Japan was a short lived adventure. The political and aggressive posturing between various countries in the Korean Peninsula was too nerve wracking for me to want to have the kids there. So sadly, we were only in Japan for about four days. Fortunately for us, it happened to be during the most perfect time of the year: cherry blossom time.
We wandered around Osaka on foot for an entire day. We found a beautiful park along the river that was overflowing with cherry blossoms.
We ate some really good sushi and some excellent ramen and some disgusting soba. All helped make our very short experience a good one.
The train system and subways were beyond impressive. Clean, easy to use, and I loved seeing women could travel in the mornings without worry.
I’m surprised such a sign is needed in Japan. Their courteousness is beyond reproach. We often saw locals stand up and move tables in the middle of meal in a restaurant so that a new group walking in could be accommodated with a properly sized table. The Japanese were extremely friendly and gracious even if we did have some communication issues to overcome.
We had a few giggles as we experienced some of the differences in Japanese homes. The toilet had more capabilities than our television at home (plus a pretty flusher). There was no couch. Instead, we sat under a kotatsu.
One other thing I loved: it seems fairly common for a large apartment complex to have assigned garden spaces for the residents. While a couple of spots were slightly neglected, most were pristine and beautiful.
We will definitely go back and explore Japan properly when the geopolitical situation is more conducive to having a worry free trip. (Let’s hope that’s in my lifetime.)
Video highlights of beautiful blossoms:
