Travel: Japan (Home)
Travel: Japan – Osaka (Day 10)
There was only one place on the agenda for today. It took a little while to get there, but it was definitely worth the trip.
I confess to being a fan of Japanese whisky, and, in my humble opinion, you can’t beat Suntory. As they are the oldest whisky distiller in Japan, I am not the only one.
To make the best whisky, you have to try several different techniques and methods. How many? This is probably only half…
I’ve no way of getting any home, so I made good use of the tasting room.
My second round included some of their best (the top shelf went for $230 an ounce… a bit rich for me, but mine was still delicious and special).
How do they describe it?
If you take your time, you will experience it just as they describe. It was a fun day.
Tonight, I will find one more bowl of ramen (I’m sushied up for at least a week) and then return to the hotel for the final pack. After a little shopping here in Osaka, the packing will need to be creative.
Oh… the mark I got on my arm yesterday just kept growing. Guess I’ll have to live with it.
Blessings to you all. It has been a great trip. Homeward bound.
Travel: Japan – Osaka (Day 9)
Day nine of Japan started with a nine-hour nap. That was absolutely brilliant. Afterward, I got up and started moving. I had a nice breakfast downstairs, and then it was time for church.
I had the option of attending an English language service, but I chose a Japanese one instead. I wanted the experience of it. The rhythm of the service is the same and they provided me a bulletin in English so that I could follow along with the lessons. It worked out just fine. It was beautiful. I wish I knew what the priest was saying because he was very excited about it. Regardless, his enthusiasm was catching, and I felt like I had definitely heard a good sermon.
The church, Holy Family / Catholic Osaka Umeda Church, was built in 2011.
The works in the church were produced by Cecco Bonaotte, and the design of the church was done by his son, Pier Paolo Maria Bonanotte.
This church was planned by 5 churches in umeda area, Osaka. It is a four-story complex facility, produces an impressive space with the fusion of tradition and modernity. In other stories of the building, there are the satellite campus of Sophia University, the bookstore of Sanpaolo, which deals with the books of Catholic and so on.
Utilizing the natural light, the pure white church marvelously brings out the grace and lightness of the bronze sculpture by Bonanotte.
The sanctuary was quite full (I was the only non-Japanese), and the congregation was very welcoming. If you find yourself in Osaka, I can highly recommend Holy Family to you.
Oh… I don’t know what kind of wafers they used for Mass, but they were “different.” I may have to try and find them for St. Matthew’s. Definitely not your standard styrofoam.
After all that work, It was time for an early afternoon snack. I went to my local favorite—Minori. Enid does not need another Mexican restaurant. It needs an Açai Bowl restaurant!
After a brief rest, I headed back out. While wandering the city, I bumped into something and can’t seem to get it off my arm. Very strange. Maybe it’ll wash off tomorrow.
Being Sunday night and all, I thought the city would be quieter. That was not the case. I suppose they are getting in every minute of the weekend before back to work.
And, if you stand in this one spot for long enough, the camera comes on and your up on the big screen. Yes. I’m a dork, and stood there and took a picture of me taking a picture of myself.
That is all for today, my Japan virtual companions. Tomorrow is my last day here, and I have only one item remaining on my Japan itenerary. Am I ready to come home? I suppose I probably am. I miss you all and I miss The Queen. So, for now, I’ll leave you with this thought…
. 🤪 .
Travel: Japan – Osaka (Day 8 – aka: Going Out for a Bite to Eat)
I have an idea, let’s go find lunch/supper on the Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street the longest Arcade in Japan.
First, we walk, then take a train, followed by a bus.
This is followed by more walking until we come to the street we’re looking for. Aha! There it is. It’s time to walk a bit more.
Now what to eat?
First stop? Yeah. Sushi time! There’s a raw quail egg under all that smelt roe. Nice and rich. The bonus: those little orange eggs get caught in your teeth. Even after brushing your teeth, there’s a good chance you’ll find one or two still lodged up in there and have them for breakfast tomorrow.
That was the appetizer; from there, I moved further down the street and found this tasty dish. I’m not sure what to call it, but omelet works just fine. Pork on the inside with a tangy sauce.
After stopping in two different restaurants, I felt like this “Do not cross” sign was intimating something about my current condition.
After more wandering about, I head back to the hotel, via walking, bus, walking, train, and walking a little more.
