Secret Picnic Spot Osaka Castle Nov 2024

Secret Picnic Spot Osaka Castle Nov 2024

[Music] So that’s the ramp up. You’ve got these steep stairs up to this little overlook. Again, my shoes don’t even fit on the stair. So that looks down on that inner courtyard. That’s the inner moat. That’s where I took the video of the boat. Then of course the devil tree is a good landmark. And of course the castle is a great landmark. That’s a big That’s a third wall entrance right there. Looks like another area to box your enemies in and throw things at them, right? So, it’s just gorgeous. So, I’m going to go over here, show you my little quiet spot. Go down the stairs. [Music] This place looks like a movie set to me. You know, pick your time frame, but castles, dragons, swords, spears. This place is crazy. Now, look at this little kind of bench area. It’s kind of kind of like a hanging valley here in the castle zone. It’s just a little orchard of sorts, but it’s really crazy the view you get and the perspective. And then you sit over here. Of course, the wind picks up. I mean, there’s some really nice courtyards and stuff tucked away, but I was headed to show you a shrine. I’ll get over there in a minute. But, uh, I’m going to sit I’m going to come down here. See if I can’t remember if there’s somewhere to sit over here. But, this area is once they shut the camera off and shut my mouth, this area is just so quiet and relaxed. You can hear the kids playing. That’s like the one sound that carries through the wind. There’s the kids and the birds. And there’s out there in those trees, there’s a bunch of kids. And it’s just this quiet little when I was here last time that there are probably five or six times more tourists and maybe five or six people down here. So finding this little quiet area, you know, I was having a moment where I wanted some quiet time and finding this looking up at the castle. It’s like my own private little courtyard, right? really just and look these are actual like areros slits you know you like actual crazy and you can see that oh that to me is just spectacular the way you’ve got the old moat the water would flow I’m assuming um water would flow in that way. Some sort of river navigation or something, but and the foliage is just growing up the wall. To me, this is just I don’t know just having a little guard tower there on the other side of the moat. I don’t know if you’re seeing that, but I’ll point it out right there. There’s a little guard tower on the outside. That’s still inside the outer moat, right? Yeah. And I’ll get up there a little bit in a little bit. It’s going to be a long video. Just a lot for me. If you want to come along for the ride, I’m going to go back over to these rocks. And somebody’s got the same idea as me, maybe. But I think I’m going to go back over there. Maybe not. He’s sitting down. Yeah, maybe I’ll just sit here on the grass and uh have my little picnic right here. Still a little too fat to be sitting like Indian style, but I can sit against this wall against this in this corner. Make sure there’s no those crazy spiders I saw up in Tokyo. Couple ants. Yeah. I wonder what kind of tree this is. Almost looks apricot, but I don’t think it is. Anyway, I’m going to sit down, have some lunch. Um Oh, I’m going to share some of what I got for you. I found something really surprising in 7 I’m pretty happy about. So, when I get it out in my pack, I’ll open it up and share that with you. Um yeah. Okay, so I got my picnic all set up here. Um, got the sun at my back, but you can see I’ve got a great little spot here. Just super like, you know, what would you pay to have a picnic in a place like this by yourself, right? Just crazy. Just insane in the middle of Osaka, right? So, I got a couple little cups here from uh 7-Eleven this morning. This is some uh octopi in there. Some broccoli, some peas. Looks like edetamame. So, octopus, broccoli, and basil salad. 278 yen, I believe, was the price. I don’t remember. Um I will pull up a I thought I had the receipt. I don’t have the receipt. That’s like I’m not sure what that is. That white thing. Uh, so I got that. And then I got this is just some uh Now, normally when you get these salads, be real careful the lid isn’t popped. You can see I smashed it in my pack. So the lid being popped is expected. This is a cabbage, corn, and pork kleslaw. Just kind of looked I don’t know interesting. And then the thing I And then of course I’ve got a big thing of water. Two liter jug of water. Keep it smashed cuz it was riding in my pack. Uh and then they gave me some believe that’s mustard. Uh I hope it’s mustard. And then of course chopsticks. He gave me a spoon which is cute. Little wet wipe. I got my little trash bag. Whenever you’re in Japan, always have some sort of trash bag with you because trash is your responsibility. And then I found this. Uh, I don’t know if