We were docked in Kobe for two days but we never got out to see Kobe as Kyoto and Osaka seemed more interesting. However we were treated to a performance of Japanese drums while we were in Kobe. These young Taiko drummers were so energetic with such a great rhythmic sense, it was a totally immersive experience. The intense pulse of the beats reverberates through our senses - a memorable encounter with a 12,000 year old art form.
The following morning we set out on an adventure to Osaka, testing our wits with the Japanese train system. It turned out to be not a big deal because of the amazingly connected transit system and the helpfulness (once again) of the Japanese locals. There was a port liner train that stopped right by the Kobe port terminal. We stepped off the boat into the terminal and onto the train that took us to the train station in Kobe from where we took a train to Osaka. After hearing me ask another passenger whether we were headed in the right direction to Osaka, a very helpful lady came up to me and shared her screen with me - she had a list of all the stations that we would be passing through before we get to Osaka.
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| Commuter fashion...? |
My interest in Osaka was strictly seeing the Dotombori area with its vibrant street life. We didn't have a lot of time as it was an early port departure so we kept an eye on the time to make sure we don't miss the boat. The area was an eye-opener for us, coming from the staid North American cities we are used to. Take a look at the images to get a sense of the flamboyant billboards and signage all vying for your attention.
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| Note the famous crab with moving claws! |
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| An octopus and a dragon... |
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The noodles in this place must be good - customers slurp their noodles standing up |
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Long lineups in front of this octopus
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| The canal runs through the district |
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Ebisu Tower Ferris Wheel |
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| The must-see must-pose-in-front-of Glico running man sign! It's been there since 1935 and one of the most well-known landmarks in Osaka. |
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| The designer shopping street |
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After two weeks in Japan we had our first bowl of soba noodles in this restaurant - I just needed to know that the soba I tasted at home are close to the real thing...it didn't disappoint.
The return trip was smooth - we just did everything in reverse and made it back to port! |
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The lit up low building on the left is the terminal for the port liner that took us to the train station. The deck of the ship is in the foreground - that's how close it was.
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