Although I spent longer in Osaka and its surrounding areas than anywhere else in Japan, much of that time involved excessive drinking and revelry that need not be recounted here. For this reason, and the fact that I’m dreadfully hungover, it will only merit one blog post. Below is an overview of my more wholesome activities over the past few days.
I’ll start with Osaka. The most famous landmark here is Osaka Castle, a magnificent five-storey edifice that commands the city’s eastern skyline. It’s a rare example of a place whose history is as captivating as its beauty, playing a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century. I lucked out and visited on the only day of good weather I had here. Unfortunately, this had the effect of enticing throngs of other tourists too, including the much-loathed selfie stick-wielding kind – more to follow in my Kyoto post. The queue for the castle was painful, as was the experience of wading through people once inside. However, the museum was fantastic and had some epic depictions of battle scenes that made all forgiven. The surrounding park area was perfect for a potter, making this a lovely way to kick off the morning.
