Day 11: Minato Alternative Evening High School

Day 8: Osaka Sister City, Boat Tour and Osaka Castle

The sister city then took us on a boat tour of their river front and to Osaka Castle. I won't lie, it was very hot and humid. It was the first da we really used our "sweat rags" - we felt like we sweat so much because we were melting!!

River front and boat tour, look familiar?

Orderly waiting in line - always

The boats roof raised up and down to pass under bridges.

Osaka castle from the river cruise 

Rail station advertising 

Osaka Castle

Of course I took pictures of insects. 

After the castle the Osaka City secretary was going to take us to yet another area, but we were so hot and uncomfortable, we just wanted to shower and change clothes. She wanted to make sure we "weren't bored and we were taken care of."

Happy travels !!

Day 8: Osaka Sister City Visit, Chicago and Osaka Educators

Our JEEP program has arranged for an Osaka Sister City Visit. Our group is visiting Osaka city hall, meeting with the Super Intendant of Education and his staff in a customary Japanese style meeting. Thereafter they are treating us to a city tour with a translator. 

Arrival at city hall. It was the hottest day so far on the trip. After our cuff link adventure (really my turquoise ones would've sufficed) we tool a taxi to city hall.

Our translators met us downstairs as did the Assistant to the Superintendent. We were escorted upstairs.

Department Head of Curriculum greeted us. Normally everyone would, however they heard of our issue that "one of the group (Husband) ran out of business cards." Out if respect there was not an exchange until the end. 

As per Japanese custom, the agenda was set by meeting host. Time is to be followed meticulously. When our turn came We had 10 minutes for introductions and therefore needed to be brief. 

The Assitant or Vice Superintendentales introductory remarks and introduces  their side. We side has its own translator as is customary. Notice in the background, their staff and assistants stay standing in the back the entire meeting.

Preparation of exchanging of the gifts. Every one stands and encircles the "gift area." That's the lead secretary in the grey suit. 

Our gift is in the blue bag and held trinkets from our schools. First gift is to the delegate leader, huge role in Japan & for our team, Katy, is presented with a fan from Osaka.

Husband and I received Japanese Lacquered plates with the Osaka City stamp. Notice the background prep for more gifts.

Our gift presentation.

The rest of the room assistants during the exchange of gifts. 

Osaka sister city plaque preparation for the official delegation picture.

Non customary, we exchanged cards at the end due to running low. 

This was a highlight of our trip being treated like royalty here - thank you Osaka and Superintendent of Education for your hospitality!!

When we left I cheered all those who walked us out "Ni-hon Di-Skee" Japan is the best!! Lotsa laughs and giggles.

Happy travels!!

Day 7: Kyoto Fushimi Inari Shinto Shrine, Senbon Thousands of Torii Gates

We are planning on visiting with our Companion Miki and her good friend Yuko the Fushimi Inari shrine and Thousand Shito Gates & then a traditional Japanese Lunch (so excited).

This shrine is dedicated to the god of rice. It was a hot day, so a hat and umbrella are vital.

En Route Photos

Japanese McDonald's - Enjoyed Iced Coffee with REAL cream and gust gum sweet syrup (not the American injector of fake syrups).

Local Rail Transport fashion

Teenagers are teenagers, on Facebook!

Shinto Shrine walking the main gates.

Smaller gates- always organized in Japan. Walk in on the left, out on the right.

A spot to buy wishing plates to leave with your prayers.

This stone wishing spot. Leave your donation, make a wish/prayer. If you lift the stone, and it's heavier then you thought, your wish will come true. If its lighter then you thought, your wish won't come true.

Walking out with our JEEP friends

Two ladies in kimonos entering the shrine.

Our taxi driver was very enthusiastic to share postcards of all of Japan's most famous festivals. He assumes, as most Japanese do, that we don't have any previous knowledge of their country, culture or festivities. We were gracious listening to his information. 

From Japan Guide about the Shinto Temple Visit

Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社, Fushimi Inari Taisha) is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds.

Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are thought to be Inari's messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari Shrine has ancient origins, predating the capital's move to Kyoto in 794.

A giant torii gate in front of the Romon Gate at the shrine's entrance. While the primary reason most foreign visitors come to Fushimi Inari Shrine is to explore the mountain trails, the shrine buildings themselves are also attractive and worth a visit. At the shrine's entrance stands the Romon Gate, which was donated in 1589 by the famous leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Behind stands the shrine's main building (Honden) and various auxiliary buildings.

At the very back of the shrine's main grounds is the entrance to the torii gate covered hiking trail, which starts with two dense, parallel rows of gates called Senbon Torii ("thousands of torii gates"). The torii gates along the entire trail are donations by individuals and companies, and you will find the donator's name and the date of the donation inscribed on the back of each gate. The cost starts around 400,000 yen for a small sized gate and increases to over one million yen for a large gate.

Happy travels