Today’s
outing began with a 50 minute drive from the port in Kobe to Osaka to visit Japan's most famous castle there. Construction began in 1583 and the castle was completed in 1597. The original owner, Toyotomi Hideshi, was a Japanese Samurai. He died one year after the castle was completed. I can understand that since we've built several houses in years past. I thought the building of our home in Houston would be the end of me. Haha (sorta)!
We spent almost 2 hours there; however it was strenuous (and hot) and I spent most of my time on the castle grounds and in the shops. I wasn’t up to climbing the 100 steps to the top of the Castle. However, Ronnie did and he enjoyed touring the castle and he snapped some photos of the surrounding property and skyline from that vantage point.
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| wall surrounding castle |
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| moat around castle |
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| stones on walls were huge! |
Osaka Castle
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| inside castle grounds |
view of moat and surrounding grounds with city backdrop (photo credits: Ronnie)
people walking below look like ants!
Afterwards, we were taken to Shitennoji Temple. I walked around the temple grounds and buildings but in all honesty, can’t say that I enjoyed it very much. Ronnie didn’t go inside any of the buildings. Neither of us remembered signing up for this tour (we signed up for most of them before we left last January) but it was likely the best of the ship tour choices offered today. We had a nice guide who spoke English very well. She said her apartment was the size of one of the stones on the wall. It was a huge stone, and she has a tiny apartment! Anyway, it was another hot one and considered a “3 walker” (strenuous) as tours go. Thankfully it lastly only 5 hours and on the return drive the bus driver finally figured out how to work the AC!
modern city buildings - Osaka, Japan
bicycles have umbrella holders
colorful street scene, downtown Osaka
Shitennoji Temple - Osaka, Japan
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| lanterns in honor of ancestors |
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| 200,000 yen to purchase lantern |
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| followers rubbing hand sanitizer all over Buddha (?) |
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| bells lit 3 times a year |
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| incense and candles for sale |
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| something (?) for sale |
Bharberts: looks like a prayer scroll in the last photo. I am so sorry it was so hot for you. Gardens in Japan are all lovely. They honestly have a great climate for growing plants and they have the magic touch and are very artistic and talented. It would have been nice if you could have seen a Shinto wedding with the bride in traditional regalia and wigs. Shinto Buddhism is very different from the Buddhism of Southern Asia. Basically, the Shinto religion worshiped Creation in many ways, much like the ancient Druids. So when Buddhism was introduced, they added it to their existing Shinto religion. Interestingly, many Japanese Christians still have their family alters and celebrate Shinto holidays.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, Barbara. I think we may have seen some of those brides on our previous visit to Tokyo. They were wearing these huge white (dome shaped?) head dresses? I got a lot of photos of them at that time but didn't realize what I was photographing.
ReplyDeleteYes, they have elaborate wigs and the huge headdress and about 6 layers of kimono...usually a beautiful red one on top, but that has changed there to lighter colors. The Shinto priests typically wear kimono with a little Box headdress with a strap under the chin.
ReplyDeleteI went back and looked at the photos I took of the bridal couple in 2016 and compared to google images. I'm pretty sure that's what she was wearing. There looked to be several layers of kimono (red showing in a narrow line across the bottom). The top layer was white with elaborately embroidered patterns, including a crane with gold tipped wings. And of course the big, domed shape head covering.
DeleteI meant to tell you that in Hawaii, one day a year, the people whose relatives have died send a heavy paper lantern out into the sea currents. Some put their loved ones ashes inside. It is quite moving to see all the lanterns at night on the water.
ReplyDeleteThat would have been a sight to see! We didn't realize that one of our excursion choices included the night (sky) lanterns and by the time we went down to book it, it was already full. Disappointing!
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