JAPAN ~ PHOTO GALLERIES
🙂 click images to view 🙂
Osaka, Japan
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a large well-known park in Shinjuku. Tokyo, Japan.
View of Tokyo from the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Tokyo, Japan.
View of Tokyo from the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Tokyo, Japan.
The Nozomi Superexpress (the fastest train in Japan) and our ride from Tokyo to Osaka. Tokyo, Japan.
The Nozomi Superexpress (the fastest train in Japan) and our ride from Tokyo to Osaka. Tokyo, Japan.
Seats on the Nozomi Superexpress Bullet train. Tokyo, Japan.
Rick and Alisa on the Nozomi Superexpress Bullet train on our way to Osaka. Tokyo, Japan.
View of Osaka Castle in the distance from across its moat. Osaka, Japan.
Osaka Castle. Osaka, Japan.
Panorama view from Osaka Castle of the surrounding city. Osaka, Japan.
Rick standing in front a rock slab wall at Osaka Castle. Note the size of the slabs in comparison to Rick. Osaka, Japan.
Vertical view of Osaka Castle. Osaka, Japan.
Vertical view of Osaka Castle. Osaka, Japan.
Osaka Castle roof detail. Osaka, Japan.
Side detail of Osaka Castle. Osaka, Japan.
Vertical view of Osaka Castle. Osaka, Japan.
Osaka Castle detail. Osaka, Japan.
View of Osaka Castle from across it's moat. Osaka, Japan.
View of Osaka Castle from across it's moat. Osaka, Japan.
Dotonburi area. Osaka, Japan.
Panorama of one of the corners in the Dotonburi. Osaka, Japan.
Waterfront canal in Dotonburi. Osaka, Japan.
A few of the many places who make Takoyaki (the famous Octopus Balls) in the Dotonburi area. Osaka, Japan.
The Dotonburi waterfront canal area at night. Osaka, Japan.
One of the many interesting and very large Dotonburi signs. Osaka, Japan.
Many people waiting to order the very popular "5 Star Hot Dog". The line in front of the store continues down below the fenced area. Osaka, Japan.
One of the many gigantic neon signs in the Dotonburi area. Osaka, Japan.
Another of the gigantic neon signs in the Dotonburi area. The Glico man is very popular for people and their selfies. Osaka, Japan.
Panorama of many neon signs in the Dotonburi area. Osaka, Japan.
Another Dotonburi neon sign. Osaka, Japan.
One of the typical open restaurant fronts on one of the main Dotonburi streets. Osaka, Japan.
The official Dotonburi neon sign marking the entrance to the area. Osaka, Japan.
The Dotonburi canal at dusk. Osaka, Japan.
Rick and Alisa having an ice cold Asahi beer in the Dotonburi waterfront canal area. Osaka, Japan.
Rick and Alisa with Richard, our "Hidden Namba" guide for the evening. Osaka, Japan.
Rick and Alisa starting their evening "Hidden Namba" sake tour. Osaka, Japan.
Rick and Alisa with the Japanese Cowboy. The Japanese Cowboy's small bar was our first stop of the night on our "Hidden Namba" sake tour. Osaka, Japan.
Our first sake tasting of the evening. Osaka, Japan.
Our second stop of the evening. The small bars are called Izakayas. Izakayas are a type of informal Japanese pub for casual after-work drinking. Osaka, Japan.
Our third sake bar stop of the evening. Osaka, Japan.
Our very large glasses of local sake with the typical "overpour". Osaka, Japan.
Our very large glasses of local sake with the typical "overpour". Osaka, Japan.
The saying "Kanpai" is equivalent to "cheers" and is said at a toast and very commonly at the start of a meal with drinks and/or guests. Osaka, Japan.
Rick and Richard, our sake tour guide, saying "kanpai" (cheers) before sipping their sake. Osaka, Japan.
Our plane at the Kansai Airport heading back to the US. Osaka, Japan.
Rick and Alisa in our business class seats on our Japan Airlines flight back to the US. Osaka, Japan.