What's the word, hummingbird?: Osaka, Himeji and Robots

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We left Huis Ten Bosch the next morning, the second time in a few days that the boys left 'Nederland' and we made our way up to Osaka. But not without a requested stop by Dennis in Hiroshima, which was on the way to Osaka. Another place I had been to before and not even that long ago, during my last visit to Japan in february 2020 (check out the 2020 post)! It's weird how things come back when you've been somewhere before. I remembered the things I visited and where I stood or walked on that particular day. Even though, things had also changed. It was super busy and there were so many tourists. We didn't see a lot in Huis Ten Bosch (or well, non Asians, easy to recognize tourists) and not to mention Fukuoka and surroundings. I can probably count the tourist I saw on two hands. And we were about to see a lot more in Osaka and Tokyo, but you'll soon read about that as well!

First Shinkansen for the boys and a familiar sight, me in front, followed by Dennis, followed bij Ritchie. Mother Goose and her ducklings.

Shinkansen to Hiroshima

Tram in Hiroshima

Hiroshima

Not all of Japan is super clean..

More information

Hello from the other side

After a 3hour stop in Hiroshima, we continued our trip to Osaka. We arrived at Shin-Osaka, Shin stands for Shinkansen station and walked to our hotel. The boys enjoyed the nightly views of the city and I didn't recognize much. Lots of high buildings and very modern looking. It wasn't the area I had been to the last times I was here, the Shin-Osaka station isn't that far from the Osaka station but the area is (or was) completely different.

Walk to the hotel

We love the above ground walkways! It not only gives great views but is also very practical!

Huge ferris wheel on top of a building

Another thing we love, especially with suitcsses, escalators! And they are everywhere, from 5 steps to 100)

After a 15min walk or so, we checked in to our hotel and hiphip hooray, Ritchies bag was waiting there for him!!! REUNION!

First night Osaka, we went to Dotonboriiiiii. An area me and Dennis visited together in 2015 (that was my second time, and third time tonight)! Again crazy busy!!

Lots of people and neon billboards!

Memories!! 2015 vs 2025!

The 3 of us! It's unusual to drink/eat/smoke on the street or while walking but all good here!!

Dotonbori and our most expensive dinner (top right picture). We didn't pay much attention due to the included unlimited drink deal, late time at night and our appetite!

Perfect suitcase for me, includes a cupholder!!

Crazy ferriswheel!!

Samurai sword umbrella haha

People people people

Me and Dennis' favorite food, we often eat this at home as well whenever we can and did almost every day here! Delicious and inexpensive!

Taxi back to the hotel!!

Next stop; daytrip from Osaka to Himeji Castle, another one of Dennis' requests. We had some rain that day but nothing too bad and Dennis got creative using a plastic bag as a hat haha since his jacket didn't have one. The castle was nice, but again very busy and I've seen so many castles here that they don't wow me. It was a nice and different sight with the cherry blossom though. And the boys enjoyed it! But we decided not to go up and into the castle but just walk around the grounds for a bit.

View point Himeji Castle

Park and view Himeji Castle grounds

Himeji castle

We then went back to the room for a bit and after that went out for fooooooood! We walked around in a mall for a bit and had a drink. And then found a very Japanese restaurant, very strange and a bit scary if you ask me!

Borreltijd!