Day 63 - Lazy Busy Day

Started the day very late, not leaving until about ten. Went down the street and found a shop where I got strawberry and pear pancakes. Tasty, but Japanese pancakes tend to be too dense.

First actual stop was the pokecenter in Osaka station. Before we even got there though, we stood to marvel at the water sculpture thing first. Beautiful. Here's a link to a video, so you can see for yourself. That one even has different patterns than what I got to see. Anyway, at the Pokecenter, I got a little whale pokemon for myself. Don't know which one it is, but it's cute.

Next stop was Osaka castle. Which was gorgeous. We took it easy today, and I was feeling hella lazy anyway, so we didn't actually go into the castle. There was some sort of Korean fair going on in the park.  By it was hot. Oh well. They had an adorable giant bouncy castle shaped like a dinosaur.

Osaka castle itself was impressive and huge. And surrounded by multiple moats. Even the station had beautiful art. Japan always seems to have a little surprise around the corner.

Next stop, Shitennouji Shrine. It's more a group of shrines than just one. Lovely, windy, quiet. Stayed there for a while, just chilling out. There are so many pigeons in Japan. Got to watch them strut around the grounds. Pretentious little flying rats. Then headed to our next hotel.

By hotel, I mean Ryokan. This place... So pretty. Tatami mat floors, traditional Japanese meal, the whole nine yards. Also, an open air cedar tub. Soaked in there for hours. Still want to be soaking now. Oh well. Went to bed late, have to wake up early for our train to Ise in the morning. Actually missing out on traditional Japanese breakfast to go at 6:30.

Not that I really want another meal like that. It was, of course, gorgeous. But I'm realizing more and more that I cannot stand some Japanese food. Well, most Japanese food. :/ There's too many foods that are just jelly or pudding texture when they should be solid. Or creepy and pasty. Can't get used to the Japanese palate either. I'm just gonna have to eat cup noodles the rest of my time here.