A Late Start to the Day, Yet Full of Excitement

Hello everyone, the third day of our group’s journey exploring Japan unfolded at a rather leisurely and relaxed pace.

The night before, the whole gang had spent quite a few hours gathered together, having a few drinks and chatting late into the night to share the joyful and melancholic stories of the trip. The inevitable consequence was that the next morning, everyone woke up quite late.

Around nine or ten in the morning, we finally started crawling out of bed to greet a new day with so many plans waiting ahead.

Looking at the faces of the two guys sharing the room right after they woke up was simply hilarious—still lingering with sleepiness, yet their eyes already glowing with excitement for a new day of exploration.

This trip brings together close-knit brothers, each with their own distinct personality, but all sharing an intense passion for travel and readiness to take on new challenges together in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Aside from the two in my room, our group also included two other guys staying in a room on a different floor. Even though we lived in separate spaces, the bond between us brothers remained rock-solid through every leg of the journey.

That morning, the sky carried a melancholic and romantic beauty with a fine, misty drizzle falling, making the atmosphere cool and wonderfully nostalgic.

However, no fun comes without a touch of regret, as one of our younger brothers unfortunately suffered from food poisoning and had to stay behind at the accommodation to rest and recover.

If not for that unfortunate health hiccup, the five of us surely would have been like five soldiers in a mighty tank, ready to conquer every nook and cranny of the vibrant city of Osaka.

A Cozy Lunch Amidst the Drizzling City

Since it was almost noon and the drizzle kept pattering down persistently, coupled with hungry stomachs after sleeping in, the group decided to put our plans for traveling far away on hold and find a spot for a quick bite.

We chose a nearby Chinese restaurant for lunch, a place with a cozy ambiance and piping-hot dishes that chased away the gentle chill of the raindrops outside the eaves.

Sitting together around the dining table, gazing at the richly flavored dishes, we had a lively chat about our upcoming plans at Osaka Castle.

Even though the weather wasn’t really cooperating with brilliant sunshine, the companionship of these brothers was the greatest seasoning that made every meal more delicious and memorable than ever.

The Majestic and Poetic Beauty of Osaka Castle

After a warm lunch, we officially headed to Osaka Castle, one of the most heroic and famous historical symbols of this region.

Unlike the antique charm of Amagasaki Castle which we had visited earlier, Osaka Castle appeared on a massive and immensely majestic scale, surrounded by a deep, wide, and formidable moat system.

The scene of the fine drizzle blanketing the entire castle grounds created a heart-wrenchingly romantic beauty, at first glance bringing a sense of familiarity reminiscent of the sweet autumn days in Hanoi.

Every tree canopy and mossy corner seemed to sink into a tranquil, serene, and deeply poetic space.

Amidst that vast space, after looking around to take in all the surrounding beauty, I seized the moment to snap a commemorative selfie right after pulling down my mask.

It was a moment capturing a face full of energy and joy upon setting foot in such a grand and imposing historical monument.

Touching History and Magnificent Nature

Stepping into the main hall area of Osaka Castle, its colossal scale truly left me in awe.

Standing at the foot of the main hall and looking up, it felt like standing in front of a towering mountain amidst the clouds and sky, a testament to the long and heroic history of this place.

Just like the humorous story back in Amagasaki, my Japanese vocabulary and Kanji reading skills were so limited that I simply resigned myself to being too lazy to read the detailed historical guideboards.

Yet, sometimes not stressing over the words allowed me to feel the space and energy of this heritage site with a much more complete and free intuition.

Standing atop the castle walls of Osaka Castle and gazing into the distance, I accidentally caught a glimpse of an extremely poetic and peaceful natural landscape.

Ever since, I have always loved and preferred taking pictures of nature over taking pictures of people, because plants, earth, and sky always carry a raw, authentic beauty that never knows how to fake it.

Returning to Rest and a Warm, Cozy Evening

After thoroughly exploring every nook and cranny of Osaka Castle, the brothers decided to head back to our accommodation.

Initially, the plan was to continue on to Kyoto, but since it was getting quite late and the rain continued to pour down steadily, the group had to put the Kyoto dream on hold to preserve our health for the stages ahead.

On the way back, a funny-sad situation occurred: I brought an umbrella, but not a single guy was willing to share it with me. As a result, three of them huddled together under one tiny umbrella in front, leaving me to walk all alone and forlorn behind in the drizzle.

Thinking back, it was both laughable and pitiful for the fate of a solitary man amidst a pack of brothers.

And true to the unchanging spirit of the entire trip, whenever the brothers gathered, there would always be lively drinking sessions and feasts. The third day came to a brief yet emotion-filled close, serving as a time to recharge for tomorrow’s exploration of Kyoto.

That evening, our meal was simpler to give our stomachs a break, bringing a long day of wonderful and memorable experiences to a close.