Keihan Densya Line Stations

I chose Senbayashi station located in almost center of Osaka to visit because there is famous of a big shopping street (Syoutengai in Japanese) and one of my friends is native of Senbayashi. This time I visited there with her, and she guided me to some famous shops and told me about Senbayashi. what a big shopping street is! was my first impression. I surprised that almost shopping street including my hometown’s it have hardly any customers the last years, but Senbayashi is NOT. There are many people from youth to old. Some of them wear shopping foodstuffs and necessaries for daily use.

The others had a date with their lover. Also bicycles were often seen. Many bicycles were parked on the street illegally. That often can be seen in Osaka. 

 
 
 People drink in the stall, Japanese old-good culture remains in Senbayashi.

 My friend took me to the Karaage store and crepe one. According to her, both of them are popular and broadcasted on TV-show. Since the price is cheap, schoolchildren come to buy as a snack.

There are many kinds shops including from old shop to newest shop. There were also unique and interesting stores. I thought Senbayashi is the town which maintained old and new balance but, I wonder how old store would have made its living. People buy some stuff at newest store clearly. Also I can say the same thing to many same kinds stores are exist in a small area.

Portrait of a foreigner

eating hot chocolate temakizushi.

His name is Mike. From New Jersey, America.

I met him last year, when he stayed Japan as a abroad student.

Before I met him my stereotype of American was American has positive thinking, enjoy their lives well etc then I was sure that my image of American was true. I spent a lot of time with him, we had some cases that we had to decide something like, where will we go to on weekends or what will we eat on lunchtime in KG. He always said "MaDonald's" I used to think does American people eat hamburger every day?  

His fashion represent about himself well.
He always wore the clothes of the check design or colorful ones. As if bright color represent his mind.
Like his clothes, he is  cheerful character and always smile.

This photograph expresses about himself well. 

He was always walking around with the camera and took the photograph. 

Taking phote is one of his hobby. For me I can't take phote with a full-scale camera in an amusement area because I feel somewhat ashamed. For me a full-scale camara means otaku or something like that. I use i-phone when I taking phote. That is difference derive from culture difference I think. 

My Town

Sakai city (堺市） is a town that I live in now. Sakai is a historied town and is a town where an edged tool and a bicycle are famous. 

http://2nd.geocities.jp/txinui/mozufuruichi1.htm

My town has the biggest ancient keyhole-shaped tomb in the world. It called Daisen-Kohun　大山古墳（仁徳天皇陵）. 

Full length : 486m
Width : 305m
Hight : 35m
This was made about 1500 years ago.
Daisen-park (大山公園) adjoins beside Daisen-Kohun.
People do running with their dogs around Daisen-Kohun and Daisen-park in early morning.  When I was a high school student, I belonged in swimming club. Our pool was outside so we couldn't swim in winter season. We used to run around Daisen-Kohun instead of swimming. 

It takes about 1 hour to walk 1 round.  There are several animals in a moat like turtles, swans, carp etc. In spite of being forbidden, some people do fishing.  And you can see many Japanese maple in fall. In the park, there is a history museum of Sakai. Sen no Rikyu is a famous person from Sakai. He is very famous in the world of the tea ceremony. 

http://www.machi-ga.com/27_osaka/sakai-sakai-sakaihigashist.html

Also my town has a very tall city office.  A city office has 21st floor.  Height : 94m

There is an observatory in the highest floor of a city office, and not only the daytime of a fine day but a night view looks very beautiful, you can enjoy yourself all day long.  

From an observatory, you can command a view of 360 degrees and, of course, can also see Daisen-Kofun. 

On sunny day, I could see Kansai airport and WTC tower. 
There is a cafe in top floor so you can see night view with drinking coffee. that is so good.

Osaka Castle (大阪城）

I recommend foreign students to visit Osaka castle to experience Japanese culture.
Osaka castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1853.
It is located in the center of Osaka, it is surrounded by many modern buildings.
This is a rare case that you can see historical building like Osaka castle and modern buildings at the same time.
This time I went on the picnic there.

The admission fee of 600 yen is paid for going into a castle tower.
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

 Can you see me? This is one of a stone of rampart. How did people of old time carry such a big stone? It seems that this stone was carried from the place 200km-away.  I could find many stones like that there. so huge.

People of old time carried such a big stone by ship. The huge stone was hung in underwater and carried with the rope.

Osaka castle. That was beautiful.

 I recommend you to bring your own lunch. Because you can eat your lunch , looking at Osaka Castle.

It is a panel which often exists at the tourist resort in Japan. You applies your face and takes photos. We took a photo with a panel that makes us Samurai.

Many foreign people took their photo there. 

 The season of cherry blossom viewing is the most beautiful. I want you to visit there in Spring.
In Japan, we do Hanami in spring. If you paid 500 yen, you can enter the open space of a lawn and the castle from there looks very beautiful. I strongly advise you to go to view the cherry blossoms.

  It is good to do hanami,looking at a Osaka castle and cherry trees

. In an open space,you can do Frisbee or badminton or something too. You can enjoy yourself.