Next stop - Osaka and the first day in Kyoto

Arrived in Osaka in the evening and found the hostel (16! women's beds in one room), then went to the sauna/onsen. On the way, I came across the first cherry blossoms, feeling very happy. Yay - the cherry blossoms are blooming! Mission accomplished.

Then at the onsen, the first task was squeezing my (hiking) shoes into the locker. It didn't go so well, but it worked. Then I went to the machine and bought the admission ticket.

Then I just watched what others were doing, hoping I would figure it out somehow.
Communication seems to be going well with hand gestures.

A Japanese onsen is a special place for showering/bathing, relaxing, and collecting minerals. A mix of sauna and spa. The mineral-rich water and salt scrub made my skin really soft.
After 2.5 hours, I had enough and went back to the hostel - it was already half-past midnight or 12 o'clock.
The opening hours are actually until 1 a.m.
Crazy, but probably part of the secret why everyone looks so perfectly groomed.

By the way: You cannot enter the onsen with a tattoo! Tattoos are associated with criminal gangs and are not allowed in the onsen!

On Monday, we had to admire the cherry blossoms in broad daylight. We did it together, meeting while brushing our teeth at the hostel. It turned the whole day trip from a solo journey to a duo.

On Tuesday, the weather was supposed to be even better - that was the invitation from Kyoto to enjoy the cherry blossoms there. See for yourself.

In Kyoto, there is also the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, which leads to Mount Inari. There were many steps to climb and countless torii gates to pass through.

In Kyoto, we ate Okonomiyaki.
It's amazing - a pancake with layers of flour, seaweed soup, cabbage, noodles, pickled ginger, seafood, mayonnaise, and spring onions on top.
Highly recommended!

The journey back to Osaka by train is super relaxing on the JR train (Japan Railway) with green velvet seats.
Really comfortable.

My theory is that traditionally in Japan, people sit on the floor and also like to sit in a train because they are really comfortable. But that's just a theory.

Anyway, it's also mentioned in English that it's best not to disturb anyone on the train. (No talking on the phone or watching videos loudly - unlike in Malaysia and Thailand)

Here, many men also carry 'handbags' - it just occurred to me when I'm sitting on the train, some are heavily made up and wearing heels - and that's perfectly normal.

There are some questions that come to my mind:
Why does everyone come for cherry blossom viewing and not for the harvest...