Day 7: Takeoonsen to Osaka

Day 7, Oct 21, train from Takeoonsen to Osaka

Weather: A bit cooler in the early morning, then hot in Osaka, 82 and very bad air

Up early after 7.5 hours good sleep. Maybe jet lag has fully dissipated? Choices: early morning walk and soak, early morning walk and shower, just a soak? Opt for “just a soak” as there is a chill in the air.

Our last meal with Y&YT and the breakfast is wonderful! Chickurintei was $1750 for the two nights, including four terrific meals.

Taxi to the train station, take a local train for about an hour, then wait just a few minutes and transfer to the bullet train to Osaka. Y&YT go one stop on the bullet and jump out to take the metro to the local airport for their flight back to Tokyo: TURN AND WAVE!! They were excellent trip planners, driver/navigator, and able companions.

In Osaka we taxi to Ritz to pick up our left-behind suitcase, jump in another taxi to the Hotel Il Cuore Namba, a few miles from the Ritz. Total of two taxis[RB1] : $25.

We’re early for check-in so make an ATM stop at 7-11, then visit the food court at Takashimaya, always a treat. Get a few snacks for pre-breakfast. Still early for the group meet-up, so do a load of clothes and start the sort for what goes on the hike and what we’re shipping ahead to Kyoto.

Jamie our leader and M&M (two unrelated members of the tour who did the pre-trip in Kyoto with Jamie) are late arrivals to Osaka because of rush hour traffic in Kyoto (THB’s theory: the economy is up everywhere because every major city now suffers from heavy traffic).

The group: four Aussies, one S African, 5 US west coasters. Dinner is at a casual dinner spot a 5 minute walk from the hotel. Most memorable item: coffee jello with cream for dessert (THB doubled up on this one).