All Our Bags Are Packed!

                                     Travel Blog # 6 - Osaka

                            Approaching Osaka harbor

Our first trip to Osaka was in 1970 to experience a World Expo. Since then, we've returned to Japan several times primarily for business meetings. Much has changed over the last fifty years!

Osaka city center - The Osaka castle is depicted on the manhole. 

                        Samurai overlooks/protects Osaka

                Lucky us! We came across a local wedding

         It was fascinating to see a traditional wedding procession

                                            Osaka castle moat

A family has a quiet moment in front of the castle

Much like the Egyptians lugging huge boulders to make a pyramid, the Japanese also did the same to make the castle's outer wall

There were too many steps and too many people crowding the narrow hallways. Lucky us. We discovered a "hidden" elevator that was made available for the handicap.

Most of the Japanese castles have the same design. However, size, purpose and decoration may be different.

A shoji screen and "toy" soldiers depict a major battle between warring clans.

'"...Cannons to the left of them, cannons to the right of them , cannons in front of them volleyed and thundered..."

While walking through a wooded area, we came across the last of the blooming cherry trees.

We had an opportunity to visit a uniquely designed office building. The view was magnificent.

                        Looking up at the top of the building.

                                    A long way to the top

             Replica of a historical restaurant in building's basement.

Mass transportation is a critical requirement for Japan's larger metropolitan areas. The big question: How does the city move people (whether it be cars, light rail, buses, taxis, buses or trains) in areas where there is no room to build super highways or freeways? Building an underground metro system is impossible because 75% of the land is reclaimed from the ocean. Here's the answer: First of all, we're driving above the street level on an elevated passageway.

Above us are additional thoroughfares that serpentine from one part of the city to another. Six vehicle levels is quite an amazing undertaking!