that’s coming out when get put some sun on salmon flakes. This was uh I believe I’ll double check it, but I believe it was $498 yen. So $5 basically uh for a jars of salmon flakes. Let me pop this open. Now, I was super excited about this like because, you know, I’m the type of person I like grab and go food. I like food that’s portable. I can travel with. And one of the things I really like about Japan is you can get some really great stuff in cans. Great quality food, not just like some cheap ass tuna in cans that are tra you can travel with and you like keep in your pack for a couple days or weeks or whatever, right? But look at this. It’s a jar of salmon flakes. Looks like it’s got some sort of oil on it. Um, and it’s in a jar. Like I love this. Uh, 500 yen. You get two of these. And I was going to pop it open and put some on my salad. I was thinking about adding it to this ham salad, but I’m not that hungry anymore. So, I’m going to hold on to these. Uh I’ll probably try one later today or maybe not. Uh but just I mean, think about to me like I look at this, right? And I’m like, “Okay, the possibilities. If I’ve got some Top Ramen, I can upgrade that [ __ ] really quick right there.” Right? If I’m out and about and I’ve got some anything, any food, right? I can upgrade that [ __ ] super fast. Some salami and cream cheese. Now it’s salmon, cream cheese, and salami. Anything like, you know, it’s not a lunchable. That is salmon in a jar. Like, I don’t know. I just love portable food. And to me, this is just a great find. So, I’m going to give that a a taste later, but I’m going to dive into these. Um, and I don’t have a tripod anymore, so you don’t get to watch me eat, which is kind of weird anyway, right? But Oh, and I almost forgot. Hiding in my coat. Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. Can of coffee. You know, this is the one thing I wish was more popular in America. just a can of black coffee like in a can with a screw top. Um, and it’s affordable. This is like a I think I paid 98 yen for it. So, I mean, basically a dollar, right? I mean, the exchange rate is kind of in our favor in Japan now. So, 98 yen is probably 60, but think of it as a dollar, right? Uh, that’s about where it should be. uh you know or things are priced about like h 100red yen being a dollar. So uh when you go buy goods, you know, that’s about how it feels. But anyway, I’m going to get get busy eating and then uh I’ll show you that uh shrine on the other side, a little more of the castle, and then I’m probably going to take a nap or do something. I don’t know. We’ll find out. See you later. Sometimes I’m so silly. So that was uh that that sweet spicy mustard. Super hot. And after I I put it took a few bites, I realized it was probably for the chicken I got at 7-Eleven this morning and not for the salads I got. But it was I don’t know. I like spicy mustard. So on the octopus, it it tastes very good and I’m probably going to get catch hell for that. But uh I would do it again and again. It’s a it’s a flavor combination I like with the broccoli, the octopi, the spicy mustard, and the salad dressing on there. It’s actually really good. So I don’t know. I’m kind of laughing at myself. And that was potato. But yeah, I’m just I mean life is good. Thought I would share. I hope your life is going great, too. I’m going to shut up and finish eating and uh I’ll get to stepping in a minute. Well, I’m all done with lunch. It is kind of funny though. You see that wall right there? So, I notic a few people looking down at me at from that wall. You know, they’re peering over the side. They see me, then they get all excited and then come down here and check out this area. So, maybe next time I’ll sit in middle or under the tree or something. But, has been a great little picnic spot having that nice warm sun uh that November sun at my back. Nice little courtyard in front of me. And hopefully you’re picking up the sound of those children playing out there. What a great course or soundtrack to have in the background. But oh, now I’ve got that uh food coma starting to set in. Starting to get lazy. the warm sun, the full belly. I’m going to pack up my trash and get moving. Show you that shrine. Uh or I want to go see the shrine. It’s not so much to show you. It’s like I want to go see it again. Um look down on the orchard, circle around the castle, and then head out. Yep. See you. Bye. I’m getting ready to leave. And see, now is a good time to have one of those long lenses. There’s a uh I don’t know what you call it. Big bird with a long neck. Big pretty bird with a long neck sitting right down there in the water standing on that little uh sandbar. But again, the colors here are just fabulous. Okay, I’m going to get to stepping. [Music]

A year ago I stopped in Osaka again for a quick stay… I’m finally getting some of that footage pushed out …

from Nov 2024