Japan Winter 2013 (MEL-KIX, HND-CTS-HND, NRT-SIN-MEL on SQ J)

[SQ218]

Been planning this trip to Japan since around April 2012 when I suddenly had a skiing itch. Even I can ski in Aust, bugger it since I am going to Japan I'll try to fit in a ski trip as well and turned it into a 3.5 weeks trip in total.

The day couldn't come sooner enough with the flight on the first week of the new year.


9V-SKA was my ride to SIN as SQ228


Trade mark SQFG leg shot and SKA's trims looking its age


SKA's Qantas cousin viewed from 14K.


Xmas deco still present


Starters and can't remember what it was and forgot to take the rest of the meals.

Flight arrived pretty much on time and with 4 hour layover headed straight for the lounge. No sooner afer I stepped into the lounge I got paged to the reception Anyway they wanted to check if I am willing to swap seat as a 2 people are seperated and I am in the way. Being a nice person I am as long as I still get my window seat thats fine. So swapped 12A to 15A.

Snacked a little then discturbed some friends in Singapore for a bit haha.


Snacks section

[SQ218]

Soon time to board. 9V-STQ woulb the A330 to take me to KIX


Xmas deco present here as well


Western breakfast option


First rays of light






STQ arriving at the gate.

More updates to come

[SQ218]

Caught the Nankai Rapit straight to the hotel in Namba.


mean looking train.


opps my reflection visible


The interior.


Arrived at Namba and that pram too close to the edge


Swissotel Nankai - recently refurbished rooms


Glass has replaced curtains in the bathtub/shower


View from the room.


Osaka Station

[SQ218]

Bikes everywhere


More bikes


Not so fast and furious


Osaka's famous drum playing clown, Kuidaore Taro


Very crowded Shinsaibashi


Winter street lights






Glico man






more bikes

[SQ218]

Namba Parks






Swissotel Nankai

[SQ218]

Morning view from the 33rd floor during breakfast. The cafe/restaurant for breakfast now no longer on the lobby level.

Decided to venture out to Osaka Castle that day




Busy traffic on the platform






Plenty of school kids having their running training around the Castle perimeter






Ready for Lunar year of the Snake?




Morning group exercise

[SQ218]

Continuing on from Osaka Castle


Canon right on the front entrance to inside the castle

Some displays inside the castle






There were 2 floors which no photography was not allowed. I didn't see them and after a second pic a security guard rushed to me and sternly wave a no photo gesture to me. Strangely did not get me to delete the photo but he stalked me for the next floor LOL






And that is a real budgie




Someone a little to soft to walk around the castle ground and got his tour on a helo. Made several passes over the castle and a few hovers right on top

[SQ218]

Osaka themed bus



Tram cars in Osaka or is it light rail.


Shinsekai


Porco Rosso making a living in Shinsekai now it seems






No idea what they were promoting. Possibly some eatery just behind them.


Takoyaki anyone?


More bikes


More takoyaki

[SQ218]

Was wondering whether to go Mount Shosha or Mount Kōya. Have already been to Himeji and Mt Shosha is just another bus ride away so decided on Mount Kōya.

Caught the 7.30am express train ... not quite the fastest express. Train stops at Gokurakubashi station then transfer to the Koyasan Cable car that will take you to the top where a fleet of buses are ready to take you to which ever direction you want to start your exploration.






Interior of the train


In the cable car





Started my exploration at Okonouin

[SQ218]

Cold enough to freeze the bottom






past the bridge photography, food and drink are forbidden beyond that point and also no yukata is allowed to be worn. One should bow before crossing and also exiting.


Heading back towards the main road.

[SQ218]

Time to get from one end to the other end



Daimon Gate










Wasn't too bad. Expected it to be colder

[SQ218]

You see a few groups of them going to businesses and offer blessing to their shops


Time to head back to Osaka

[SQ218]

Time to head to Tokyo and nothing better than a ride on the Shinkansen. Took the Nozomi Super Express Shinkansen. I did the costing on JR Pass and the amount of travel etc. Still cheaper for me to bypass the JR pass and just buy the tickets and normal travel on my Suica pass.

Shin-Osaka been renovated since I last step foot on there.


Ticket Office - manned


Tickets from machines


Waiting area


Central Gates


New platform and track


Nozomi N700 series




My ride arriving

[CarbonMan]

Beautiful pics, SQ218! Osaka and surrounding cities are wonderful places to visit. And the food ... ah! Need to go back there soon.

[SQ218]

Shinkansen arrived pretty much on the dot at Tokyo. Could have gotten off at Shinagawa but got off at its final destination. Took the JR Chuo Rapid to Shinjuku. Hotel for the next week is Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku. Off the Southern Exit end. My main baggage which was sent from KIX is waiting for me at recption when I checked in.

Went out straight to Roppongi to head up the Mori Tower.




Tokyo City View and am going up to the Sky Deck as well




Crowd looking at Fuji san at sunset.






Fuji san


One giant lantern on the way to the Sky Deck lift.