Osaka

After a cozy day at sea, with quite a lot of swell, I had a full schedule planned for today.

The ship docked in Osaka right on time at 6:00 AM, and since we had a lot to do, we set off around 6:30 AM.

We first took public transport to the Arashiyama Grove Bamboo Forest. We had to change trains three times. All the trains and stations are so clean that it's really incredible, and the trains actually come on time!!!!

The bamboo forest is located in Kyoto, just outside of Osaka, and stretches for about 500 meters. It offers a short but unforgettable walk. The bamboo plants reach a dizzying height. It was really impressive to see those thick ones ;-) .

In the forest, there are also several temple complexes. We walked to the Meiji Jingu Inner Garden and admired everything there. We climbed several stairs and at one point, there were three signs: 'Warning: Bears', 'Warning: Mosquitoes', and 'Warning: Snakes'... Hmmm, since I seem to attract such animals, I quickly ran down the stairs and we headed out towards the Togetsuky Bridge. The path leads past various small cafes, and at one, I got myself a delicious matcha soft serve ice cream. Hmmm, that was tasty...! Did I mention it was very very warm today...?!

It was quite a long way to the bridge. But even here, the view made up for the effort. Many people strolled along the river toward the bridge. In the background, there were mountains, and the view was picturesque. After taking some photos, we returned to Osaka and visited the Dotonbori district.

Wow, so many shops, people, and lights.... Some stores had super huge decorations on their facades, and everywhere, it smelled of food. I got hungry, and I had procured the typical Japanese octopus balls. Tentatively and a little nervously, I took a bite of the first ball and tested if I liked it, and what can I say, they were gone in no time :-). We spent quite a while in the area until we headed to our last highlight (Osaka Castle).

As we emerged from the metro station, we could already see the castle from a distance. On the way to the castle, we walked through a lovely park. Many locals were sitting under the trees on blankets. The atmosphere here was great. Despite the heat, I was very excited to see the castle. I found the roof structure and the thick castle wall fascinating. We walked all the way around the castle and took countless pictures. Next to the castle was a shrine, and since we were already there, we also took a look at that. But after that, it was time to wrap it up. I wanted to eat, drink, and rest. Here we are, all set and relaxed on the ship, enjoying ourselves. We will set sail at 8 PM.

Tomorrow morning, we will arrive in Kochi. There is also plenty to see here.

Best regards