Let's continue our journey to Kansai in the new episode.



Today's program is to visit Himeji Castle, but in the morning, let's stop by and have some delicious sushi first.

This is the fifth part of my trip to Kansai. If you haven't read the first few parts, I've included the links below. ^^

Episode 4: Chasing Red Leaves, Delicious Restaurants, and Beautiful Photography Techniques in Kyoto

Episode 3: Full review of Kinosaki Onsen, so good I want to stop time

Episode 2: Take a walk through the Japanese second-hand market, shop your heart out at Garage Sale

Episode 1: Amazingly affordable Airbnb accommodation in Osaka

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To get to Tamagawa Station, take the train from Tanimachi 4 chome Station, which is near your accommodation. If you are coming from another line, it is most convenient to take the train to Tamagawa Station. Alternatively, if you are using JR, you can get off at Noda Station. The walk is about the same distance.





You can see the map here. From the station, walk straight until you reach the bridge over the river. Then turn right and walk straight ahead, and you will find the fish market. Endo Sushi is located outside the market, nearby.



Stroll through the bustling morning fish market and soak up the lively atmosphere.



It takes about 10 minutes to walk from the station to the Osaka Central Fish Market. The landmark is the big clock on top. This picture was taken when I was leaving at around 8 am.





If you arrive early, around 5 am, you will also be able to see the fish auction. Unfortunately, I couldn't wake up in time. It was also cold, and it took me a while to get myself up. 555 But I still managed to see the atmosphere inside the market, the hustle and bustle, and the abundance of fresh seafood. There were crabs, fish, shrimp, shellfish, etc. The market has over 200 shops selling both fresh and dried seafood.



A big, firm tuna looks delicious. They cut it fresh in the market. I'm not sure if they throw away the head and the bony part, but if anyone has read the manga "Sushi Boy," the protagonist will ask to buy these parts to make sushi. The bony part is not only delicious and rich, but it also contains nutrients from the bones (my brother said so, haha). And it's very cheap too.



Hmm, I should try buying one back!



I stood watching and taking pictures of this old man filleting a tuna fish live. The deep red flesh looked just like pork. The old man smiled when he saw me taking pictures and started talking. Even though I didn't understand what he was saying, I stood there nodding my head in agreement. What you see him cutting into small pieces is



After taking this picture, he handed me this tuna sashimi to try. He was so kind. I said "Arigatou" and took a bite. The fish was really firm and fresh. Surprisingly, there was no fishy smell at all. But it wasn't quite to my taste. I wish I had some soy sauce and wasabi, uncle. 555



After the fish auction, we continued to walk around the fish market to capture the atmosphere. Almost every shop started working, preparing ingredients for sale. We saw them cutting and slicing fish, including a skilled demonstration of using a long knife to slice a large tuna into pieces. It was truly impressive.



No matter which uncle I stopped to photograph, they all nodded, bowed, and smiled, giving me a signal to ask for their permission. It was a courtesy, and everyone smiled and let me take their picture. I guess they're used to it.

After walking around the market and feeling hungry, we decided to head to Endo Sushi, our original target. When I arrived, there was no queue yet. This photo was taken after we finished eating, and there were already a lot of people waiting in line. It's a good thing we came early and didn't have to wait long.



Endo Sushi is a long-standing sushi restaurant in Osaka, established in 1907. The restaurant's unique characteristic is the use of warm sushi rice for making sushi. This practice originated from the need to quickly serve sushi to merchants who came to eat before returning to work. The slightly warm sushi rice is what gives the restaurant's sushi its delicious, melt-in-your-mouth flavor, unlike any other.



Don't worry about what to order at this restaurant, they have an Omakase set menu. It's a sushi set with 5 pieces per plate, priced at 1,050 yen per plate. Each plate will have 1 piece of Toro, or tuna belly. The rest will vary, including fish, shrimp, shellfish, roe, sweet egg, etc.



The first plate has arrived. From left to right, it contains crab meat (Kani), ark shell (Akagai), scallop (Hotate), tuna (Toro), and silver scabbardfish (Tachiuo). Each piece is bite-sized, with thick slices of fresh fish that are so tempting they practically jump into your mouth.



As I mentioned, it was so delicious that I missed taking a picture of one piece. 555 From left to right, salmon roe (Ikura), sayori fish (Sayori), tuna (Toro) and salmon. The other piece that is missing is squid (Ika), which I have already eaten.



Next up, another dish. Are you really that hungry? Ordering 3 dishes at once?





From left to right: shrimp (Ebi), sweet egg (Tamago), abalone (Awabi), tuna maki (Tekka), and octopus (Tako).



