Japan - part 1

          

Hi there,

As you can see I've just got back from my long long overdue dream pilgrimage to the land of the rising Anime and Manga. It would be preposterous for me to say I'm doing it for research and all that, but , hey let's say it's for research.

Yes! Finally I was able to have week long trip to all the places that I've only read/watch in manga and TV shows for as long as I can remember, and I can tell you in no uncertain terms, I was greatly satisfied with my vacation and then some. Without any embellishment in tone or without gazing through rose-colored glasses, my mind is absolutely blown by Japan. This here from someone who've been to a lot of places.

We went there (Me, my brother and his family and my sisters) we went there before the start of the Japanese holiday of Golden Week. Our first stop is Osaka for 2 days, where my sister and her children want's to see the Harry Potter something at Universal studio. Fun for the kiddies. We grown-ups went for a little culture first at Osaka castle. Very nice place. beautifully kept park and beautifully trimmed greenery. The facade of the castle is newly rebuilt since the original have been destroyed during the 19'th century civil war. I said facade since the interior is all modern with elevators and air-conditioned rooms. The inside serves as a museum of countless antiques, beautiful paintings and historical documents. The castle is 8 floors up so it's very tedious climb (the elevators are for the senior citizens) Very informative. The weather outside is bright and slightly cloudy. Not too warm. I bought a Hapi of the Shinsengumi at the souvenir shop just for the heck of it.


    

Next we went to the Dotonbori area where all good eats and drink can be found. It is a big contrast to spacious and family friendly Osaka castle park. Here it's loud, crowded and dis-orienting, you'll love it. Endless throng of people moving about going nowhere. Nowhere? how about a drink with your meal. After tasting some treats here and there and walking through all the main and side streets, we stopped by a riverside bar and have some beer and Yakitori along with the Takoyaki we bought nearby, and just enjoy people watching that goes around, wave to the people on tour boats that ply's the river.





It's been real tiring first day. Good thing there's the really convenient convenience store Family Mart in every corner where we can resupply our daily rations with riceballs, breadrolls and numerous kinds of bottled drinks.

            

Of course I  can't miss buying the double issue of Shonen Jump there. That would be a travesty.


             

Me at a standing only Soba/Udon restaurant inside the train station. Onward east to Kyoto, then to Tokyo...