Asia 2010: Osaka

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Itinerary for Osaka (base of operations was the Hotel Chuo Oasis, Osaka, Japan [Google Maps]):

2010/09/16 – Arrival in Osaka (on the Su Zhou Hao from Shanghai); Osaka Aquarium
2010/09/17 – Koya-san
2010/09/18 – Kobe
2010/09/19 – Osaka-jô
2010/09/20 – Departure for Hiroshima (on the Shinkansen)

Past immigration - waiting for everyone to arrive. [2010/09/16 - Osaka/Osaka Ferry Terminal] — Past immigration – waiting for everyone to arrive.

Sam just can't put that camera down. [2010/09/16 - Osaka/Osaka Ferry Terminal] — Sam just can’t put that camera down.

And here is our hotel - Hotel Chuo Oasis. [2010/09/16 - Osaka/Hotel Chuo Oasis] — And here is our hotel – Hotel Chuo Oasis.

Apparently Sam and Maiko found a place for our first lunch in Japan. [2010/09/16 - Osaka/Creo-Ru] — Apparently Sam and Maiko found a place for our first lunch in Japan.

Our first meal in Japan. [2010/09/16 - Osaka/Creo-Ru] — Our first meal in Japan.

After lunch it's off to the Osaka Aquarium... [2010/09/16 - Osaka/Osaka Aquarium] — After lunch it’s off to the Osaka Aquarium…

...where they have just about everything... [2010/09/16 - Osaka/Osaka Aquarium] — …where they have just about everything…

...that lives in water in huge tanks... [2010/09/16 - Osaka/Osaka Aquarium] — …that lives in water in huge tanks…

...you can walk around... [2010/09/16 - Osaka/Osaka Aquarium] — …you can walk around…

...on multiple levels. [2010/09/16 - Osaka/Osaka Aquarium] — …on multiple levels.

Here we had the nice sunset we wished for on the ferry. [2010/09/16 - Osaka/Osaka Aquarium] — Here we had the nice sunset we wished for on the ferry.

More penguins. [2010/09/16 - Osaka/Osaka Aquarium] — More penguins.

Walking the streets looking for dinner... [2010/09/16 - Osaka] — Walking the streets looking for dinner…

...which we found at Takoume. [2010/09/16 - Osaka/Takoume] — …which we found at Takoume.

Breakfast. Weird American-Japanese crossover. [2010/09/17 - Osaka/Daiyoshi] — Breakfast. Weird American-Japanese crossover.

Brushing my teeth..relaxed-vacation-style. [2010/09/17 - Osaka/Hotel Chuo Oasis] — Brushing my teeth..relaxed-vacation-style.

Off to Koya-san we go... [2010/09/17 - Osaka] — Off to Koya-san we go…

Time to visit the graveyard... [2010/09/17 - Osaka/Koya-san] — Time to visit the graveyard…

...which has lots... [2010/09/17 - Osaka/Koya-san] — …which has lots…

...of statues. [2010/09/17 - Osaka/Koya-san] — …of statues.

Yes, real candle-light is so yesterday... [2010/09/17 - Osaka/Koya-san] — Yes, real candle-light is so yesterday…

Further up comes the temple and taking photographs is no longer allowed. [2010/09/17 - Osaka/Koya-san] — Further up comes the temple and taking photographs is no longer allowed.

And more statues... [2010/09/17 - Osaka/Koya-san] — And more statues…

Somehow the old and the new... [2010/09/17 - Osaka/Koya-san] — Somehow the old and the new…

...live side by side here. [2010/09/17 - Osaka/Koya-san] — …live side by side here.

And back to Osaka...another day over. [2010/09/17 - Osaka/Koya-san] — And back to Osaka…another day over.

After we couldn't decide on where to go in Osaka, we hopped on train to Kobe instead. [2010/09/18 - Kobe/Kobe JR Station] — After we couldn’t decide on where to go in Osaka, we hopped on train to Kobe instead.