Here, they have soy sauce placed on every table in a jug with a brush, which you can use to apply directly to the sushi like this. No need to dip and make a mess or risk breaking the rice grains and dropping them into the soy sauce. Not only is it convenient, but it also makes the sushi taste better because you're applying it directly to the fish, without getting the rice soggy or overly soaked in soy sauce. I love it!



As I mentioned earlier, the sushi rice here is served slightly warm, which makes it melt in your mouth along with the fresh fish, creating a truly harmonious and delicious flavor.



My favorite sushi includes fresh and fragrant abalone, perfectly cooked and easy to chew; tuna maki made with belly meat, offering a rich and fatty flavor; giant squid, which is usually tough but here is cooked to be tender and easy to chew, with a sweet and delicious taste; and authentic salmon roe, which explodes in your mouth for an incredibly satisfying experience.



Before I was full, I ordered a little more because I wanted to try it. Starting with Tai, which is considered a high-class fish here. The white flesh and beautiful red skin are firm, sweet, and delicious. Hamachi, which is more bouncy and crunchy, has a rich and delicious flavor. And the star of the show, Toro, but this piece seems to have less fat than usual. I'm not sure if they're being a bit stingy, but it's still delicious.



We had a delicious and satisfying meal today. We went to a restaurant where the price is easy to calculate, 1,050 yen per dish.

After a hearty breakfast, let's hit the road! Today, according to our plan, we will visit the World Heritage Site, Himeji Castle (Himejijo).





The journey can be made by taking a single train from Osaka Station using the JR Pass or JR Kansai Wide Area Pass, which was also used to travel to Kinosaki Onsen in the previous episode. Alternatively, if you want to take the Shinkansen, you can board it at Shin-Osaka Station.



Kinosaki Onsen

Before the train departed, we took a stroll around Osaka Station. The station is incredibly vast, with five interconnected lines below ground. It's easy to get lost in its immensity, so be cautious and avoid getting carried away by the exploration. 555



Kinosaki Onsen

These cute little trinkets are sold all along the way. They are a delight to the eyes and very tempting to buy. Women's clothing and accessories are also available.



Before boarding the train, we stopped by to buy lunch boxes to eat on the train. This shop has a long queue. There are lunch boxes shaped like Shinkansen trains, which look delicious. Let's take a look.



Kinosaki Onsen

This sushi lunch box looks very delicious! The price varies depending on the ingredients.



Kinosaki Onsen

Just point to the lunch box you want from the display case. It's easy. You can also choose from the sign that shows the most popular items. This box, for example, is a combination bento that looks delicious with a variety of dishes.



Kinosaki Onsen

This box is a seafood platter, another delicious option. Choose what you like, pay the staff, wait a moment, and then you can pick up your food.



Kinosaki Onsen

We're on the train, ready to go! It's so quiet, it's like a private train. I love it! We're taking a long ride from Osaka Station to Himeji Station.



Kinosaki Onsen

Let's take a look at the menu for those who don't eat raw fish first, lol. In the style of Tonkatsu, Karaage, Bento, Fried Pork/Fried Chicken, the appearance is ordinary but the taste is good. This type starts at 600-800 yen. As for me, it's sushi pressed and wrapped in bamboo leaves, which looks cute and delicious. The taste is a bit salty and the rice is firm. It's delicious in a different way.



It only takes a short while to get there. If you take the express train, it takes about 70 minutes. If you take the Shinkansen, it takes about 45 minutes. When you arrive, you will be greeted by the mascot of Himeji Castle, Shiromaru-Hime. He is a cute, round character with a castle head.

As soon as you exit the station, you will be greeted by a wide plaza and a large road. If you look straight ahead, you will see Himeji Castle standing out prominently. You can see it from afar from here. It's a real landmark. It's really beautiful.



Kinosaki Onsen

From the station, if you don't want to walk, you can take a bus straight to the bus stop in front of the station. But I chose to walk instead because the distance is not too far. It takes less than 10 minutes to walk. There are shops to stop by along the way, and there is a shopping arcade like this.



Kinosaki Onsen

On my way to the castle, I came across a newlywed couple who were having their wedding ceremony today. They were both dressed to the nines, and it was adorable to see them holding hands as they crossed the street. A photographer was following them closely, capturing the moment.



Kinosaki Onsen

We walked to the end of the street and then went into the castle.



Upon entering, you will first encounter the outer grounds of the castle. In front of this wide open space, there is a sign with an explanation in the form of an AR Code that you can scan. The area around Himeji Castle is almost entirely cherry blossom trees. If you visit during the cherry blossom season, it will be very beautiful.



Kinosaki Onsen: A Traditional Hot Spring Town in Japan

The old couple took pictures of each other as if they were newly in love. It's so cute.



