The first stop on our Japanese adventure was the city of Osaka. After flying the not so direct route from Ho Chi Minh City to Osaka via Bangkok, we were once again rather tired on our late night arrival!
We had planned our six night stay in Japan well in advance of arriving, not least because we could only get a Japan Rail Pass for the trains while we were outside of the country! We wanted to see as much as we could and using their super efficient train system was central to making that happen.
We had one day to sightsee around Osaka and with the sun shining, blue skies and a moderate temperature in the late teens we had the perfect day for it.
We started off by getting a birds eye view of the city from the one hundred and seventy metre high observation deck at the Umeda Sky Building.
It was such a clear day we could see for miles out across the Yodo River, Osaka Bay and down through the CBD. I actually really enjoyed the escalator ride up to the viewing deck! The narrow escalator rose up through a glass tunnel and it felt like a scene from a sci-fi movie. It felt way cooler than it sounds now though.
After enjoying the fresh air, cool breeze and views from the observation deck we stopped by Kibo No Kabe, the Wall of Hope. Nine metres high, seventy eight metres long and covered completely with flowers and greenery, it was designed two years ago by a local architect who wanted to bring greenery to the city to make residents more cheerful.
It was certainly an impressive sight and one that added a blast of vibrant green between the greys of the buildings, pavements and roads.
From the modern structure of the Umeda Sky Building we then visited Osaka Castle. Surrounded by a lush green park and wide moat, built high on top of a hill and painted in white, Okasa Castle is stunning. Unlike any castle I have ever seen in England.
It was simply beautiful.
The final stop on our day out in Osaka was Shitennō-ji Temple, one of Japan’s oldest temples having been built in five hundred and ninety three. During it’s lifetime it has been rebuilt many time but has always been reconstructed in the sixth century design.
An unpretentious temple, modest and reserved in its design, we were thrilled to find out that there was a ceremony being held at the temple when we arrived. Performers wearing elaborate costumes danced for the audience whilst musicians accompanied them playing traditional Japanese music.
For a historic sight that is so old, we had the opportunity to see it very much filled with life.
We had no issue at all finding our way around Osaka and using the local trains given that we do not speak or read Japanese.
We found people to be polite, courteous and helpful everywhere we went too. Osaka was a breath of fresh air in more ways than one after being South East Asia.
Our first glimpse of life in Japan was fantastic and we couldn’t wait to experience more.
Lambs on the loose 