This post won't be as long. Although a fun day, we went to one major place: Osaka Castle. This beautiful castle has a museum in it (that you could not take pictures in). It was a total of 8 floors that we walked. The very top is an observatory where we took gorgeous pictures. Again, there only a few clouds in the sky and it was hot, at least 40 degrees, again. (100 F).

Osaka Castle

View from Observatory

Osaka is about the size of the city of Boston (just the city, not the suburbs around it or the water). 86 sq. miles. To me it looks as though it goes on and on and on. The streets are clean, compared to what I've seen in cities (New York I'm looking at you) and it's exciting.

I will say I enjoy Beppu City much better. Why? Well, walking down the street you can say Ohayogozaimasu (Oh-Hi-Oh Go-Zai-Mas) to people on the street. (That means good morning!) People are friendlier and less city like in Osaka. I still love that city though, very fun and exciting.

Downtown Osaka

Takoyaki Restaurant

We then parted ways with Akane and met up with her dad and brother who took us through downtown Osaka which had amazing restaurants and shops. All name brand stuff including Fossil (a brand on Newbury street in Boston!)

 For dinner that night we made Yakoyaki! Which is very very good. It's a ball of wheat flower with octopus in it. Sometimes beef, with corn, cheese maybe and green onion. Really, you can put anything in it. It's made in a ball shape, smothered in takoyaki sauce and Japanese mayonnaise (which is nothing like American mayo).

It needs a special pan with little holes in it. It's really fun to make and they taste so good! Definitely my favorite snack type food. It's healthier when home made of course, but it really is a festival, going out snack type food.

So what have I done for the past few days? SHOPPING!

A few things to know when shopping:

• Most stores do not give you bags. Bring your own fabric bag!
• Many places do not take visa, as Japan is quite cash based.
• Be prepared to be frustrated, it's all trial and error.
• There are such things as kumquats which are tiny delicious oranges (Kinkan.)

So, I went grocery shopping (In Beppu-shi) so I can make dinner. There is no meal plan here, so I should start to cook on my own I guess. I wrote down recipes for some dishes such as Okonomiyaki, oyakudon, tonkatsu and others. Shopping was frustrating since I can't read kanji well enough to know what most things are. So, I just sorta experimented. 

That adventure ended with me getting octopus, kumquats (cute tiny oranges), and clams. 

Of course I also bought other things I need for every day, like flour, salt, butter, pork chops and pancake mix. So I will be all set with food for a little while.

I am not a good cook, but I will be sure to post up anything I make, even if I fail because that's funny to read no?