Visiting Osaka 2018/Carlos Pueblo

Visiting Osaka 2018/Carlos Pueblo

After 3 nights in Tokyo, we started our journey westward to Osaka for the second

leg of Japan. I have been very fond of this high speed rail called Shinkansen,

comfortable and enjoyable about 2 ½ hours ride. I didn’t make any reservation

a day before to get rid of the timely stressful situation. Shinkansen is very rapid and

almost one car in every 15 minutes from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka Station. If I don’t get

the reservation right on the spot before I go, I can always wait for the next one or

try the non-reservation line for the first 3  carriages. Upon arriving Shin-Osaka

Station, we would change to a Japan Rail trains to the old Osaka Station to get a

shuttle bus to the hotel. During this 4 nights stay, I planned to take Amy to visit

Himeji Castle, Hiroshima Castle and the Pease Park, and Kitashinchi and Osaka

Castle Park.

Both train stations in Osaka are very lively and prosperous business. Japanese make

good use of their railroad systems which I don’t see very much in the U.S. The other

variety of business are also derived. Salarymen are in suit, ladies are high heel and

stylish overcoats only seen in London and Manhattan subways, students are in

uniforms, and some elder ladies are in kimono. They are moving quietly through the

traffic of station crowd in and out. There are even rooms for our luggage while we

try to have a shushi lunch at restaurants even with a box under your chef front table

for your bags, hat, and scarf, etc. It is quick and efficient. I met two young ladies and

a gentleman at an international information stand to help passengers who are from

Taipei, Tsindao, and Hong Kong accordingly. Japan has begun to employ foreigners

to fill some jobs in their market like the U.S. and its unemployment rate is 2.5%.

I like to describe the hotel which we stay, Hyatt Regency. First, we need to thank our

daughter Michelle for her kindly treatment. The hotel is outside of the station near

the container port of Osaka about 30 minutes shuttle ride. It is out of nowhere, the

general manager indicates to me, and is a re-claim land of the 80’s bubble burst.

Now, it is all built up new business center. I see that IBM is there as well. The hotel

provides a very nice breakfast, both oriental and occidental menu which I am very

impressed. I can maintain my two meal routine by fill up in the morning and get a

late shushi lunch at Osaka station and waiting for the breakfast next morning.

You are going to see our visits to Himeji, Hiroshima, and Osaka Castle Park very

soon.