Osaka - The Commercial City

Before heading to Osaka today - very early again (05:00) - we visited the Kiyomizu-dera temple complex in Kyoto. The history of this UNESCO World Heritage site dates back to the year 798 and translates to 'pure water'. The temple complex consists of a main hall known for its spacious terrace. The wooden balcony structure was built on a steep mountain slope. Inside, there is a large prayer hall. Unfortunately, the complex is undergoing restoration during our visit, so we could only admire the building from the inside.

At lunchtime, we made our way to Osaka - just like almost every Japanese person. It really felt like the weekend. Once we arrived in Osaka, our first stop was the Tsutenkaku Tower. This iconic tower in Osaka is 103 meters tall and serves as both a broadcasting tower and an observation deck. However, we decided to skip the 60-minute wait for the observation deck and treated ourselves to some soft-serve ice cream instead 🍦😋

In the evening, we headed to Dotonbori Street. This district is famous for its numerous restaurants and neon signs hanging on almost every facade. Shopping and entertainment are highly prioritized here - there's so much to see and experience. Everything is very bright, and every 5 meters, you can smell exotic aromas coming from the dining establishments. People are willing to endure long waits for a table at these restaurants.