We stayed at Hotel Vista Grande Osaka, which is in the middle of the red light district. And for that, naging makulay ang night life namin sa Japan.
On our third day in Japan, we went to Osaka Castle.
Naging mas exciting ang trip kasi may in-house geisha kami. Meet Missy. Dahil na-inspire siya sa mga tourists sa Kyoto na naka-outfit, ayan, naglibot siya ng Osaka in her Hello Kitty inspired Kimono. #award
Osaka Castle is widely known as an emblem of the power and fortune of Hideyoshi Toyotomi.
In 1583, Hideyoshi began construction at the former site of Honganji Temple and completed the magnificent castle, which was reputed as being unparalleled in the country. Hideyoshi, having employed the castle as his stronghold, succeeded in quelling the wars which had continued for more than one century, thereby unifying the entire nation.
After Hideyoshi’s death, Ieyasu Tokugawa, who worked for Hideyoshi as his chief retainer, was appointed to the Shogun and he established the shogunate (government) in Edo (Tokyo). In 1615, Ieyasu ruined the Toyotomi family and destroyed Osaka Castle (in the Summer War of Osaka). Thereafter, the Tokugawa shogunate reconstructed Osaka Castle. It held the castle under its direct control until 1868, when the Tokugawa shogunate lost power and the castle fell.
In 1931, the Main Tower of the Castle was reconstructed in the center of Osaka Castle, which was used as a military base, with funds raised by the citizens. The present-day Main Tower is the third generation. It follows the Main Tower from the Toyotomi period, which was destroyed by fire during the Summer War, and the tower from the Tokugawa period, which was struck by lightning and was burned down.
Since its construction, Osaka Castle repeatedly featured as the battleground of the major wars in Japanese history. (http://www.osakacastle.net/)
Then we went shopping. Ang mura ng Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, etc. Ang sinabi kong hindi ako magsho-shopping sa Japan ay kinain ko ng bongga! Ubos ang lapad.
I was really amazed with the comfort rooms sa shopping malls. Not only are the toilets high-tech…. (take note, may music pa just in case you need to meditate or Shaina Magdayao ka mag-number 2 in public.)
… if you have a child with you, you can let him/her sit on the special chair while you do your thing. Galing lang, di ba?
Kung isa kang animé fan, go to Denden Town. Ang saya saya promise! Mga officemates kong addict sa animé, Gundam, Voltes V, etc. namroblema paano magkakasya ang pinamili nila sa maleta! Ako, I just bought Addie a Chuggington set na favorite pa rin niya until now. 🙂
May free Lego Movie DVD pa for every purchase. Yun lang… in Japanese siya at wala man lang subtitles ;-P
Nanghinayang lang ako na I wasn’t able to go with some of my office mates to Sega’s Sadako 3D – Cursed Tour located at Sega’s Joypolis. 🙁
(photos from segabits.com)
Sobrang saya ng kuwento nila! Imagine niyo nalang ang scene na may 3 matitipunong lalake na nagkukumpulan sa corner sabay may buhok na bumaba sa batok nila from the ceiling! Sa sobrang takot ng isang officemate ko isa, nabutas niya ang brief ng kasama niya! Ang tindi lang ng kapit! Hahaha! Laughtrip! Wish I was there to witness it!
‘Til the next kuwento!
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