Dinner at Dotombori

We had been walking and eating a lot on this day, and this is our 7th meal, all snacks inclusive !!
                                    

Sushi at Dotombori , Osaka are super fresh !!

 

BBQ giant crab legs. Ok, not that great as I had expected !!





Was sitting right in front of this live fish , had difficulity understand the japanese menu. This chef spoke some English, it would have been  very difficult to order for our dinner without his help .




Dotombori at night

Osaka is well known for its food, and Dotombori is the place where tourists and locals alike will find great food of Japan at this street. Dotombori is in the Namba area of Osaka, a single street with famous restaurants on both sides.

It was packed with tourists when we were there, who are easily recognized by their cameras in hands. We haven't  a  chance to re-visit during day time; I believe it should be equally busy.

Mechanical signs are gigantic and brightly illuminated ….Giant crab with moving legs is one of the main attractions, most official brochures and guidebooks to dotombori that I had come across , are featured by the picture of this giant crab.





The famous giant crab with moving legs that can be found in every guide book and brochure of Osaka

 

Was looking for  Meiji chocolate for Jackie,the very moment I stepped onto Osaka ground . When I first saw this   restaurant, really thought this could be the place for it . It failed me of course !!



Actual size plastic food models on display in front of most restaurants, a great help for tourist like myself, for I know no more than 10 japanese word.

Squid is commonly used in japanese cuisine

Puffer fish lantern --dare you try the puffer fish?

3D golden dragon

Packed with local and international tourists

Kuidaore Taro-- the mechanical clown drummer, always surrounded by keen tourists who wish to have their photos taken together with him ...I waited for quite sometimes before I finally found him "free" from visitors.

Taro cards fortune telling , business looked good !

Osaka Castle (天守閣Osaka Castle Museum)

Osaka Castle,  one of the most famous Japanese castles which played a major role in the unification of Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama period in the 16^th century.

The main tower, Tenshu-kaku (天守閣Osaka Castle Museum) is constructed on a plot, roughly the size of one square kilometer on raised platforms of landfill supported by sheer wall of cut rocks by Burdock Piling technique.

Most people will make a combined visit to Osaka Castle and Osaka Castle Park, and we did the same. The park charges no admission fee. However, entrance to the main tower-  Tenshu-kaku (天守閣Osaka Castle Museum) costsl 600 yen for adult.

Tenshu-kaku is a building of five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside, the building overlooking inner and outer moats. The moats are dried up during our visit, no idea if all the moats are dry during other seasons as well.

Historical artifacts are displayed from 2nd floor to 7^th floor. 8^th floor serves as an observation deck which offers magnificent panoramic view of the whole of Osaka city.





At the gate area

 



                                    




Dried moat around the castle

 

Osaka Castle Park

Osaka Castle Park, a public urban park which lies on the south of Okawa river . It  is the second largest park in Osaka city . There is no admission fee to Osaka Castle Park.

Temmabachi   ,  Tanimachi Yonchome , Osaka Business Park and Morinomiya stations on the Oskaka subway network and Oskajokoen station of the JR Osaka loop line are all near to the park.





Seasonal flower for sale under full bloom cherry blossom tree

                                      

Flight of stairs leading to castle

                                           Fallen sakura petals covering the whole area, a strong zen feeling
 
                                           

                                         Groups of picnickers enjoying themselves under full bloom cherry blossoms trees . Japanese are basically quiet people, they don't make a lot of noise in the public. 

 

Along the walkway to Osaka Castle

A close-up view of Osaka Castle

 One of the four gates to the castle

Pigeons are well-fed by park visitors. Pigeons are often seen in the park area and they all look healthy and strong.

Osaka Castle from near

Amateur  performer entertaining the crowd. In order to be able to fully enjoy the performanace. understanding of the japanese language is a must.

Cherry blossoms viewing is popular in spring, we were just in time to join in the fun.

2012 Spring in Japan

Spring in Japan has been delayed this year, so is the cherry blossoms blooming time. But,it was just perfect  time for us, we arrived in Osaka on 13 April, just the correct timing, if we were to arrive one week earlier, we could only see the buds and few blooms, and if we were one week later, most blossoms would have fallen.

 



Sakura in full bloom 

Of course, apart from cherry blossoms, we also saw lots of flower of the temperate climate......

 No idea if this is purple leaves or purple flowers

                                        

 Peony, found at someone's backdoor near Gion,Kyoto

  Another species of cherry blossom at Arashyiyama, Kyoto 

  Willow-like sakura tree in front of Heian Shrine ,Kyoto



Line of  full bloom cherry blossoms outside Osaka Castle where Japanese enjoy themselves in Saturday afternoon.



 Small patch of tulip at the Path of Philosophy , Kyoto

    A corner of the Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Park, Osaka. Expo'90 commemorative park