Osaka Castle

This morning I rode the train by myself to meet Yumi in Osaka. It is the largest railway station in the country and has seven or eight different rail lines running through it. It was nice to see Papa lead me and help me make it there on my own. Yumi and I first had lunch at McDonald’s. I had the Japanese specialty of Bacon and Lettuce Burger. It was my first time to eat McD’s in Japan.

Next, Yumi and I headed to a big festival (MBS Osaka - Jo Summer Festival) hosted by a tv station. It was packed and super hot at the main entry site. As we walked around I saw many new things like this flying noodle game, but the coolest thing I saw was a Japanese street band marching down this one road. We followed them and their great jazz. They were all having so much fun especially the young tuba player.

Following the band led us along the way to Osaka Castle. It was built in the late 1500s or early 1600s by the Toyotomi family. In 1615, it was involved in the Summer War of Osaka. I am glad to have gone to this castle (complete with a moat) to see its architecture and delightful view, but the family’s story and war were gory. I definitely didn’t like that part.

The sun really tired me out despite the break from the heat in the castle. That and Yumi needing to meet another friend caused us to leave Osaka Castle after two to three hours. We took the train again and returned to Kobe. I met Shiho next for dinner. It was needed after an exhausting day out! (This was the first time in several years that both of my friends had seen one another.) Dinner was delicious Japanese fondue known as shabu shabu. Our dinner lasted about two hours and consisted of: sesame sauce, soy/vinegar sauce, daikon radish, negi (Japanese green onion), garlic, hira (Japanese herb), salty daikon and cabbage, rice, tea, water, orange juice, thinly shred beef, cabbage, bean sprouts, haku sai (lettuce?), mushrooms, carrots, tofu, seaweed, glass noodles, green tea, mochi with noodles, green tea ice cream, and cantaloupe ice cream. It was all very delicious! :) And that’s my day.