Last Day in Osaka
A few last oddball photos in the Osaka album. Yesterday was my last full day in Osaka, and I spent it casually wandering around some of the side streets in this neighborhood. My first quest was to find Houzenji Temple and its moss-covered Fudo Myo-o, which was tucked in a side street not far from my hotel, according to the map. Nevertheless, it took me some time, questing through alleys and back streets, before I finally found it hidden in a tiny covered area tucked between the surrounding restaurants and pachinko parlors; a number of businessmen and businesswomen were stopping to pray before it and sprinkle water on the moss. I paid my respects, as well, as I could use some good publishing luck now that I’m heading back from vacation.
After that, I had no specific plans for the day. I eventually made my way over to the America Mura part of town, where Osaka youth live out their dreams of U.S. life, and spotted some very odd statues and lamp posts. Then I trekked back across the neighborhood to Matsuyamachisuji Street, where I browsed through the stores filled with cheap plastic party supplies, the extensive booths of fireworks, and the museum-like glass cases full of very expensive ceramic hina dolls, all dressed up in elaborate fabric kimonos.
On my way back from picking up a bento dinner, I was greeted in the middle of the endless Shinsaibashi-suji shopping arcade by a young Japanese man who spoke fluent English with a British accent; he’d studied sociology at the University of Nottingham. We sat down for coffee and chatted about identity, culture, and politics for about an hour and a half before I excused myself to get back in order to eat my dinner — fortunately bagged with a little ice pack by the commuting-sensitive shopkeepers — and finish my packing.
Today I head home; I have a short plane hop from Osaka to Tokyo, and then I’ll depart Tokyo late Thursday afternoon and arrive back in LA around noon on Thursday; Tokyo is 16 hours ahead of LA, which will make the jet lag interesting.
The Kirinfall group be warned; I found some takoyaki-flavored lollipops that I’m bringing back for Saturday’s game. Do you dare try one?
drupagliassotti @ June 9, 2010
Thanks a lot for putting up such a detailed travellogue of this. I enjoyed reading myself through your impressions. An LJ friend of mine recently put up her own impressions of a Japan trip she took with her sister last year.
http://salimbol.livejournal.com/tag/asia%20trip%202009