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.
Isn’t it pretty?!
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.
Don’t worry, those are about 1/2 ounce.
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.
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 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.
Beneath the altar / Last Supper
Processional Cross
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!
Peanut butter with honey, almonds, blue berries, strawberries, banana, peach, coconut, granola, açai. Yum!
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…
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.
Yummy!
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.
Also, yummy!
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!)
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.
Candle in a Cave 