5,222 steps and all the rides later, and I’m back at the hotel. I’m thinking that a little later, I will head back to Minori for another Açai Bowl.
As for the riding and walking, it is how you get anywhere. Sometimes, the trains are literally packed like sardines. You can’t even turn. Other times, they are almost empty. It depends on the time of day and where you are headed. The bonus: they are highly efficient. I’m impressed with Google Maps and its ability to even let you know if a train is running late and by how many minutes.
Tomorrow is Sunday and I’ve found a Catholic Church near by. They have an English language service, but I plan to attend the Japanese language one for the experience. Given the flow is very much like ours, I’m guessing I’ll have some idea as to what is being said. So, if I can find a church to attend in Osaka, Japan, you can certainly find one near you. No excuses (even if it is a Morning Prayer service and your priest is out galavanting around somewhere!)
Travel: Japan – Reflection 1 (there may not be a 2)
Vision is entirely a creative faculty: it uses the body and the mind as the navigator uses his instruments. Open and alert, it matters little whether one finds a supposed short cut to the Indies-or discovers a new world. Everything is begging to be discovered, not accidentally, but intuitively. Seeking intuitively, one’s destination is never in a beyond of time or space but always here and now. If we are always arriving and departing, it is also true that we are eternally anchored. One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things. Which is to say that there are no limits to vision. Similarly, there are no limits to paradise. Any paradise worth the name can sustain all the flaws in creation and remain undiminished, untarnished.
Henry Miller / Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch
The list: USA, Italy, Spain, France, Ireland, Norway, Japan. Not an extensive list, but respectable. I still hope to add at least India to it.
Now, don’t think I’m slipping over the edge here. Just having a think is all…
In the places I’ve visited and the resources required to experience them, have any of them made me happier/a better person/more wise/etc/etc/etc, than 2426 Sherwood Drive with The Queen in my lap and a good book in my hands? The short answer: no.
To see the beauty of God’s creation and those things created by His creation is a gift and a delight. To have walked through the halls of the Sistine Chapel, to have gazed out over the Grand Canyon, to have been a total tourist and ridden the elevator to the top of Tokyo Tower—I know that I am blessed (and spoiled) to have had these opportunities. I would not trade the experiences, but to write sermons and preach the Gospel, sit with friends and play Uno, write silly blog posts, are (I was going to say “equally” as enjoyable, but..) far more enjoyable and life giving/experiencing.
My friend, Mr. Miller, said, One’s destination is never in a beyond of time or space but always here and now. If we are always arriving and departing, it is also true that we are eternally anchored. One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.
In this life, your destination is where you are at this very moment. You can choose the place where you will experience those moments, but the place is not your life. The place is the backdrop.
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Travel: Japan – Kyoto to Osaka (Day 7)
Today was a much quieter day. I had to check out of the hotel by 11 AM and make my way to Osaka. I had a late breakfast, packed up, and headed to the station for a one-hour train ride. It was not one of the bullet trains, but it was still quite pleasant.
After dropping my bags at The Gala Hotel Umeda (check-in was not available until 3 p.m.), I spent some time sitting in the lobby, reading, and wandering around fairly close to the hotel.
Along the way, I came across what looked like a very interesting restaurant, Minori, where I could get a snack.
The restaurant had probably enough room to seat 15 people. It was about half full when I arrived, and I was the only guy in the building. It was filled with happy chatting young Japanese women. What was served? Açai bowls.
What exactly is açai?
Açai is actually a small, dark purple berry, which comes from a palm tree in the Amazon rainforest.
“Similar to blueberries, acai is high in antioxidants and fiber,” says Melissa Keeney, RDN, clinical nutrition manager at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. “Grown in the rainforest, they’ve long been used in medicine – but have recently become popular around the world for their benefits with immune health.”
Like broccoli, avocado and sweet potatoes, açai is considered a superfood, meaning it’s packed with nutrients and linked to countless health benefits. (Source)
That’s the official description. My unofficial description is that it’s a bit like a mullet. Business up front, and party in the back! All that healthy stuff is on top, and then all that delicious goodness is below. I was convinced that it had some Nutella mixed in there. I will probably have to stop by there at least once more before I leave.
Afterward, I came back to the hotel and sat out in the lobby to read my book, and then I remembered… Books. Not just any book, either. A very special book. A quick search in Google Maps found me a bookstore about a half mile away. I started walking.
