Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto - March 21st

Osaka:
We left Kyoto around 752 on a limited express train bound for Osaka. At the same exact time a Special Express left. It was very strange because both trains arrived at around the same time at JR Osaka station, but were making different stops. The trip took around 33 minutes to complete. Once outside the station we found a information station and got a map. We also asked where the closest MontBell was, which resulted in about five minutes of the guys in the information area saying Mont Bello before realizing it was right next to the station. Being in Japan nothing opens early so we had some time to burn.

The only major thing we did in Osaka was go to the Umeda Sky Building. There is a path to get from the station to this building, but there is no English instructions. That is one thing that we noticed in Osaka, there was very little in English. At 1000 we went to the 32 floor in a glass elevator. There was a woman in the elevator who was saying scary in Japanese and had her eyes closed the entire time. The final five floors is a ride up an escalator the next five floors. The escalator is in between the to buildings and you can see out and up. This activity is not suggested for those who do not like heights. They let you on top of the building it was very windy and cloudy so I didn't get too many shots. Later in the day it became very nice, so timing was a little off. If you are in Osaka and it is a clear day be sure to check this out.

We stopped at a Starbuck's to buy an Osaka city mug and then it was off to Kobe for lunch.

Kobe:
The train ride to Kobe was interesting. We got on the first train that was on the correct platform and headed the correct direction. We soon realized that it was the type of train you need a ticket to ride, so we hopped out at the next station. Did not want to run into a "No Ticket" situation Once in Kobe we spent 10 minutes looking for an information station before deciding just to head up to lunch. It was just one station on the subway line to the Ana Crowne Plaza hotel where the restaurant was located. We stopped in the restaurant and were told that it would be around a 30 minute wait. So we decided to try and find the Starbucks Concept Store in Kobe.

Kobe was the first sister city to Seattle back in 1957, so it is only fitting that it should have an awesome Starbuck's. It is located inside a house that was constructed at the turn of the last century. The house was destroyed in the 1995 earthquake that killed 6000. The American owner donated it to the city after the earthquake. The building has since been rebuilt and reinforced to prevent destruction by earthquake again. After picking up a city mug it was time for Kobe in Kobe.

Kobe steak is something between extreme excess and an art form. When you walk into the restaurant you will see posted by the door the different grades of beef available that day. With each grade you will also get a number, which can be entered into a Japanese Beef Lineage website. This way you can know exactly where the cow was raised and slaughtered at. The cows for Kobe beef are feed only the choice grain, Sake, and massaged many times a day. It is said the meat is so tender you could cut it with chopsticks.

Well it wasn't that tender but you didn't need to chew it. It was both the most expensive meal I have ever had (13,700 Yen) but also the best steak. For obvious reasons of pocketbook and health you couldn't do this too often, but for an experience it was awesome. The steak is presented to you to verify that is what you want and then the chef cooks it right in front of you. It worked out to be a 7 coarse meal. It was back to Kyoto after lunch.

Kyoto:
We got to the JR Sannomiya station at got on the 1610 train bound for Maibara. In the scrolling Kanji I figured that the train would stop at Kyoto so we were good to sit the whole way. We arrived at the JR Kyoto station at 1730. Quick stop at the room and it was back to the festival of lights area. The stop tonight was
Kiyomizudera (Pure Water Temple). It is famous for the fact that it is built on scaffolding. I finally figured out how to control the shutter speed and brought the tripod so great shots were had. After spending an hour of so we headed back to the hotel room after grabbing so McDonald's for dinner. Tomorrow is the last full day in Kyoto so time to recharge once more.

Osaka Kobe Kyoto March 21st