The train ride from Kyoto to Osaka was quite enjoyable. However, we are now tired of carrying backpacks. Up until now, we could have easily traveled with a suitcase (with wheels!). When we are out during the day, we only have a bag or a small backpack with us. The large backpacks stay at the accommodation. And at the moment, we don't expect to find any advantage that the backpack has over the suitcase. But maybe that will change when we go south...
Once we arrived in Osaka, we went to our accommodation. We rented an apartment for 3 days and were not disappointed. The view was also great. We went to a store to get groceries. Besides a large fridge, there was also a washing machine. Jackpot! Because the fresh clothes were starting to run out. However, operating it was a science in itself, solely due to the Japanese characters, which we meticulously deciphered through photo translation.
We filled our days in Osaka with various sights, but also more relaxed things like going to a restaurant or café. Since the city is right by the sea, we also had a nice afternoon at the promenade.
The most impressive thing was probably Osaka Castle. It stands alone on an island in the middle of the city.
Posing in front of Osaka Castle... until you fly into the flower bed.
Crime scene washing machine (The photo translation feature of the Google Translate app provided the solution)
We were particularly impressed with the neighborhood of "Dotonbori". With all its colorful lights, decorations, giant billboards, and screens, it strongly reminded us of Kabukicho in Tokyo.
Dotonbori - Kabukicho 2.0
We were especially fascinated by the modern architecture that dominated the other highlights of this impressive and very American-influenced city.
We will also remember the view from Abeno Harukas. This skyscraper is the tallest building in Japan at 300 meters.
View from the tallest building in Japan The impressive Umeda Sky Building
In the midst of the manga madness
The nice grandma prepared Nadine the best food she had on the trip so far: spaghetti
The conclusion about Japan:
It is a beautiful country. And we are sure that we traveled there at a very good time. Cherry blossoms are blooming on many street corners. Even in Tokyo, the largest city in the world, the Japanese have managed to make the city quite green. People place flower pots in front of their houses even in the most winding streets. Japan is very diverse in terms of the landscape. We have visited various places in this country. We have been in huge cities, in the mountains, and by the sea. And we would definitely choose the same route again.
The Japanese are a very friendly, polite, and disciplined people. Even though communication was often not easy due to the lack of English skills. Whenever we needed help, we always got it. This even went so far that people accompanied us all the way to our destination.
The culture is influenced by Buddhism, and the Japanese are apparently a very religious people. At least, that was our perception. The country's sights are determined by this religion. Otherwise, the people are culturally very similar to the average European.
Nadine often faced a challenge because the Japanese love fish and meat. In some restaurants, there was not a single vegetarian dish. And they were also unable to prepare anything vegetarian. Instead, the menu is dominated by noodles and rice, as well as fish and meat in all possible forms.
However, the Japanese really need to work on one thing: their produced waste, for example, disposable bottles or individually packaged products. It seemed to us that nothing is recycled. Plastic is sorted into the so-called "burnable waste". Plastic waste must be a big issue in this country or will become one.
Nevertheless, the positive aspects outweigh in this country, and we are happy to have gotten to know it in such a diverse way.
