japan 2017: Osaka, Day Three & the trip home

 

Our final day in Japan went so fast and the next day we were on a plane and the next I completely slept through because of the jet lag so this post is a little late. That being said, we made the most of our last day in Osaka. We started the day by going to the Osaka Aquarium.

Right next to the aquarium!

Osaka Ferris Wheel

The Osaka Aquarium is right next to a giant Ferris wheel. We had no idea what we were getting into but it turned out to be one of the best Aquariums we’d ever been to.

Hay Gurl Hay!

Smiley Sting-ray

The Aquarium had a few main tanks that spanned multiple levels. One housed Sting Rays, Hammerhead Sharks, and Whale Sharks with various types of fish. Another housed Sea Lions, and still another had Otters with a separate area for Penguins.

Bein a fish is sleepies

Yawwwn

Get it!?

I’d be sea lion if I said we didn’t have a good time!

Derrrp

Derp Fish

There was a small tank for dolphins which were constantly playful, there are a few videos in the album so if you are into videos please check them out, it’s the next best thing to being there!

What a great aquarium

Hay dolphin hay!

Don't be crabby!

The stuff nightmares are made of

After a few hours at the Aquarium we hit our last stop, Osaka Castle. From the outside Osaka Castle is similar to Hemiji Castle, but inside Osaka Castle wasn’t as authentic. It has been reconstructed since air raids in WWII so obviously its much newer, but it was more of a museum with displays of old documents than anything else.

Beautiful!

Osaka Castle through the trees

Fall leaves

A view of the city from Osaka Castle

We finished the trip incredibly happy with all we’d explored of Japan. I was ready to go back to finish the semester out and Tim was ready to go back to work, but I’m sure going to miss the quality time we got to spend together the last ten days. I’ve already received the packages we mailed ourselves with souvenirs from Tokyo and Osaka so all in all, it was an incredibly fulfilling trip. Expect more posts in the near future! Happy Holidays!

Japan 2017: Osaka, Day Two

This morning we got up and had a small breakfast in the hotel before heading out to Himeji which is about an hour away from Osaka by train. It was easy to get to the train station underground from the hotel and we used our JR Passes to take the train. We saw the ocean from the train on the way there and many smaller towns in Japan.

Side Streets

Japan through the train window

Our train went right by the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the worlds longest suspension bridge!

The world’s longest suspension bridge

When we got to Himeji Castle it was more beautiful than we could have imagined.

The whole city is built around the castle

Himeji Castle through the trees

Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan, and it was registered in 1993 as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country.

Woohoo

Himeji Castle Selfie

The castle was massive and we walked through all 7 levels of it.

7 floors

Built into the Hillside

Wooden Castle

Massive supporting pillar

Himeji Castle

Beautiful elaborate roof lines

Himeji View

View from the castle windows of Himeji

Protect the castle

Close up view of decorative fish

It was well worth the trip, and it was late afternoon by the time we returned to the hotel. We finished the night by taking a cab into Dotonbori and explored one of the busiest metropolitan areas in Japan we’ve seen yet!

So many people!

Downtown Dotonbori

Crazy ride along the river

Woohoo!

Iconic Datonbori Billboard

So many people!

Hustle and Bustle

Tomorrow we are off to the Osaka Aquarium and even more! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Japan 2017: Kyoto, Day Two

Let me just start this post by saying I am blown away by the iPhone X camera. I lugged a heavy DSLR all over Japan 6 years ago the last time we were here, and I’ve taken pictures today with my phone that rival the ones from that trip. I’ll include a few in the post but please look at the trip album for more, there were just too many beautiful temples to include in one post.

After breakfast at the hotel, we headed out early this morning to visit seven different temples and shrines. It was a gorgeous day, brisk and refreshingly cold – perfect scarf weather – but sunny and inviting. We hit the jackpot on Kōyō, the Japanese leaf change season. Ever since we were here the first time we’ve wanted to come back to Kyoto for this reason, and it couldn’t have been a more perfect day.

Koyo

View of Kyoto City from Temple

We were able to stop in one of the temples and enjoy afternoon Green Tea service. We sat on pillows and a tatami mat in a quiet room. Being in one of the most stunningly beautiful places in the world and having a moment for mindfulness is such an incredible way to recharge.

A hot tea for a cold day

Green Tea and Youkan

Listen, Think, Accept, Practice, Believe

A guide for Mindfulness

Japanese Maple

Sky Fire

Even though we had an idea of what to expect since this was our second Kōyō, we couldn’t have known how much the day would truly show up for us.

Stunning reflection pond

Kōyō

We even saw Komainu protecting the entrance to the Temple!

Japanese Guard

Komainu at the Temple

I saved the best picture for last, I might actually get this framed as it’s my proudest photo I’ve taken:

Having spent a perfect day outside we headed back to the hotel for some rest before dinner.

Yum!

Cold Sake made by the owners grandfather

We had dinner at Mikaku – the same Teppanyaki restaurant we ate at 6 years ago. It was surreal to come back after such a long time – most of our relationship in between – getting to have dinner with my best friend at one of our favorite restaurants of all time. It was a perfect ending to a beautiful day.

Died and gone to heaven

Waygu Filet frying in beef fat

Bamboo shakers

Japanese cayenne and pepper shakers

Modern, beautiful view

This is everything I would want if I ever owned a restaurant

The restaurant is ultra modern with a view of the changing leaves on the street. Our meal included a Kobe filet course, mushrooms in butter, fried onions, garlic fried rice, fried potato, beef miso, potato soup, dessert, and green tea. Everything was incredible, I almost doubted that it would be as good as we’d remembered, but it was.

Delicious

Potato soup

Tomorrow we are off and away to Osaka – thanks for everything Kyoto!