大阪からこんにちは

So now that we've been back for four months and are about to head out on our next adventure I figured that it was a good time to write about the last one. :)

It just goes to show how terrible I am at this whole "blogging" thing. That's okay... I'm not really any better at social media now that Google+ is gone.

Anyway...

Osaka was interesting. It had a very different vibe than Tokyo but was still a very big city. It was also not quite the vibe I had expected based on what I had heard and read about the locals.

I was expecting to fit in better with Osaka and its "more laid back" locals. Though time after time I found myself missing the rigid social rules following Tokyoites. One of the things I love most about Japan is that everyone does what they are supposed to and everyone follows the rules be it actual law or just social norms. I guess I'm just weird like that. ;)

Other than Osaka we visited Kyoto, Nara, Himeji, Otsu, Kobe, Akashi, and lands in between. 

Kyoto was just as beautiful as all the photos make it out to be... And absolutely packed with tourists. 

Though, I don't think we will ever again see this many UNESCO World Heritage sites in a single trip. I am so very glad we visited but boy was it exhausting. Dealing with and wading through that many people gets real tiering real fast. It was nice to break up the touristy stuff with side visits to much smaller and less visited places. And honestly, just as beautiful.

From the sprawling rivers, to the beautiful temples, to the majestic castles some of the best times we had were in the small towns. Just doing simple things like having lunch at a tiny little restaurant ran by two little old ladies or chatting with a shy local on the train who was very interested in all things english.

The people make the destination as much as or not more so than the sights. 

So get out. See things. Meet people. The world is a lot bigger place than your own backyard.

I should stop myself before I fill up this entire post with hundreds of photos. If you want to see more you can check out my Instagram feed. I've posted a few more over there... of the thousands I took. :)

Where will the road... or train take us next??

Just wait a week or so and find out. ;)