Lucy spreads tai chi aloha around the world to Japan on another trip to Osaka and Kyoto with her family.
Our family trip to Osaka and Kyoto to celebrate Susan's 40th birthday was adventuresome as well as a once in a life time event for many reasons. Ten family members took advantage of Singapore Airlines' economy plane, FlyScoot, for offering round trip fares from Honolulu to Osaka for $232. The double strands of pakalana lei that Caroline presented to Susan for her big birthday was symbolic of the sweet memories we all had.
Traveling with family gave us the opportunity to use team work in planning our many activities for our unique itinerary. Susan's resourcefulness to draw up a customized itinerary made it fun to accommodate a wide span of age and interest. Baby baby, just 11 months old to his siblings at 5 and 8, cousins Justine and Brennan at 20 and 21 all the way to the "ancient," Popo and Gungie... as grampa would say.
Our bath towels were very colorful and the fabric was very thin like those skimpy like the onsen towels.
Our Airbnb in Osaka was near the train station and we could also walk to Kuromon market and Fresco which made Gungie very happy so he could select local produce such as mushrooms as well as fish, seafood and beef for cooking our yummy meals.
One of our first stops was to see the Glico Running Man across the Dotombori Canal so that we could get inspired to walk more in spite of the hot humid, sultry, summer Japan weather.
We traveled light and walked a ton and rode the public transits with our train pass. Our grandkids have become experts of the mass transit lines and with the numerous automated purchases of our rail pass.
Baby Colin was a trooper and insisted on building up his muscles.
Our first tour was probably the most popular for almost all of us. At the Nissin Cup of Noodle museum we saw other Hawaii people and learned about how the company was founded by a Taiwanese man who has his brand all over the world. Most of all we packaged our own saimin to take home.
NO text needed, this was the kids' highlight, no doubt!
Soaking up the culture and sites.
Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the game....
After an early morning outing to Pokemon Center and Osaka Station we came home for a nap. On tap was our first ever professional Japanese baseball game, Chunichi Dragons vs. Hanshin Tigers.
Hanshin Koshien Stadium (阪神甲子園球場 HanshinKōshien Kyūjō), commonly referred to as simply Koshien Stadium, is a baseball park located near Kobe in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. ... In 1936 it became the home stadium for the Osaka Tigers (current Hanshin Tigers), now with the Central League.
Hanshin Koshien Stadium (阪神甲子園球場 HanshinKōshien Kyūjō), commonly referred to as simply Koshien Stadium, is a baseball park located near Kobe in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. ... In 1936 it became the home stadium for the Osaka Tigers (current Hanshin Tigers), now with the Central League.
Susan's birthday cake topped off our list of foods and desserts that were our favorite Japanese eats.
At the Shinkansen station in Osaka we took the bullet train to Kyoto in about 12 minutes. We all loved the high speed! ...FASTER than a speeding bullet experience
All aboard! Come take a ride with team Chun!
Click on the play arrow below as we take train rides in Japan.
Our next stop was Kyoto where we could take a 10 minute walk from the train station to Fushimi Inari, Torii gate shrine, as well as to our Fushimi Inari private residence!
In the private residence of Fushimi Inari, our Airbnb home in Kyoto.
Kyoto Railway Museum
Our private van driver, Hiroshi, drove us to Sabjugangen-do, a famous temple, known for its 1001 wooden statues.
Touring the Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion
A hurricane is here with us as we walk through Fushimi Inari and the Bamboo Forest.
Click on the play arrow below:
Take a nice rainy day walk with us and experience the best in Japan.
Take a nice rainy day walk with us and experience the best in Japan.
The Bamboo Forest was our final excursion...we saved the best for the last!
In Kyoto, on our last day of our trip, we were very fortunate to be able to have time working for us. The hurricane had caused not only heavy rain but cancellation of the train routes. Our flight to Honolulu was at 8pm. JR line was not available. But, the bullet train was...so again we rode it back to Osaka for our red eye flight back home.
The slideshow below is how lucy tries to spread tai chi aloha around the world. She tries to capture the locale by doing a tai chi pose so that she can remember the beautiful sight.
