Category: Photography

Captures I’m able and willing to share.

Osaka Firsts

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2014-11-21 10.13.17In late November 2014, I ventured to Osaka for the first time. I feel like it went pretty well. The main goal for my travel to Kansai at that time was to go to Universal Studio’s Harry Potter World, opened earlier that year, but I’ll cover that in another post (I’ve actually gone twice now, hehehe). So my first spell in Osaka was quite brief, about two days only because I had to head back to Fukuoka for a much-awaited Dir en Grey concert. Because it was such a quick trip, I went with JetStar, a low-cost carrier (LCC) here in Japan. It’s a pretty good setup for the price, but do be prepared to squeeze into your seat! :)

Our first stop on the first day was to head to Osaka Castle (大阪城, Osakajyō). Like most of the castles in Japan, it had a beautiful exterior that clearly had a lot of time and work devoted to it over the years. The view from the top of the castle is great; you can walk around the entire top level in the open air and take pictures. Standing there you can begin to understand why that particular spot was chosen – for both its strategic position and the 360 degree views of the city stretching out from that location.

This particular castle has a pretty good shop in it and very detailed outlines of the building’s history. If you can see yourself enjoying a trip down historical lane, then I’d recommend it.

Just outside the castle grounds is a shrine, and I didn’t really get the name of it at the time because we exited the wrong way out of the grounds and instead of coming out the way we came in, we went in a rather winding path back to the station. But it was all good, because as you can tell the nature is well-maintained and nice for a good stroll. You can also grab some snacks there if I remember correctly.

Afterward, we made our way to the well-renowned Dotonbori street for grub and shopping nearby. The street features some of the most showy and instantly recognizable restaurant signboards I’ve ever seen. And we also walked by a facade that we think was a cultural arts theatre, but I’m not 100% on that.

We decided to go with a nice Italian place located in the basement of one of the buildings on the left a bit past the crab pictured above. There was quite a lot of DELICIOUS meat, as well as other sides, and I loaded up on Cidre because I hadn’t had cider in some time. I highly recommend this place and I’ll add the name in the future if I remember it! My apologies~

Lastly, an obligatory picture was taken with the ever-famous Glico Man, triumphant as ever in his neon-lit splendor.

Nice one, Osaka! More info will be coming at you in other posts concerning my adventures there. Keep an eye out for more!

 

Kameshima

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In April earlier this year, my boyfriend and I went out on a random adventure and ended up in Itsuwa, at an island called Kameshima (亀島), or Turtle Island. So often I am surprised and intrigued by places that aren’t quite on the tourist and/or sightseeing path, but are locally well known and part of everyday citizens lives.

So Kameshima is – you guessed it – shaped like a turtle, and sticks out of the water a short ways offshore. You can walk to it at low tide, but once it’s high tide you might need a boat to get back! Many locals here come to catch bugs or small fish with their children, some elder locals come out to fish or collect seaweed for making their own food.

I was a little surprised by some of the sights pictured in some of these photos. I expected little to nothing to be on the island when we originally trekked over, but once we got there we spotted a number of items. My personal favorite was the down-and-out, yet likely functioning port-o-potty. The cabin with someone’s homemade hunting equipment left there was up there with the potty though. It was quite surprising, making me surmise that someone lived there. (A friend informed me afterward that they think the city of Itsuwa rents the cabin out to interested parties, which makes sense. But does it lock? And who uses it when no one is there? A city official with an urge to return to the wild? ;) ) A well and a wheelbarrow were also spotted on the scene.

There’s not too much to do on the island itself if you’re not staying there to maroon yourself for a few days, but it’s worth a trip out to walk on and adventure about in your free time. We enjoyed it quite a bit!

 

Presenting Oppai Iwa

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Apologies for the hiatus everyone! I got really busy for a while there, what with a trip back home for a wedding, then a work conference and a test (which kicked my bum) the week after I returned. But for your patience you shall receive a reward… I’ve been meaning to put this up for some time, so now is a great opportunity…

What’s that, you say? It’s the Oppai Iwa (おっぱい岩), aka the Breast Rock (as you may have very well guessed), that has been in existence for some time off the road that links Hondo and Reihoku, running parallel to the rocky coast. Some people go here to experience some kind of fertility blessing by touching it… So though I’ve looked at it I must say I myself haven’t touched it, but I have seen others at it! Isn’t it odd how these formations just crop up out of nature quite, well, naturally? What an interesting life it is.