Japan 4.0: Osaka!

Well, when Lonely Planet said that Osaka was the antithesis of Kyoto, they weren't messing around.

But let's start at the beginning of our day. Today was our last morning in Kyoto, an we decided (after one...or two last croissants at ChocoCro) that we couldn't leave without seeing the golden gates at Fushimi Inari-Taisha. It was a quick hop on the subway, but we were transported from the city to a suburb that felt small town. Policemen even directed traffic on tiny streetcorners.

The foxes are only at shrines to Inari--god of rice. The key in its mouth is to the granary.

The day was wonderful--slightly overcast like a day in SF or even SC. The temp was about 50. The other days had been great too--sunny and warm but not too much. Perfect climate and reprieve from the icy winds of Seoul. The shrine was still packed with peole for the new year. The gates were gorgeous--some fading more than others--and we followed them up the mountain. I got the feeling the minute they finished repaiting the gates they'd have to start all over, like the golden gate bridge. Each of the torii was donated by a Japanese business, as Inari was also the patron of business. I think that's what the inscriptions on the torii mean.

these gates run for miles. its easy to get turned around.

some new year celebration and prayer still happening

After that we were off on the train to Osaka. Big city streets. Wide roads. Tall buildings. If Kyoto was like San Francisco, Osaka was like Los Angeles. We checked into our hostel and went out for a walk to see the sites of Dotonbori Arcade and Shinsaibashisuji Shopping Arcade. Well first we passed the giant--I mean giant-- designer stores.

Chanel Towers, anyone?

Then we saw the sparkly buildings. Then we saw the famous Gilco man. This place was insane. Neon lights everywhere. Flamboyance, I think, is the key word. It was like Vegas, times square, and picadilly circus rolled in to one. And a plethora of cliche guys in Japanese street fashion. I really really wanted to take a picture.

 What? Best thing ever!

This funny thing happened in Dotonbori. And a bit in Kyoto too. After spending so long walking around big cities, with so many people, you start to forget where you are. I could have been back in London. I could have been in SF. I think it's because you don't talk to people, sometimes you barely interact. Language barriers are torn down and you start speaking the international language of...something. Hustle and bustle, perhaps? A city, to some degree, is a city. It's when you begin to see things on the smaller scale. Going to home plus in Korea. Going to a small shrine with locals in Kyoto. That's when you see more of a real country. I am glad in Japan I have experienced both.

So Steve, Lana, and I sit in what we affectionately refer to as the hipster hotel. Think of an SF coffee shop/coop/college common room combined with Urban Outfitters and beds. That's where we are staying. In the lounge, sharing a sake an some chocolate before getting a few hours rest. We are up at dawn to make our way back home. And maybe to sleep for the next couple of days. I come back to California, and the real world, in one week. I'd better enjoy this while I can.

Xoxo,
Antonia

PS: See the rest of the vacation pics here:

Japan!

PPS: video coming soon!