Osaka Castle

A beautiful sunny (if cold!) day to go explore some more of Osaka.  We visited Osaka Castle this morning -- this image is not the castle, but one of the guard houses along the steep walls rising from the moat which surrounds the compound.  I thought it was a lovely, serene scene.  I've posted an extra of the castle itself --one of the most famous landmarks in Japan, and rightly so!

We also visited Sumiyoshi Taisha Shinto Shrine, which has stood watch over Osaka Bay for almost 2,000 years, and is the main shrine of all the Sumiyoshi shrines, visited by millions every year.  The extra shows a beautiful arched red bridge there, which instantly made me think of Monet's garden at Giverny!

As promised, I've also included a picture of two Geishas who entertained us last night with traditional music, dancing, and an amusing drinking game!