One of the most iconic places in Japan is Osaka Castle. Construction began in 1583 and the entire site covers around 61,000 square feet. Osaka Castle is an important symbol for the Kansai region of Japan and it played a major role in the unification of Japan in the 16th century also known as the Samurai era.

Markus and I decided to go to Osaka Castle on one of the hottest days of our trip. We tried to go really early to avoid the heat and tourists. We were unfortunately not successful with either. It was so hot that I was constantly seeking shade and fanning myself. The area around the castle is really beautiful and everything looks much larger in person. Markus mentioned that it reminded him of the old Akira Kurosawa films. When we arrived, there were heaps of school trips and small groups of students were running around approaching tourists. One small group came up to us and we quickly realized they were interviewing people in English. I wish I took photos or had video of the experience because it was such a lovely reminder our time in Korea. After the kids conducted their short interview, Markus and I sat in the shade on the south side of the castle and enjoyed the atmosphere.