# 096 - "Japan Special 10 - OSAKA close-up"

Huuuuuuuuuuuuhuuuuuuuu!

So, I already told you that I went to Osaka from 2012-08-10 till 2012-08-12 by train.
From Tokyo/Shinagawa to Shin-Osaka, it takes 3 hours by shinkansen train and afterwards I still had to go by subway line for a little.

Actually: Mari wanted to come pick me like last year but due to work issues she was not able to come. So I had to buy my FIRST single ticket in Japan. Right till now I've always been using Suica or Pasmo, where you upload some money and just "pay" with the card. But this time I had to buy a ticket in advance. haha... but mission completed. I was able to go to Kujo where we met up. <3
On the first evening (10th) Mari, her mother and me went to have dinner in a small restraunt close to their home. I actually think that I should try out everything at least once thus I also tried some food called サザエ
 (sazae).... well, once is enough eventhough it was not thaaaaaat bad. XD

After dinner Ako - a photographer friend of Mari - stopped by and we had some drinks till about midnight.

The next day (11th) we got up early cause we wanted to do a photo shooting in Yukata. This is actually the "summer version" of a kimono, so the traditional Japanese cloths which girls usually wear e.g. for go watching a firework or a summer festival. Ako, Takashi and Kimharu - friends of Mari who I've already met last year too - came too and we three girls changed to the Yukatas. Maris big brother took the photos. And they are sooooooo amazing! I love them. :3
It was so much fun and I had the first time a shooting with a pro - sometimes the Osaka dialect was a bit hard to understand but well, anyway I love the photos! <3 <3

Afterwards we had late lunch in a shop close by and then... muhaha... we went shopping for dinner because we wanted to have a home party. Everybody was staying at Maris home that night.
Ako showed me how to make Takoyaki たこ焼き and I played Wii with the guys. XD

The last day in Osaka (12th) was also great. We got up, had breakfast and then we just watched a bit TV while waiting for everybody to get ready. Since Ako didn't feel well, she didn't come with us but the other 4 of us went to have "Running Sushi"  - which is quite different to the European style. You pay for the plates and you still can order the sushi you want via computer display. Hightech!!!

Afterwards we took some puricuras and had some Matcha-something and then I had already to leave... T_T


THANKS ONCE MORE!!!
Osaka was great! <3