8D Avia Japan Trip: Osaka Castle
Our tour to Japan with Avia started with a long flight from Jakarta to Singapore and Singapore to Kansai International Airport in Osaka (total flight hours spent around 9 hours). I don’t know why but the older I become, the less tolerance I have toward long flights. Thankfully this flight hour to Japan is nothing compared to Europe or even, USA. I reached Kansai International Airport in the morning so without further ado, the tour started immediately after we collected our luggage.
The tour leader for this trip is called Andhy and he seems to be a freelance tour leader specialised in Japan, Australia and New Zealand. He collaborated with a tour operator + tour agent in Japan of course to bring us to visit some places in Japan. The local tour guide is named Irma and as you may have known from the sound of the name, she’s Indonesian. She has spent around 17 years in Japan and hence has perfect Japanese to assist us to talk with the locals for certain stuff (including shopping, if needed). The journey from Kansai International Airport to the city centre of Osaka took us around 1 hour on bus. Little Brown is getting hungry as the bus strolled on the highway.
When I visited Osaka Castle before by myself (not by tour), I remembered that I have to walk a pretty good distance from the nearest station to Osaka Castle. I suppose one of the plus points about taking tour is that the bus drop you off convenient location to see Osaka Castle and sakura trees which are in season.
However, the minus thing about joining a tour group is that the allocated timeframe to visit Osaka Castle is so minimum, it’s nearly a joke to be honest with you. But we had no choice other than to adher to the time of 15 - 20 minutes to take picture of the castle, the pretty white sakura flowers, my mum with sakura flowers, my bro with sakura + castle and of course, little Brown with sakura flowers. It’s kinda hectic and I barely had the time to enjoy the view. Geez.
Too bad the sky is not blue when we visited Osaka Castle. But then again, the sombre mood of the castle is also quite nice to enjoy. Somemore, I have been into sombre and melancholic mood lately.
Little Brown is enjoying the blooming white sakura. This is his first trip to Japan by the way and I hope he has a great time in Japan. Hehehe.
How to go to Osaka Castle (if you are not on tour):
1. Take subway to the closest station to Osaka Castle: Osakajokoen Station
2. Follow the road sign which lead you to Osaka Castle
Chances are there will be a lot of tourists making their way to the castle and you just have to follow the crowd.
I did not go inside the castle but I recall that the entrance to the castle may be waived if you purchase certain Osaka tourist pass which come with subway ticket and bus pass. According to a friend who has been there, there was nothing much inside the castle, so I don’t think I will give the castle a visit anytime soon since I’d rather use the 500 yen on ramen. LOL.
