Day 10
Today we went to the Imperial Palace! Actually it might have been the most unexciting part of 
this trip so far. Please don’t misunderstand I love palaces and I enjoy touring them, but when you are not allowed in them in cuts down on the excitement. For the tour we were led around in a huge group by a woman that spoke decent English but was hard to hear, and we just walked around the palace 
(literally around it). I am not sure whether this is the common practice of Japan so I don’t feel that I can truly say that this was a bad tour. I just was disappointed, and I want to warn anyone else before they go so they don’t set the sights on something else. Although no matter how the tour turned out I am glad that I even got to see an Imperial palace up close (they are not many of those in America). After the tour Amanda and I headed to Amita. We took a very scenic route because we endeavored to take a public bus but got off at a very wrong stop and ended up having to ask the police where we were and how to get where we were going. Although I must say our Japanese is getting really good, and because of our mistake we got to see a shrine that we hadn’t meant to see. Amita is a shopping place created for tourists, so it was full of gifts for those back home. The best part about this place being for tourists was the free shuttle that took us back to the train station which was right by the hotel. After getting all out stuff it was off to Osaka. We decided to try our luck on a Nazomi again and we made it to 
Osaka in ten minutes (pretty amazing). After a few wrong turns and another stop at a police station for direction (if lost to seek these out because not only are they helpful but they normally have a large city map) we finally found the hotel. Now this part of Osaka where we were is very unique to say the most to say the least it is the dark underbelly of Japan. I felt that the best way to describe the area was Gothem city with a Japanese twist. Our hotel here is western style so really not that interesting. Although the outside architecture is enough to make anyone look twice (as pictured) it is four columns of big ethnic heads on stubby legs. Oh and in the rooms there was an interesting body sponge, well the sponge was normal but the directions were intriguing. It said “This is disposable sponge for body shampoo. You had better use this sponge with body shampoo.” Anyway tonight Amanda and I broke down and finally ate McDonald’s although this was still a challenge because the menu was all in Japanese, but good old McDo always has pictures. Well, until tomorrow.
this trip so far. Please don’t misunderstand I love palaces and I enjoy touring them, but when you are not allowed in them in cuts down on the excitement. For the tour we were led around in a huge group by a woman that spoke decent English but was hard to hear, and we just walked around the palace 
(literally around it). I am not sure whether this is the common practice of Japan so I don’t feel that I can truly say that this was a bad tour. I just was disappointed, and I want to warn anyone else before they go so they don’t set the sights on something else. Although no matter how the tour turned out I am glad that I even got to see an Imperial palace up close (they are not many of those in America). After the tour Amanda and I headed to Amita. We took a very scenic route because we endeavored to take a public bus but got off at a very wrong stop and ended up having to ask the police where we were and how to get where we were going. Although I must say our Japanese is getting really good, and because of our mistake we got to see a shrine that we hadn’t meant to see. Amita is a shopping place created for tourists, so it was full of gifts for those back home. The best part about this place being for tourists was the free shuttle that took us back to the train station which was right by the hotel. After getting all out stuff it was off to Osaka. We decided to try our luck on a Nazomi again and we made it to 
Osaka in ten minutes (pretty amazing). After a few wrong turns and another stop at a police station for direction (if lost to seek these out because not only are they helpful but they normally have a large city map) we finally found the hotel. Now this part of Osaka where we were is very unique to say the most to say the least it is the dark underbelly of Japan. I felt that the best way to describe the area was Gothem city with a Japanese twist. Our hotel here is western style so really not that interesting. Although the outside architecture is enough to make anyone look twice (as pictured) it is four columns of big ethnic heads on stubby legs. Oh and in the rooms there was an interesting body sponge, well the sponge was normal but the directions were intriguing. It said “This is disposable sponge for body shampoo. You had better use this sponge with body shampoo.” Anyway tonight Amanda and I broke down and finally ate McDonald’s although this was still a challenge because the menu was all in Japanese, but good old McDo always has pictures. Well, until tomorrow.
posted by tkaswiss | 3:28 AM
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