Right at the station we have another street musician. [2010/09/18 - Kobe/Kobe JR Station] — Right at the station we have another street musician.

Was is it with the Japanese and ferris wheels? [2010/09/18 - Kobe/Harbourland] — Was is it with the Japanese and ferris wheels?

The whole Harborland area was hit hard by the Kobe Earthquake. [2010/09/18 - Kobe/Harbourland] — The whole Harborland area was hit hard by the Kobe Earthquake.

Looking over to the other side... [2010/09/18 - Kobe/Harbourland] — Looking over to the other side…

Most expensive cappucino ever (700 JPY). [2010/09/18 - Kobe/Harbourland] — Most expensive cappucino ever (700 JPY).

Me and the giraffe... [2010/09/18 - Kobe] — Me and the giraffe…

...and me with Elvis. [2010/09/18 - Kobe] — …and me with Elvis.

Back home with anothe rnew can of coffee. [2010/09/18 - Osaka/Osaka JR Station] — Back home with anothe rnew can of coffee.

Out hunting for food with Sam again. [2010/09/18 - Osaka] — Out hunting for food with Sam again.

Somehow we ended up at Creo-Ru again. [2010/09/18 - Osaka/Creo-Ru] — Somehow we ended up at Creo-Ru again.

And apparently Sam has this hobby of taking pictures of sleeping homeless people. [2010/09/18 - Osaka] — And apparently Sam has this hobby of taking pictures of sleeping homeless people.

Another day and we're off to Osaka Castle. [2010/09/19 - Osaka/Osaka-jo JR Station] — Another day and we’re off to Osaka Castle.

The moat of Osaka Castle. [2010/09/19 - Osaka/Osaka Castle] — The moat of Osaka Castle.

Getting closer... [2010/09/19 - Osaka/Osaka Castle] — Getting closer…

...and closer to the main gate. [2010/09/19 - Osaka/Osaka Castle] — …and closer to the main gate.

Looking back at the entrance from the castle wall. [2010/09/19 - Osaka/Osaka Castle] — Looking back at the entrance from the castle wall.

Apparently they buried a time capsule here... [2010/09/19 - Osaka/Osaka Castle] — Apparently they buried a time capsule here…

...during the EXPO of '70 - to be opened 500 years later. [2010/09/19 - Osaka/Osaka Castle] — …during the EXPO of ’70 – to be opened 500 years later.

Entertainment is provided for. [2010/09/19 - Osaka/Osaka Castle] — Entertainment is provided for.

A picture from the other side. [2010/09/19 - Osaka/Osaka Castle] — A picture from the other side.

Sam showed up as well. [2010/09/19 - Osaka/Osaka Castle] — Sam showed up as well.

The view from the top is quite good. [2010/09/19 - Osaka/Osaka Castle] — The view from the top is quite good.

And he never fell on his face while we were watching (not for lack of trying). [2010/09/19 - Osaka/Near Osaka Castle] — And he never fell on his face while we were watching (not for lack of trying).

More street musicians. [2010/09/19 - Osaka/Near Osaka Castle] — More street musicians.

After that it was dinner and the Golden Spoon - for aperitif and dessert. [2010/09/19 - Osaka] — After that it was dinner and the Golden Spoon – for aperitif and dessert.

One last look around our home away from home in Osaka... [2010/09/20 - Osaka/Hotel Chuo Oasis] — One last look around our home away from home in Osaka…

...with its deluxe toilet... [2010/09/20 - Osaka/Hotel Chuo Oasis] — …with its deluxe toilet…

...which even had a remote control. [2010/09/20 - Osaka/Hotel Chuo Oasis] — …which even had a remote control.

Then it's time for me and my new can of coffee to hop onto the Shinkansen and travel on to Hiroshima. [2010/09/20 - Osaka/Shin-Osaka JR Station] — Then it’s time for me and my new can of coffee to hop onto the Shinkansen and travel on to Hiroshima.

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