I typed out my request in Google Translate and handed it to a clerk on the second floor. They read my request and immediately directed me to the third floor. The clerk there brought me to the correct section, but these were English language books. This will not do. Back to the clerk, and I revise my request. The clerk had an “Aha” moment. He brought me back down to the second floor, and there they all were. I can’t read a word of it, but it’s my favorite souvenir so far! A Japanese version of The Shining by Stephen King!
And for the record… I am not a nerd! I smiled all the way back to the hotel (not The Overlook!) and then some. It’ll go next to my Norwegian version of Carrie.
Tomorrow, I don’t plan to go far. I’ll step out for a bite to eat and all that, but I will take a day of rest and enjoy not moving too much.
I hope you all have a good day and that you are well. Thank you for following along on my adventures in Japan. I hope you are enjoying these block posts because I enjoy writing them.
Blessings to you all. 
Travel: Japan – Kyoto (Day 6)
Everything I read said that if you want to beat the crowds, you’ll want to get there early. I was up at 5:15 AM and moving, and there was still a pretty good crowd when I arrived. I can only imagine what it would be like during prime time. That said, it was quite amazing.
Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社, Fushimi Inari Taisha) is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds.
Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are thought to be Inari’s messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari Shrine has ancient origins, predating the capital’s move to Kyoto in 794.
The torii gates represent a transition from the mundane to the sacred. They are places where spirits are said to pass through. Each gate is sponsored by individuals or organizations. There are thousands of them on these grounds.
I did not make it all the way to the top, but that was not in the plan. Along the way, there are also many shrines.
After climbing so many stairs, I had a sneaking suspicion that I looked like this guy. If me saying that is disrespectful, I do apologize. I suspect he is one of the many gods.
At one particular shrine, there were a number of cats. This one was on an errand, but he was kind enough to give me a leg bump as he moved past.
I took a short train, and a very crowded one because it was rush hour, and made my way to my next stop. I had planned on going to one place but ended up going to another. I saw all these people lined up waiting to get in and thought that was my line, so I got in line with them. It turns out I was in line for a special exhibit at the Kyoto Museum. They don’t let you take pictures, so I didn’t. (I know, I took pictures at the church when I wasn’t supposed to take pictures at the church, yada yada ya) However, I bought a book of pictures so I would have them because one was a painting we are all familiar with.
They allowed us to take pictures of one item. It has to do with the revealing of the Buddha within. I will not try to explain it. This is not my department, but it is an interesting idea.
I then made my way to my originally planned destination, which was right across the street.
Sanjūsangen-dō is a buddhist temple of the Tendai sect.
The temple was founded in 1164 by Taira no Kiyomori for the cloistered Emperor Go-Shirakawa. It is officially known as Rengeō-in (蓮華王院, hall of the Lotus King) and belongs to the Myōhō-in temple complex.
Sanjūsangen-dō is most famous for its massively long hondō (main hall) dating from 1266 (Kamakura period) and designated a National Treasure of Japan, and the collection of sculptures it houses, including 1001 standing Thousand-armed Kannon, 28 standing attendants, a statue of Fūjin and a statue of Raijin, and the principal image of the temple, a big seated statue of Thousand-armed Kannon, all of them designated National Treasures in the category of sculptures, most of them dating to the Heian to Kamakura periods.
In case you didn’t read all of that, there are 1001 statues! Again, you can’t take pictures of it, so I bought a picture book and took pictures of the pictures in the picture book.
When I left the hotel this morning, I had anticipated being back in time for breakfast. Because I made that extra side trip, that didn’t happen, so by this time, I was done for a little while. I headed back to the hotel to freshen up and then find some lunch.
I was hungry enough that I forgot to take pictures of my lunch, but there was a line to get in. It was ramen noodles—not the kind you get at Jumbo’s grocery—and very tasty. I had the one in the bottom right-hand corner of the picture.
Seeing as I had no idea what I ordered, it came with something round and yellow with green flex in it, a bit like a coin, on top. I thought it was a tasty morsel. I popped it in. It was a big ol’ pat of butter! I discreetly removed it from my mouth and got it back in the bowl, where it did melt.
