Date: 29-31th October 2024
Travelled: Just Osaka
Visited: Osaka Castle
Stayed: Dotonbori Crystal III, Osaka
Budget: 21 days @ $XX per day
As our โUltimate Japan Tourโ draws to a close we have settled into Osaka for the final days. While the hotel has a Long Bay Goal look the rooms are generous enough in size to open your bags. The bathroom is wet, typical here in Japan and the toilet seperate. Best of all it has a large lounge downstairs where we can all get together and have a final drink.
Osaka is Japanโs, 3rd largest city with a population of 3 million. According to the blurb the most multi-cultural and a technology driven economy.
Our hotel is situated on the edge of the Dotonbori, the shopping and entertainment centre of Osaka. It takes us less than 10 minutes to walk into the centre if you get the lights. Did I mention how slow the traffic lights cycle here
Walking the Dotonbori is a visual feast, not the mention the high and low end shopping arcades that run for hundreds of metres either way.
Kit Kats appear to be Japanโs favourite chocolate treat, they are sold everywhere. Found the dark chocolate a personal favourite, but gave the green tea or wasabi flavours a miss.
Our early morning walks become more interesting as we see the young people being pushed out of the dance and karaoke clubs obviously drunk. Serena had warned us Osaka unlike other Japanese cities tolerates street prostitution.
Pictured above a servo, not no bowsers on the concourse ! We noted these in the cities all through Japan. The fuel hoses come out of the ceiling, activated by remote control. All servos in Japan are full service.
Nice to escape the bus for our last few days, just walk around taking it in. The Dotonbori was good for a coffee, walk in any direction and you can get a triple latte from a Starbucks. Interestingly a coffee from Starbucks was A$5, a 500cl can of Sapporo is A$2.50 from the 7/11 or any convenience store and there is one on every corner.
Pictured above, need space for a freeway ? Built it above the Dotonbori River.
We get touristy on our final day and walk to Osaka Castle. Standing on approx a square kilometre of grounds surrounded by two deep wide moats and forested gardens. Construction commenced in 1583 the castle is visually impressive.
Itโs less than 3 kms from our digs so we just make it our morning walk. The carpark is full of buses and the castle grounds is already very busy. Given the crowds and the queue we donโt pay the fee to enter.
Cannot let our final post on Japan without mentioning the toilets. The one pictured below is from our final hotel room, note the cistern lid is a basin with a spout. The toilets in Japan are generally speaking kept pristinely clean. They are all a similar bidet style of toilet even in restaurants and public parks and gardens. Guess what Pam wants one at home ?
So our tour of Japan concludes. Where back on the transfer bus to Kansai airport at 6 in the morning, saying goodbye to Japan with an on-time departure to Hong Kong.
Michael + Pam
2 thoughts on “Osaka (2) Japan ๐ฏ๐ต 2024”
Thank you for sharing I can see Pam in the group photo safe travels Johannes
Michael and Pam, thank you for sharing your trip with me. Iโve enjoyed reading it each morning with my first coffee of the day. Where are you going next? Best wishes Martin from Wales.