PHOTOS: KYOTO TO OSAKA


I hear the train a comin'. We had Green Car tickets, and some quick advice, the #1 car location changes depending on if it's a 9 car or 12 car train. We were waiting at the 12 Car #1 and it zipped right by us!

As tripplanner explained, it is one giant urban area from Kyoto to Osaka. This is where the buildings started getting bigger

Checked into the Caption by Hyatt in Namba. We were kind of feeling bougie by staying at the Hyatt until we checked in and saw how big our room was in comparison to our others. Plus it's on points!

Nice big bed!

Carpet outside of our room! Pretty Art Deco

Street in front of the hotel. We are a 5 or 6 blocks from the river.s

PHOTOS; OKONOMIYAKI, DOTONBORI AND TEMPLE


We are waiting for our okonomiyaki at Chibo and this guy is on the phone.

He must have heard me, because he started spraying away.

He shoots mayonaise across the room...

... and this is where it lands.

Gotta include this shot!

Giant ferris wheel that goes really slow.

We were dancing and waving and these kids started waving back

Some general signage on Dotonbori

Some dragon action

Wait until it gets dark, the crowds get bigger

C'mon, giant crab, this just screams New Orleans!

More crowds

River boats, if we were throwing beads, again, it would be N'awlins.

More river

Osaka Shochikuza Theatre

Just steps away from all the craziness is the Hozen-ji Temple

DOTONBORI NIGHT TIME


In the middle of Dotonbori Shopping Street there is a web cam and you can wave at yourself or take a picture.








This is large square with the train station across the square, filled with tables and chairs

Looking the other way at the station.

DAY 15 - OSAKA WALKING TOUR

Here are more pictures from our walking tour and a couple of Ogimachi Park



This lady greeted us on the walk to the Apple Store

Some nice street art near American Village

Easily identifiable, the Apple Store!

Our group with Jay in the middle, he was a great tour guide

There's Ms. Liberty in American Village

There are a number of these street lights that have been turned into art pieces

Another "gotta do it" shot

Some people getting ready to hit the streets, couldn't resist taking their picture!

At the Hozen-ji Temple

Street lamps just outside the temple

Walking into Omigachi Park, Botanico restaurant is middle right

Large vases in Ogimachi Park

Some building, the architecture in Japan can be very modern

DAY 16 - GOODBYE JAPAN
Our first country on our big trip and what a first country it was. Over the last few years I've had so many friends travel to Japan and rave about it, now I see why. We so saw so many beautiful things, had some great experiences. The Golden Palace in Kyoto, the Geisha Experience in Kanazawa, our first sushi in Kanazawa at the little shop, couple of great walking tours, so-o many metro jaunts. Lot's of great food, in general excellent weather. All in all, it was easier than I thought. Everything is well marked, lots of English. So easy to get around, but fun to get lost at the same time. The biggest thing though was the people. The staff in the hotels were very welcoming, and the people we met generally went out of there way to give directions, sometimes walk us to our location! Steps, 20K a day usually, and I still haven't lost any weight! We have been a few places, but this is the big one and we are still excited to continue, still mentally strong, physically...depends on the day! Off to Taiwan! Come along if you wish!

DAY 16 - KYOTO TO TAIPEI
I'm glad I walked to the Limousine Bus yesterday because it made our experience this morning, very uneventful, just how we like it. We follow the Retirement Travelers on You Tube, John and Bev ,and they say that Travel Day is always an exciting day for them. We're trying to maintain that attitude. I see why they say that, it's that exact mix of excitement and anxiety that makes a good travel cocktail. We had planned on taking the 10:40 Limousine bus but at 9:30 we were in the hotel, packed and said lets try for the 10:10! We made it pretty easily. Grab our ticket and it's a bus just like the Fly Away in Van Nuys. The trip from downtown Osaka to the airport is quite a journey. The roadway had big barriers on either side once you leave Osaka, so you are kind of hemmed in. There is other traffic so I know it's not a strictly bus lane but still no pedestrian is going to wander into this road. Giant apartment buildings, got to be 40 - 50 stories high. Then it turns industrial so many big factories and finally the port! We are surrounded by water on both sides of the road. Loading cranes line the port, we can see ferries and other big ships. Arrive at the airport, which is right in the middle of the ocean. I will leave it to mrwunrfl or tripplanner to explain this! You take a long bridge, now we are at Kansai Airport and off on our next adventure.


OCAT, Osaka City Air Terminal...for buses

On the bus, it looks like night time, but we are actually in an underground tunnel

Off we go!

So much industry

Ferry Boat

We saw about 3 bi-i-g ferris wheels on the trip

Bridge to the airport

I see planes

Welcome to KIX

Inside the airport..

...it's big

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Phineas Foggin' It - Living on Taiwan time

Thank you for taking the time to share your journeys in Japan with us. I really enjoyed it, and it sounds like you have too.

Thank you tripplanner for explaining things for us. We had a fantastic time.

>> The biggest thing though was the people.
Yes! You got it.