Thursday 22nd March 2018
Osaka has a population of 2.6 million, it is located on the Southern coast of western Honshu, the largest of the four main Japanese islands.
Osaka first gained prominence when Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a well known warlord, built Japan’s most magnificent castle here in the 16th century. Osaka Castle was destroyed by a series of fires throughout the ages. The present structure dates from 1931, and although not as large as the original, this is still one of Japan’s most famous castles. The Shinto shrine of Sumiyoshi Taisha is the headquarters of over 2,000 Sumiyoshi-sha Shrines nationwide. Over three million people visit this shrine at the beginning of a new year, and it is widely respected as the home of the guardian deity of sailors.
Berthed today in the same berth we used previously, good central spot with attractions just on the doorstep.
No trip organised for us today so just went ashore, at our leisure, good plan! Started with a walk through a nearby park to check how the cherry blossom was coming along.
Quite a lot out but we are still too early for the really spectacular show, probably only missed it by a week or so.
Then to the aquarium, very popular and very busy.
I expect you can guess what we saw, lots and lots of fish, there were also sharks, rays, turtles, seals, otters, dolphins, penguins, etc. etc. All very good if a little sad to see them in captivity even if the tanks looked huge.
Popped back to the ship for a coffee and a snack. Managed to get sidetracked and spent the afternoon learning to play Canasta and didn’t get ashore again. Entertained again today by the locals on the dock. Today a large and energetic brass band, everywhere seems to be making an extra effort to celebrate the call made by the Queen Elizabeth.
In the theatre tonight a folkloric show, “Abare Daiko”, Japanese traditional drum and dance show. excellent.
Plenty of time to just sit and watch the light show on the ferris wheel by the ship. Endlessly entertaining, positively mesmerising.
After dinner a late sailaway, plenty of people on the dock waving us goodbye.
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