When it comes to eating Ramen noodles, the key is to slurp. I have been raised my entire life not to slurp my food. I would get smacked for slurping my food. I don’t know how to slurp food! I try. I watch the others and see how they do it. I cannot slurp. I have a slurping deficiency. I was afraid I’d slurp it right down and choke on it, and then that would’ve been bad. Nobody seemed to care, and I managed just fine.
I have discovered that you don’t want to be out during rush hour or lunch hour. These people are busy; they have places to go, and they really don’t want the big dumb American in their way.
This is turning into the day that I want to go here, and I really didn’t mean to go there, but since I am here I guess I will see what’s happening, and then I’ll go to where I wanted to go. Confused? It’s easy to get that way.
So, after lunch, I returned to my room and propped up my feet. My feet were very happy.
Another bus ride brought me to what I thought was the bamboo forest, but it was, in fact, a temple. At the temple was a very big statue—a statue of a very big happy lady.
She’s 500 tonnes of concrete and steel but Buddhist lore says Kannon’s a real softie. As she is compassionate to all living things, this temple is a memorial for many forgotten souls. Underneath the statue you’ll find a memorial for the 2 million Japanese lives lost in the Pacific War. But as Kannon does not discriminate, there is also another memorial hall for the unknown soldiers of World War 2. These were the foreign soldiers who died while protecting their countries. Built 10 years after the end of WWII, it’s clear to see that Japan was still reflecting on the devastating effects of the war. (Source)
After my visit there, I did find my desired location, which was actually right next-door.
The Bamboo Forest, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, or Sagano Bamboo Forest is a natural bamboo forest in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan. It consists mostly of mōsō bamboo.
And my favorite photo of the day…
After leaving the serenity of the forest, the beauty of the psithurism, and fighting my way through several thousand schoolchildren, I decided that I would like an ice-cold beer. Some very happy fellas with twirling signs directed me into a location that was very near my hotel. I did not know what I was getting myself into. I REALLY did not know what I was getting myself into. It was a karaoke bar! And there were people singing!
At this point, I finished my beer and had a whiskey.
That is it, for now, my karaoke-loving friends. I’m going out tonight for supper. It’s a very special place, and there are only six seats available—that’s the whole restaurant. If I get in, I will have a supplemental post; otherwise, I will wander down after a bite of supper somewhere and see my friend Uno, whom I met last night, and let him know that I did get to the temple he wanted me to see.
Tomorrow is another travel day. We will be off to Osaka sometime around 11 AM. It’s about an hour on one of the slower trains. Osaka is my last station before coming home. What a trip.
Travel: Japan – Hakone to Kyoto (Day 5)
Today was another travel day, and you don’t always expect travel days to be that exciting, but today was really kind of great. In the picture above, you should say if it was really kind of great, then you should be smiling, but as fast as that train moves, you can either take a picture or smile. It’s going pretty fast.
My travels today consisted of a 20-minute bus ride to the train station and then a three-hour train ride to Kyoto. It was peaceful and not crowded.
What strikes me about the countryside is that it is very much like Oklahoma. The only difference is that instead of growing wheat, they are growing rice. On any flat piece of ground, if there is not a building on it, there will be a garden, and in most cases, that garden will be growing rice.
Look familiar? If you’re from Oklahoma, it most certainly does. Although they have a lot more water than we do.
After arriving in Kyoto, I took another bus to my hotel. I read the reviews about this hotel, and there were some complaints about the rooms being too small. However, given the fact that land is at a premium in this country, I don’t think you can expect to have a sprawling room with lots of wasted space. Everything you need is right here, only a step away. I find the rooms to be absolutely delightful. The staff is very kind… Oh, I’m at the Hotel Resol Kyoto… it’s in the middle of everything, and there’s nothing that you are without. So, you can complain if you want, but this is a lovely place.
Besides, you have traveled 13 1/2 hours to be in Japan and an additional four hours to get to Kyoto from Tokyo, and you’re going to complain about the size of the room?! Get out and see the world, for crying out loud. You came this far. You are here. You are blessed and fortunate.
And then we hit the bucket list jackpot! Now we have discussed sushi, and you know that I am quite fond of the raw fish. Anytime I have the opportunity, I will try to eat my weight in the raw fish. I find fish, whether it be raw, broiled, fried, boiled, baked, canned, poached, etc., etc., etc., to be absolutely amazing. You know this. However, my all-time favorite is the sushi, and tonight I found the sushi conveyor belt. You pay based on the color of the plate. It goes round and round and round, and you just pick up what you want and eat it.
