This is an authorized translation in English of a post in French by @japon: Départ pour Osaka et son château, et annonce de typhon
As my primary language is not English, there are probably some mistakes in my translation.
Remember that the person that speaks here is NOT me, Vincent Celier (@vcelier), but @japon, a French guy.
These 5 days spent in Kyoto were very strong moments, with very intense emotions. There are all these gardens but I learned to love this city, its small streets, its wooden houses. Kyoto has a special charm that one must take the time to discover.
In my trip to Japan, I had planned a day trip and a night in Osaka. I leave my ryokan warmly thanking my host for her welcome and go to the station. It is 9AM, I board the first train to Osaka. It is crowded with people. Yet it was Saturday and not all of these people are going to work.
I am standing, in front of me a young Indonesian. The conversation begins, he explains to me that he came to Japan to work in a hotel. He has been in Kyoto for one year, and gives himself another two years here before going back to his country.
Outside, it's raining a lot. Very much. On billboards a typhoon is announced. I will learn later that it is typhoon Lan which will make a total of 7 dead and 130 wounded in Japan.
After leaving my luggage at my hotel, I begin my visit of Osaka with its famous castle. After a few metro stations, I arrive in front of the enclosure. The castle is not visible immediately, but the huge moat and ramparts are impressive. A building built on the edge of the moat is reminiscent of what I had seen the day before at Nijo Castle. This is certainly a guard or observation post.
The castle is revealed when I enter the enclosure. With its gilding and floors that seem to mingle with each other, it is impressive.
There are few people, trying painfully to take selfies in front of the castle, umbrella in hand. Because it really rains a lot. It's windy. Some are better equipped than me to protect themselves from the rain, with large capes covering them completely. As for me, my feet are soaked, the pants wet up to my knees, and my camera starts to malfunction because of the moisture that seeps everywhere. The day may be long ...
There is a large park around the castle, which would certainly be nice to visit when the weather is nice. We have a beautiful view of the city. The large alleys lead to the other side of the castle, they allow to observe it from a different angle.
I could have visited the interior but there was a long queue in the rain. And I'm not too fond of castle interiors. I prefer to continue visiting the city, hoping that the rain will calm down. It was a sweet hope because if I had known the flood that was going to wait for me I would not have been so confident. At least I would have experienced a typhoon in Japan ... I will explain that soon ...
-- @japon
01: Travel diary in Japan, by @japon
02: Tokyo, overcrowded city? Really? by @japon
03: Are the Japanese too disciplined? by @japon
04: Going to Japan without speaking Japanese? by @japon
05: Ueno, more than just a big park in Tokyo, by @japon
06: Asakusa, diving in the heart of Tokyo's historic district, by @japon
07: Ameyoko, Ueno's colorful market, by @japon
08: Tsukiji, the largest fish market in the world, by @japon
09: Climb the steps of Atago Jinja Shrine in Tokyo, by @japon
10: Hama Rikyu, an exceptional park in the heart of Tokyo, by @japon
11: Jimbocho, old books and tempura, by @japon
12: Shinjuku Gyoen Park and the best burger in the world!, by @japon
13: One night in Shibuya, by @japon
14: Takeshita dori : this little street dedicated to fashion (and good crepes), by @japon
15: They lie to you about Kyoto, by @japon
16: The temples and secret garden of Higashi in Kyoto, by @japon
17: Kinkaku-ji, the temple of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, by @japon
18: Ryoan-ji, the amazing stone garden in Kyoto, by @japon
19: The Ninna-ji Temple and its extraordinary gardens, by @japon
20: Kyoto Gyoen, the Imperial Palace Park, by @japon
21: Nishiki Market: A Must in Kyoto, by @japon
22: Ginkaku-ji, the temple of the silver pavilion in Kyoto, by @japon
23: Meditate on the path of philosophy, by @japon
24: Nanzen-ji, its impressive gate and two gardens, by @japon
25: Heian-jinju: the big shrine and its garden that I almost missed, by @japon
26: Eikan-do, the temple of the momiji maples in Kyoto, by @japon
27: Kodai-ji, a Kyoto temple dedicated to a woman's love for her husband, by @japon
28: Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka, the streets of Higashiyama, by @japon
29: Kiyomizu-dera, the temple of pure water in Kyoto, by @japon
30: Tofuku-ji: the maple lookout point, by @japon
31: Makis, Yasaka-jinja Shrine and Maruyama Park, by @japon
32: Nijo Castle and its fabulous garden, by @japon