11/2 Some Exercise at Fushimi Inari Shrine and then Osaka Day trip

November 01, 2023

11/2 Weather: 77 degrees and sunny.

Fushimi Inari Shrine was founded in 711 by the Hata family, over 80 years before Kyoto became the capital of Japan, in 794. The shrine's principal deity is Ukanomitama-no-Mikoto - a mythical figure who is the goddess of rice and food.

Happened upon some monks doing some chanting. Quite peaceful sounding.

Caught a monk walking through the gates.

Over 10,000 torii gates!

There was a famous scene in Memoirs of a Geisha filmed here. Maybe not this exact spot but somewhere in this shrine.

Took a random side path to one of the many mini shrines and made an offering to this deity for Carrie’s back!

Made it half way up the mountain. We did this for our morning exercise before big day to Osaka. Got the heart going! ❤️

Didn’t see any……

Took the bullet train from Kyoto to Osaka late morning.

Bike and park for trains. Just an insane number of bikes.

Que for the bike parking…

Next Osaka Castle. Many battles here and castle has burned many times. Last rebuilt 1931.

Inner moat had no water.

A gate.

How in the heck did they fit all these stones together? Look at the size of this thing!!!!!

Stunning….

Fall colors finally turning a bit…..

Yep, more cool man hole covers in Osaka

We went on a river cruise……

All sites from river cruise…..

First empty train of our trip.

Kuromon Ichiba Market. So much great food for sale. Both fresh and cooked.

Mmmmmm, Kobe beef….

Look at the size of that sashimi grade tuna!!!!

I almost did it, but no little octopus for me….

Little video of the little Michelin star street vendor we got some takoyaki from……….granted they were on the list in 2016-2017 but still amazing!

Sweet potato chips…..

Huge prawns….

There is a long street with all kinds of kitchenware in Osaka. Many, many knife shops. I was tempted to get a Japanese knife but didn’t make it a priority but liked looking at them. Several thousand $$$ for the really good ones.

Just a pretty hotel.

Dotonbori……eye popping lights and simply fantastic.

Mechanical crab video…..

Glico man, very famous billboard here in Japan…….

Got some takoyaki and okonomiyaki (what Toshi made night one) for dinner. 100’s of restaurants to choose from in Namba/Dotonbori section of Osaka.

Eat til you drop in Osaka!

Little craft beer bar owned by an American from Virginia Beach in Dotonbori…..

Poster of Kirk Hammett from Metallica. Love it! 🎸

Found a little speakeasy bar in Namba called Bar Nayuta. They have no menu and just ask what you like. I said old fashioned so he made one with two Japanese whiskeys and a cinnamon stick with the customary orange peel. Oishi! (Delicious). Carrie had a margarita that was equally as yummy.