2019-11 Japan

As I was already in the Philipines on a business trip, I decided to take the opportunity and go for a vacation week to Osaka.

I choose Osaka because I had a short time to prepare. I know the city, I have been enough times in Japan to move around easily - it is not like Japan is a difficult country to get around anyway - and Osaka has direct flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport. So, everything matches perfectly. And from Osaka I can visit the close by Kobe, Kyoto and Nara.

For such a short trip some I did some changes from the usual routine. In previous trips, I have purchased the Japan Rail Pass. And I try as much as possible using Japan Railways (JR) as I can do it free of charge. This time, thou, I take the Kintetsu Railway Nara Line early in the morning.

A deer in Nara Park

Great Buddha at Tōdai-ji temple

Stone lamps at Nara Park

Traditional Japanese dance

Next day, I stay in Osaka. I have a planned visit to the Aquarium. It does not disappoint.

Pacific Ocean

"The Pacific Ocean, a massive body of water surrounded by five continents and covering one third of the earth’s surface. In this exhibit, an aquarium 9 meters deep and 34 meters long at its longest represents the ocean with a total of 5,400 tons of water." .- Osaka Aquarium

Little Mermaid

Official copy of the Copenhagen's Little Mermaid. It was a gift from Denmark to Japan.

Next city is Kobe. Like the rest, this port city is just a short distance trip on train from Osaka.

Last, but not least, is one of the most touristic cities in Japan: Kyoto.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

"Fushimi Inari Taisha became the object of imperial patronage during the early Heian period. In 965, Emperor Murakami decreed that messengers carry written accounts of important events to the guardian kami of Japan. [...] From 1871 through 1946, Fushimi Inari-taisha was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines." .- Wikipedia

Book store

Shopping can always be part of a complete travel experience. I love to get books at local bookshops.

After little more than a week, I head back to the Philippines as a workshop with my colleagues awaits me in Manila.

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