I kept saying to myself, “John, don’t embarrass yourself. John, don’t embarrass yourself.“ I reached a point when I just didn’t care! It was good, and I was happy. I was in a sushi-eating frenzy.
Oh, don’t judge me! The yellow ones are beer. LOL. 
Afterward, I wasn’t quite ready to return to the hotel, so I wandered up and down the street for a bit, eventually ending up in a very small basement cocktail lounge. I was the only one there, along with the bartender, Uno. What a fantastic conversation we had. I understood most of what he said, and he understood most of what I said. We talked about Oklahoma, red beef, the differences between the big cities and the smaller towns, and, of all things, Pink Floyd.
My new friend, Uno, plays guitar. He’s a fan of Deep Purple but had never been introduced to Pink Floyd. He pulled up a track from The Dark Side of the Moon, and he’s hooked forever.
He gave me several recommendations on local restaurants that I need to check out, and I’ll do just that. He’s only about two doors down from my hotel, so I told him after my day was done tomorrow that I would swing by and let him know how things went. He seemed quite pleased with that.
What a good day.
Tomorrow is looking to be an exceptional day as well, including the fact that tomorrow’s blog post will include the word psithurism. One of the other spots I planned to visit means that I will need to get up early to beat the other tourists. Considering how I’ve been doing that every day, tomorrow should not be a problem.
That’s all I know for today. I pray your day has been good. Sleepy time in Kyoto. 
Travel: Japan – Tokyo to Hakone (Day 4)
It was a travel day, but I still had the opportunity to see a little bit more of the world.
After breakfast, I left my hotel in Tokyo and took a cab to the station, where I caught Kodama721, a Shinkansen (bullet train) to Odawara.
As we sped along, I saw a mountain in the distance and wondered if it was Mount Fuji, but no. I believe that it was Mount Oyama.
The entire trip took exactly 30 minutes, whereas if I had traveled on a regular train, it would have taken a little over two hours. Go fast! From there, I rode the local train to Hakone.
Hakone is a bit of a resort town, and my hotel meets that requirement. I didn’t plan that; I just happened to get lucky. I’ll take lucky whenever I can get it! There is a beautiful bridge crossing over to the hotel from the train station.
You know what I had for breakfast (and it was tasty), but I did not see lunch coming. I had some time before I could check in and after perusing the menus of the three restaurants that are here, I picked one thing that I was not likely to find anywhere else, except in Japan—shark fin soup. It does not taste like chicken. It’s quite good with a very thick gravy.
Afterward, I went for a walk. I strolled through town, which is just one restaurant after another, and then found my way to a trail I just happened to come across. I walked up for several hundred yards and reached a dead end. I turned around and headed back towards the hotel when I saw a Y in the path, so I decided to go in that direction. I figured I needed to do penance for my shark fin soup.
At this stage, Fat Boy should have turned around when he hit the first switchback, but I kept going—switchback after switchback, climbing, climbing, climbing. I saw that there was a temple at the top and thought that could be fun. I will pay for this walk tomorrow, but it was worth it.
The first thing I saw as I came down the mountain was a Buddhist cemetery. Seems appropriate as I thought a couple of times during the climb I was going to need a cemetery. There is something very humbling about walking among the dead. It’s a good reminder. I’m serious. We only really think about it during the Season of Lent, so the occasional unannounced reminder is good for the soul.
As luck would have it, the temple was closed. However, the grounds are beautiful, and I spent some time just looking around.
It was a 15-minute walk back to the hotel, and it was definitely time to prop my feet up and take a nice cool shower. It seems that this place is famous for its Onsen (public bath.) Can I just say that’s not going to happen. It’s definitely the thing to do while in Japan, but I’m just a little too private for that one. I’ll spare everyone from having to look at this sexy beast. Instead, I’ll see what kind of Japanese whiskey they have in the bar. I still haven’t had the opportunity to say “Kanpai!”
I’m only here for the night. Tomorrow, we’re off to Kyoto. I’ll spend about three days there. It’s a place I really want to see. I suspect that it will be quite different from Tokyo.
I pray you all are doing well. Thanks for traveling along with me. Say a prayer that I’m smart enough to avoid the switchbacks in the very near future. 
Candle in a Cave 