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Sunday, 13 August 2017: Osaka - Tokyo
Slept surprisingly well in my capsule, and didn't break anything clambering in and out (and down and back up again) when I needed a wee in the middle of the night. Awake around 6am, partly because that's about the time we've been getting up on the tour, and partly because someone's phone alarm was going off on an endless loop of polyphonic joy.
Breakfast was better than expected too. The two Japanese options featured a lot of fish so I opted for 'American' - a doorstep of white bread, margarine and strawberry jam, a cold boiled egg, ham slices (declined), a cup of sweet corn soup, a small salad and a coffee.
A little after 9am, Daniel, Owain, Rosa and I headed out into Namba and caught the metro to Morinomiya station (森ノ宮駅) where there is an entrance to the park that surrounds Osaka Castle (大坂城). Blue skies and hot already - but lovely walking on paths between the trees. Daniel spotted some dead cicadas near one of the trees and on closer inspection we found lots, and the empty shells of the "lava" stage too (looking a lot like giant fleas / lice).
Strolling through the park alongside joggers, Sunday cyclists and the tourist toy train we got super views of the castle, solidly sat high above its moat (water filled and dry) and big stone walls. It's free to get right up to the base of the main castle - so we didn't join the queue for tickets to go inside. After ice creams (Daniel and Owain), and a mountain of multicoloured shaved ice (Rosa), D, O and I did a circuit of the castle while Rosa headed back to the park entrance to wait for us. More great views of the castle, Osaka, and Samurai-clad volunteer litter pickers.
Back on to the metro for a return visit to the food market. Quieter than yesterday but still busy, and with lots of choice - and not so many people to squeeze between. Sushi and chicken on sticks were selected. I ended up getting a couple of rice triangles from a Lawson a little further on - the English labelling makes it possible to find veggie options. Still not a huge choice; it has been hard to find veggie food when we've had to DIY.
A stroll along kitchen tools street, but few purchases even though the boys left us to browse at our own pace.
Rosa wanted to return to the figurine shops she'd seen somewhere near the giant crabs of Dōtonbori, and we got there via the Daiso-sort-of-100¥ shop, and a bit of tired tension. I stayed ratty for the rest of the afternoon.
Back to the capsule hotel to collect our bags, which we had left there when we'd checked out this morning - ¥200 for up to 24 hours was £1.40 well spent. Our main bags had travelled from Hiroshima to Tokyo courtesy of 'The Two Black Cats' aka Yamato Transport. Owain and Daniel were at the hotel too, so the four of us made our way on the red M line to Shin-Osaka.
Very busy on the metro and in the station, so we decided to make use of our reserved seats on the 17:43 rather than get an earlier train and have to battle for seats in the unreserved carriages. It also meant we were able to hook up with Charlea to be guided to the Ibis Shinjuku, rather than trying to find it from the map and address in the trip notes.
The hour or so's wait in Shin-Osaka station passed quickly and gave me plenty of time to find another convenience store with some veggie options; it was three Inari, a v small salad and an apple for dinner ....plus some snacks and a beer.
Slept on the Shinkansen - Granted was spot on when he observed that Rosa had worn out her aunt - as far as Shinagawa Station (品川駅) where Charlea led us to the JR Yamanote line, allowing us to use our (free) Rail Passes all the way to Shinjuku (新宿区).
A short stroll to the Ibis, where our luggage and room were waiting for us. A shower and then straight to sleep.
Read more on Sparkly Trainers: InsideJapan Tours: HYPERJAPAN J-Pop & Go!
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Osaka Station City, Japan
Kentmere B&W 400
Kodak HC-110 Self developed
Contax G1
Contax G Carl Zeiss T* Planar 2/45
Osaka-jo is a re-creation of what was once a much larger complex, and home to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three great unifiers of Japan. Prior to this area being Osaka Castle, it was the site of the Hongan-ji citadel, a nearly impenetrable fortress built by monks who unwisely went up against Oda Nobunaga. The donjon area you see today dates back to 1931, while the original Osaka-jo was completed in 1586. It was destroyed/damaged and re-built several times between 1615 and the days of WWII.
Osaka Castle. Chuo-ku, Osaka.