This is an authorized translation in English of a post in French by @japon: Osaka, le jardin Keitaku-en sous une pluie torrentielle
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.
It's raining cats and dogs but I still want to make the most of my visit to Osaka. I head for a Chinese-inspired garden, the Keitaku-en, which is in the middle of a large park in the Tenno-ji quarter.
I see the garden on my smartphone but I cannot find the entrance, it is poorly indicated. There is no one to ask. I see a signpost, I follow its indication, crossing a big bridge swept by the winds and the rain and arrives in front of the entrance of the zoo. Shoot. I then ask the reception where is the entrance of Keitaku-en!
A young Japanese woman tells me that it is not here, and that we must go back ... I took 10 minutes of walking in the rain for nothing. She offers me to come visit the zoo, given the weather, it is as peeved as me.
I come back then, cross the big bridge that spans the zoo, trying painfully to protect myself with my umbrella. I finally arrive at the entrance. I exchange a few words with the person at the ticket office, surprised to see someone come to visit the park by that time.
"Kawaisō" he tells me, and yes "it's misery"
The garden is pretty, with lots of greenery, organized around a large lake lined with cut pines, beautiful paths lined with rocks or small bamboo fences.
There is even a shelter, in which I rush to protect myself a little from the rain, from which one can observe the birds.
The visit continues with the back of the garden, under trees, crossing several small stone bridges. It took more than 10 years to build the Keitaku-en. The place is very quiet and relaxing, and not only because I am the only visitor. In the summer it must be a beautiful place.
In the background, the buildings remind me that I am in the heart of a city of more than 2.5 million inhabitants. I am always fascinated to see this kind of city park in Japan, despite the rampant urbanization.
After a good hour, I leave the garden towards the temple Tenno-ji. I walk, try to follow the GPS indications of my iPhone but he is like me, completely soaked. He is starting to stop working. I am lost in the middle of a wood, there is nobody, I do not know where I am.
I admit that at that moment I had a big morale blow. What am I doing here ... And then I see a subway station. Too bad for the Tenno-ji, it will be for another time. I stop wanting to visit anything in the rain.
In the subway station, an announcement at the microphone informs me that because of the typhoon, the movement of some trains is disrupted. I did not understand the importance of the phenomenon, and it was only a few days later, when I saw the damage of the storm, that I realized that I should have stayed at home. What I will do for the rest of the day.
-- @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
33:Departure for Osaka and its castle, and announcement of a typhoon, by @japon