To Japan and back – Part 2

Japan Trip 2013 - Todaiji Temple in Nara
Todaiji Temple

With the Tokyo part of our trip over (see part 1), we now had six days in Osaka filled with local sightseeing and trips to nearby areas.

Despite the rainy weather, our first day included walking along Tenjinbashi-suji shopping street as well as seeing the Tenmangu shrine and the House and Living Museum. We also managed to squeeze in a trip to Osaka Aquarium that afternoon. We spent a day in Kyoto to visit Gion and the Higashiyama District along with a train ride south to the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Another day we travelled to Iga-Ueno and visited Iga Ninja Museum, a personal favourite of mine and worth the long trip out into the country. On our final free day, we went to Nara to see Todaiji Temple with the largest bronze Buddha statue and other shrines within Nara Park. Other highlights included a day at Universal Studios where we had a caricature drawn of us and the wonderful Yakiniku Rokko in Shinsaibashi with all its tasty barbecue meat.

Before we knew it, our trip was over and we were travelling back to Australia. It already seems like ages and while at the time of leaving I felt ready to go, now I want to go back again. Maybe not for a while though.

Here are pictures from the Osaka part of our trip ^_^.

Japan Trip 2013 - Tenmangu Shine in Osaka
Tenmangu Shine in Osaka
Japan Trip 2013 - Sign at Tenmangu Shrine in Osaka
Sign at Tenmangu Shrine
Japan Trip 2013 - Ema at Tenmangu Shrine in Osaka
Ema at Tenmangu Shrine
Japan Trip 2013 - Zodiac at Tenmangu Shrine in Osaka
Zodiac at Tenmangu Shrine
Japan Trip 2013 - Tenjinbashi-suji shopping street in Osaka
Tenjinbashi-suji shopping street
Japan Trip 2013 - Figure made of wooden spoons the House and Living Museum in Osaka
Figure made of wooden spoons the House and Living Museum
Japan Trip 2013 - Miniatures at the House and Living Museum
Miniatures at the House and Living Museum
Japan Trip 2013 - Penguins at the Osaka Aquarium
Penguins at the Osaka Aquarium
Japan Trip 2013 - The large tank in Osaka Aquarium
The large tank in Osaka Aquarium which includes a whale shark (though not a big one)
Japan Trip 2013 - The arctic area at the Osaka Aquarium
The arctic area at the Osaka Aquarium
Japan Trip 2013 - Sign in the jurassic park area at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka
Sign in the jurassic park area at Universal Studios Japan
Japan Trip 2013 - DeLorean outside the back to the future ride at universal studios japan in Osaka
DeLorean outside the back to the future ride
Japan Trip 2013 - In Gion, Kyoto
In Gion, Kyoto
Japan 2013 - Yasaka shrine in Kyoto
Yasaka shrine
Japan Trip 2013 - Gate between Yasaka shrine and Maruyama park in Kyoto
Gate between Yasaka shrine and Maruyama park
Japan Trip 2013 - Display outside a shop in the Higashiyama district in Kyoto
Display outside a shop in the Higashiyama district
Japan Trip 2013 - Geisha in the Higashiyama district in Kyoto
Geisha in the Higashiyama district
Japan Trip 2013 - Even more geisha in Kyoto
Some more geisha
Japan Trip 2013 - Yasaka Pagoda in the Higashiyama District in Kyoto
Yasaka Pagoda
Japan Trip 2013 - One of the many fox statues at the Fushimi Inari Shine in Kyoto
One of the many fox statues at the Fushimi Inari Shine
Japan Trip 2013 - Inside the Senbon Torii at the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
Inside the Senbon Torii at the Fushimi Inari Shrine
Japan Trip 2013 - Lamp into the Senbon Torii at the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
Lamp into the Senbon Torii
Japan Trip 2013 - Tea Ceremony at Gion Corner show in Kyoto
Tea Ceremony at Gion Corner show
Japan Trip 2013 - Gagaku court music at Gion Corner in Kyoto
Gagaku court music at Gion Corner
Japan Trip 2013 - Kyogen theatre at Gion Corner in Kyoto
Kyogen theatre at Gion Corner
Japan Trip 2013 - Kyo Mai dance by a Maiko at Gion Corner in Kyoto
Kyo Mai dance by a Maiko at Gion Corner
Japan Trip 2013 - A second Kyo Mai dance by a Maiko at Gion Corner in Kyoto
A second Kyo Mai dance
Japan Trip 2013 - One of the local Iga Ueno trains
One of the local Iga Ueno trains
Japan Trip 2013 - Ninja at Uenoshii Station in Iga Ueno
Ninja at Uenoshii Station
Japan Trip 2013 - Part of a show at the Iga Ninja Museum in Iga Ueno
Part of a show at the Iga Ninja Museum which demonstrated various ninja weapons and techniques
Japan Trip 2013 - Shurikan thrown during the show at the Iga Ninja Museum in Iga Ueno
Shurikan thrown during the show which you were allowed to come and check out afterwards. They couldn’t be pulled out.
The Glico man in Namba (Minami) in Osaka
The Glico man in Namba
Japan Trip 2013 - One of many large moving signs in Namba (Minami) in Osaka
One of many large moving signs in Namba
Japan Trip 2013 - Deer outside Kofukuji Temple in Nara
Deer outside Kofukuji Temple in Nara
Japan Trip 2013 - Todaiji Temple in Nara
Todaiji Temple – apparently the world’s largest wooden building (and it’s only 2/3 of its original size)
Japan Trip 2013 - Buddha inside Todaiji Temple in Nara
Buddha inside Todaiji Temple
Japan Trip 2013 - One of the statues inside Todaiji Temple in Nara
One of the statues inside

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.