Osaka Castle

Our last day to play tourist was spent walking about Osaka Castle, including climbing the stairwell to the very top of the castle.

All the best photos were taken by Jada.

At our B&B, Murph discovered the World Series
between NY Yankees & LA Dodgers
was on local TV .  .  .at 9am!

Later that week, when no World Series games
were being played, we watched Tokyo vs Yokohama.

This pitcher is throwing a wicked Underhand!

Enroute to the castle, we wandered about this bookstore
discovering they had a huge selection of books and
magazines about baseball, including the Japanese
sensation in the US, Shohei Ohtani.

View from the train in Osaka.

Our walk from the train
to the castle took us through
several buildings and this view
of the castle.

Food vendors had these treats available.

Hawks and other predatory birds
were being shown by their trainers.

Humans weren't the only tourists .  .  .

.  .  .  check this fella!

For a short video of Castle & Moat,
Click Here.

Street performers kept the crowds amused.

Unlike Nagoya Castle, Osaka had
large ebony panels with gold tigers
on the next to last upper story.

Manhole cover, for more, Click Here.

The stairwell could be intimidating.

The interior of Osaka Castle is a grand museum,
different exhibits and themes on every floor.

Downtown Osaka viewed from the upper castle.

Looking Down on the Tiger Fish
for our lofty perch at the top.

On our way home, these
street performers were playing Irish tunes!
Click Here to Hear their tune.

This stairwell measured your calories burned!

Dotonbori, Osaka

A pedestrian way through Dotonbori.

I didn't actually know about Dotonbori being like Times Square in NYC, and Jada had read about it, but neither of us realized we'd spend our day there when we set out to visit an art supply shop in Osaka that morning.  After marveling at the wide variety of arts goods, tools & materials, we went for a walk looking for a spot to enjoy lunch.  Our first couple choices proved to be evening-only restaurants and were closed.  As we walked on, it became obvious we had trekked into a major shopping and tourist area, then we saw a sign indicating we were in Dotonbori and Jada updated me from her reading.

All the best photos were taken by Jada.

Enroute to the
Sasabe Art Material Store

Enroute to the Sasabe Art Material Store in Osaka

This huge crab caught my eye with just it's size .  .  .
then I realized, It is Moving!

x

The river also had regular
tourist boats, but this
entrepreneur created a
small business for herself!

The Osaka Castle was the theme for
this manhole cover.  For more, Click Here.

In color!  For more, Click Here.

Familiar brands, unfamiliar flavors.

Familiar brands, unfamiliar flavors.

The sign says it .  .  .

.  .  .  inside is a Fishing Pond!

We finally found a nice lunch spot along the river.
The Japanese murals were attractive and so were the burgers!

This street performer was new to us.

For a short video of Dontonbori and
the river, Click Here.

Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki with mayo,
traditional style

Okonomiyaki, no mayo,
Murph style

This little pub/cafe was were we ducked in for a quiet
respite from the crowds.

Our waitress proved very friendly and helpful
as Murph practiced his Japanese
and she spoke excellent English.

The special sake Murph tried and Jada enjoyed.

Beers and highballs in
a vending machine on the street.

Jada found these excellent reproductions 
of paintings by famous masters in the subway.
This is a van Gogh.

The design is impressive!
We're pretty certain he had no idea
his jeans were being photographed.