My first glimpse of Osaka is a mass of brownish buildings on a vast piece of flat land... curiously tucked amidst mountainous region and weaving rivers. My 6 hour 25 minute flight to Kansai International Airport was the quietest I ever sat on. There was hardly any murmurs for the entire journey...
Oct is the start of autumn, and weather in Osaka was perfect when we landed. Not too chilly and still plenty of sun. We decided to stay in Osaka at the beginning of our trip because there were a couple of festivals going on. Firstly, Midosuji Kappo... a local event where Osakans gather to sample everything local. The main street of Midosuji was closed to traffic and was filled with young and old the afternoon of Oct 14. We checked out local delicacies, performances, games etc.
Although it drizzled a little, the weather held up as we made our way to Hiraoka Shrine at Hiraoka station on the Kintetsu Line. We got there just in time to see the first of the towering taiko drum stands reaching the gates of the shrine. The area was crowded with people... the slopes leading up to the main hall was lined with various stalls, just like a proper shrine festival we see in movies and anime. It was a sight to behold! I could only imagine the dedication and strength the carriers need to carry the huge structures up the slope.
Japan is a pretty green country, garbage is properly segregated for recycling but I still think the use of plastic bags should be lessened. Most toilets have this function where the water used to fill the toilet flush comes out of a faucet on top, so you can rinse your hands with the water first before it goes into the storage.
We needn't worry about drinking water too. Tap water is safe to drink... and we save on buying bottled water because we are provided with at least a pitcher of water or green tea whenever we have our meals.
On the 15th, we checked out from Weekly Mansion at Otemae and activated our first day of our 3-day Kansai Thru Pass... taking the Kintetsu Nara line to Nara.
