We woke up early to take the first shuttle bus from the Hotel to Kyoto Station.
Osaka Castle
Address : 1-1, Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka City 〒540-0002
Hours : 9.00am to 5.00pm (last admission at 4.30pm)
Closed : Dec 28 to Jan 1
Admission : 600 yen / Free for children aged 15 and under (ID required)
There are a few routes suggested by hyperdia but we chose this.
We went to track 5 for the JR special rapid service line to Osaka.
Download Kyoto Train/Subway Route Map
Osaka Loop Line Platform
Took the train at Platform 2, alighted at the 4th stop @Osakajokoen.
Reached...
Wefie with the castle behind us...
Wearing the boots I bought at Taobao...actually quite comfy but I guess I am overdosed with the stairs in Osaka...so my legs almost broke by the end of the day.
Walking up to the castle.
The elevators go directly to the 5th floor(ascending only). We decided to climb up the stairs to the top (8th floor) then slowly walked down.
It was so windy and cooling at the observation deck.
Enjoying a magnificent panoramic view of Osaka City from 50m above the ground.
No photography on the 3rd and 4th floor. So those random photos I took must be from other floors. :p
Divination sticks...but need to pay to 解签.
It was snowing again when we came out of the castle. And the sua gu me became super excited again.
Food!
The birds here were aggressive...
Queuing for the Hokkaido Potato...
So sad...the purple potato was sold out...no choice, die die also must eat, so we got the normal one.
I could sense the birds were eyeing on our potato.
Now then I know having ice-cream on a cold weather (less than 10 degree) can be so "shiok" lor.
Plum blossoms.
(The difference between plum and cherry is that cherry blossoms have a small split at the end of each petals.)
Osakajokoen Station platform
Osaka Tenmangu Shrine
Address : 2-10 Higashitenma, Kita Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 530-0044, Japan
Took the Osaka Loop Line (towards Sakurajima) one stop to Kyobashi Station.
Transfer to JR Gakkentoshi Line Rapid Service to Osakatemmangu Station (2 stops from Kyobashi Station).
Walk about less than 5 minutes to reach Osaka Tenmangu Shrine.
We met a helpful ojisan (uncle) while waiting for the lift at Osakatemmangu Station. He brought us to the Osaka Tenmangu Shrine.
Amy and helpful ojisan chatting...I felt so left out...hahaha
See...they walked so fast...seemed like they had forgotten about me...sob sob sob
Took a wefie with the helpful ojisan. When we told him we want to take photo with him, he took out his comb to comb his hair...so ke ai lor this uncle.
Osaka Tenmangu is located in a residential area and has a neighborhood feeling about it. Locals pray at the shrine mostly for academic fortunes, but there are also secondary shrines at its precincts, such as an Inari Shrine, where people pray to the deity of fertility, agriculture and industry.
Must purify before praying.
wow...the water is like iced water...
・First, scoop up water in a ladle with your right hand and pour water over your left hand.
・Next, hold the ladle with your left hand and pour water over your right hand.
・In your left hand, take some water that you have scooped with the ladle and rinse your mouth. Never touch the ladle directly to your mouth.
・Lastly, using the remaining water, tip the ladle to rinse it off.
*You only scoop up water one time, at the very first step of the process.
・Next, hold the ladle with your left hand and pour water over your right hand.
・In your left hand, take some water that you have scooped with the ladle and rinse your mouth. Never touch the ladle directly to your mouth.
・Lastly, using the remaining water, tip the ladle to rinse it off.
*You only scoop up water one time, at the very first step of the process.
Not sure how to pray, so we just followed...
Throw the coin into the offering box, bow twice (2x), clap twice (2x), then I prayed for my sons successful in their studies, then bow again (1x).
After praying, I went to buy a bag amulet for my son.
Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street
Located just steps away from Tenmangu Shrine is the Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street, which claims to be the longest in Japan. The covered shopping street stretches more than two kilometers, starting approximately from Tenjimbashi-suji Rokuchome Subway Station and leading south until close to the Tenjinbashi Bridge.
Buy TOTO lor
Took our lunch at this restaurant...
Japanese niang tou fu
Curry udon
Shinsekai
From Minamimorimachi Station(K13), we took the Subway Sakaisuji Line, alighted at the 6th stop, i.e. Dobutsen-mae(K19).
We walked to Minamimorimachi Station using the google map.
Shinsekai is Osaka's "New World". At the district's center stands Tsutenkaku Tower, the nostalgia evoking symbol of Shinsekai.
Interesting banner
Takoyaki with special sauce...but find it a little too salty for us.
Minami (Namba)
From Dobutsuen-Mae (M22), we took the Subway Midosuji Line (towards Senri-chu0), alighted at the 2nd stop, Namba (M20)
Minami (Namba)
Namba is Dotonbori [道頓堀] - a river which runs through Osaka that is filled with restaurants in the surrounding area.
Wefie with the famous GLICO man...
Shinsaibashi [心斎橋] indoor shopping mall
See queue...sure got nice things...so must queue also...
Pablo is a very popular bakery in Japan specializing in cheesecake.
Pablo's is rich and creamy. The crust is crunchy, which balances out the dense flavor from the cheese. Yummy!
By the time we reached Kyoto Station, we had to take a cab as we had already missed the last shuttle bus. By then, our heart ached because of the costly taxi fare, our legs ached due to overdose of staircases. Finding the right train platform was really a challenge to us. Nevertheless, we were still enjoying.
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