Our Old Friend the SHIN-KAN-SEN, BBQ, and SUSHI! Welcome to OSAKA

So, we wake up at the crack of dawn.. or what at least feels like it.
However, over 24 hours of travel without sleep is liable to throw any fellow off a bit.
Alright, so maybe it was around 8am. That's really not the point.

A quick breakfast and a scramble out the door, and we're on our way to Osaka.




It will be my first time going south of Tokyo.

 Snacks are essential to any trip on the SHINKANSEN (bullet train).

Delicious Baby Bel cubes... a little overkill on the packaging though...

 The journey is long and arduous...






















However we find ourselves quite rewarded when we arrive at our destination.

We are picked up at the train station by our friend MIKA! and are soon escorted to a nearby park in Osaka.....

The crew is there to greet us with a BBQ!

You can count on the Gaijin to bring the shamisen

Youngest Recruit

We may have missed the SAKURA, but FUJI NO HANA are in FULL SWING!

And if the delicious BBQ wasn't enough of a welcome, we are treated to a wonderful night of sushi as well.
Sweet goodness, it was tasty.

It is said that the mythical Tengu would drink from gourds such as this........I want one.

Sushi for days...