Osaka Castle

5/20/2016

Yesterday I rented a bicycle from the local bike kiosk. The concierge got all the info for me. I walked ten minutes to the kiosk, stuck in my credit card and grabbed the last bike. In the States, I would be wary of renting a bicycle from an unattended kiosk. Here in Japan, where everything works as it should, the bike was in perfect order. The tires were full of air, the brakes and shifter worked flawlessly. Google maps got me to the castle but since I had to ride and navigate, it took me about 40 minutes.

The castle is pretty amazing. It was built in the 16th century as a temple then converted to a defensive castle. I took the stairs up to the eighth floor. There is a museum on each floor so I took my time and caught my breath while checking out the exhibits.   Even though it's only 100 feet high, there is a commanding view of Osaka from the outside catwalk.

One of the Outer Defensive Towers

My Little UMEGLE Bike

Outside of the Main Castle

On the Grounds