Visit the beautiful World Heritage-listed castle.

This is another beautiful angle, especially when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.



Himeji Castle is over 400 years old and is considered the most beautiful and well-preserved original castle in Japan. It has never been captured or burned down, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



From the open space, walk along the path and you will find a ticket booth. From this point onwards (blue point), you will need a ticket to enter. The entrance fee is 1,000 yen per person.



We bought tickets and walked up. The first point was a large gatehouse.

Kinosaki Onsen is a charming hot spring town located in the northern part of Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. It is known for its traditional ryokans (Japanese inns), narrow streets lined with shops and restaurants, and seven public bathhouses. Kinosaki Onsen is a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists, and it is a great place to relax and rejuvenate.

The path leading up to the top gradually becomes steeper and more complex, designed to make it difficult to attack. At the top, there are many windows for firing cannons and dropping rocks on enemies all along the path.



Looking up from here, you can see a small watchtower with a castle-like structure. It has many windows and holes for cannons and throwing stones to attack.



From the top of the tower, you can easily see the view of the city and the walkway inside the castle.



The castle's structure is displayed in a model, which is truly amazing in its design and construction.



The interior walkway of the castle is a mandatory path that continues all the way. The structure, pillars, walls, beams, and ceilings remain in their original condition from the past to the present. It can be seen that the condition is very good and complete. At some points, there will be stairs to climb to see something above. The stairs are quite steep. If you bring the elderly, you must help them walk.



Along the way, there are windows where you can stop to take pictures and enjoy the view.



This room is very dark, no sunlight can reach it, and the lights have to be turned on. I'm not sure what the room is used for. While walking, I was hoping for a show with hidden doors or traps, but there weren't any. Personally, I think a castle like this must have hidden doors, or maybe I've watched too many movies. 555



Let's step outside for a bit. From this angle, we can see the castle up close. Himeji Castle is mainly built with white plaster, which is why it has another name, "White Heron Castle." It is the most beautiful and prominent castle in Japan.



The main castle building has 5 floors from the outside, but in reality, it has 1 underground floor and 6 floors above ground. The top is decorated with killer whale tiles, which are said to be a charm against fire. The height of the castle building is 90 meters above sea level, so it can also be used as an observation post.



This is a large open space where you can take photos of the castle in its entirety, or enjoy the view below.



After coming down from the castle, you will find a souvenir shop. There are cute dolls of Shiromaru-Hime and key chains. The prices vary depending on the type and size.

Kinosaki Onsen

After leaving the castle, we were hungry and wanted to find something to eat and drink before heading back. We stopped at this shop, which is easy to spot. It's just a short walk up from Himeji Castle. The shop's name is Harikai.



Kinosaki Onsen

We stopped by because we saw a picture of a large oyster in front of the shop. My mother wanted to eat it, so we stopped by. We were not disappointed. It was easy to eat because it was a steamed oyster, not a fresh one. They steamed it with soup, making the oyster meat firm, juicy, and very appetizing. It came out hot.



You'll notice the broth on the lid of the shell. You can also sip it after eating the clam meat. It has a rich, delicious flavor and the aroma of the sea. Another glass of beer will take away your fatigue. It's so good!



The owner is very friendly and kind. When she found out that we were Thai, she came over to chat with us using an iPad and Google Translate. She said that there were a lot of tourists and started chatting with us. It was funny. My mom gave her a fresh persimmon that we had bought, and she was so happy that she asked for a selfie. We took a picture together and then she asked me to send it to her email. It was funny. We had a happy and delicious meal.



Kinosaki Onsen

When visiting a new city, it's always fun to collect manhole covers as souvenirs. In Himeji, the manhole covers feature a white heron, which is the nickname for Himeji Castle, also known as the "White Heron Castle."



It's getting late now. Originally, I planned to stop by Kobe on the way back, but I don't think I'll have time. If you're planning to visit Himeji, you can also make it a one-day Himeji - Kobe trip. You can visit Himeji in the morning and then stop by Kobe on the way back if you have time.



Today, I got to eat delicious sushi at a famous restaurant and see one of the most beautiful castles in Japan. It was another fun day!

I'm going to take my leave for now. Stay tuned for the next episode to see where we'll be traveling next.



Thank you for reading.



Osaka Central Fish Market

Location : 34.685000, 135.480450

Getting there: 10-minute walk from Tamagawa Station



Endo Sushi

Location : 34.684215, 135.479602

Travel: Located in the front parking lot of Osaka Fish Market



Himeji Castle

Location : 34.839423, 134.693873

Transportation: JR Rapid / Shinkansen from Osaka / Shin-Osaka Station



Stay tuned for the next episode.

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