Osaka

Dragging a bit this morning after a late night. Comfy beds let us sleep until 9. Hot showers and a light breakfast later we were off to meet our 3 hour food tour in old downtown Osaka with a guide named Anna.

We started strong with slow cooked beef in a scrumptious broth and roasted garlic (delicious). Drinks were included and the kids were introduced to different Japanese drinks. We enjoyed a tempura platter of cheese, meats and fish. Next stop was a karaage spot (fried chicken). We started with chicken skin and breast with homemade wasabi salt (incredible). Next we had chicken with tartar sauce and light soy sauce and finally a gochujang sauce (yummy!). This was a highlight, as was the peach sour. Next up was a spot where we grilled Wagyu and fatty pork over a gas stove coupled with Kim Chi (but a milder Japanese version). Super fun but a bit hard to eat! Next was takiyaki (octopus balls). The octopus bit was great, but the balls not fully cooked. Drinks were good and fun to hag out with the group.

Final stop was a tofu salad (veggies were needed). A Wagyu beef broth with udon and a delicious dessert (skewer with marshmallows, ice cream and chocolate). The kids loved the tour and we were able to see a new part of the city. We also found Billikens everywhere - made famous at SLU, they somehow became popular in Japan as a source of luck. Small world.

After the tour, we visited the nearby Shitennoji shrine and 5 level pagoda. We were there too late to go to the top but got to walk around the bottom level before touring the gardens and nearby buildings. From the temple, we hopped on the metro to the Osaka Gardens and Castle. Sakuras (and people) were everywhere and we had wonderful weather. We got to see the castle after our guide recommended watching the Disney show Shogun (which features the castle in the first episode). It was an impressive castle surrounded by a large moat. Many things (including the castle) have burn down over the centuries and the castle was no different and it was last rebuilt in 1931 with renovations after WW2. After passing through the castle gardens, we grabbed and Uber to the shopping district Dotombori where mom and dad got shoes (Adidas and Onitsuka Tiger) before heading home on a short metro. Joce and Gideon got some groceries for dinner and then we enjoyed the larger projector TV to watch some of Shogun and Karate Kid II before bed.Read more