Looking down upon the Osaka-jo park and one of the moats around the castle.
Fancy roofing and bracing. Incredible workmanship.
Some Hollywood types enjoy the view of Osaka from the castle keep.
After a good climb up the keep around the museum inside and back down, some feet need a break.
In Osaka-jo park, a magician/juggler enlists a Japanese boy to help with the show.
Here is a moat that has been partially filled.
Young as in old. New as in cold.
A lot of Japanese history was made around this castle. The castle covers about 50 acres or more. The white building is the castle keep, which is more or less a tower built on top of the castle. Osaka-jo was built starting in 1583 on the site of a shrine near the confluence of two rivers into a major castle by the man who first united Japan, about the same time Sir Walter Raleigh returned from America to Queen Elizabeth I's court. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi died, his son lost the castle after several seiges and battles to the man who would become the first Shogun of Japan, Ieyasu Tokugawa. Hideyoshi also killed and persecuted Christians severely. Hideyoshi's son and wife committed suicide on the castle grounds when the Tokugawa forces stormed the castle walls and defeat was imminent.
One of the small shrines around the castle grounds. Definitely something you wouldn't see in Huntsville. Ok, well, maybe you wouldn't see it in Madison. Or perhaps at my house.
M'thew and Punkin pose before the keep.
Precious and Mr. Pie pose as well.
After a full day of castle touring, one of Osaka's treats await us. We had all been keeping our eye out for a yakisoba stand, and here we found one. The yakisoba wasn't the best, however. Like the song says: "ate it anyway". You know the rest....
Biden says adios
11 hours ago
2 comments:
Oh, and you should have mentioned that Matt was hanging out at the takoyaki stand waiting for a hot, steaming pile of squid.
-- Now that you've published about Osaka, I am now permitted to post my Miyajima writeup, which has been in the incubator for weeks.
Ken,
I enjoy these posts on Japan. Entertaining and informative.
Thanks,
Charlie
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