Kobe - Chinatown. Before our ship’s excursion to Osaka in the afternoon we went back into Kobe to walk around a bit, and check out their Chinatown and the huge covered shopping mall (unfortunately most places were still closed).
One of the entrances to the Kobe Chinatown.
Too early for places to be open.
For some reason, in this part of town, Spiderman is associated with Kobe Beef. There were Spiderman statues at all the Kobe Beef restaurants.
...All of 'em!
The entrance to the covered shopping street.
Block after block of covered street. We would find this in many of the Japanese towns. At this time of the morning, it was mostly people on their way to work, with few stores open yet.
And of course, who doesn't associate French Provincial furniture with Dinosaurs?
Part of the outer wall of Osaka Castle with one of the few remaining guard houses.
Osaka Castle, albeit a more modern reconstruction of the original, but no less impressive.
A shot from the top floor of the Castle, with part of the roof in the foreground and modern Osaka city in the background.
A nice touch to keep skateboards off the bike rack.
The "Circular Bridge" at the Sumiyoshi shrine, so called because of it's reflection in the water. (A bit of rain sort of broke up the effect.)
The steep steps of the circular bridge.
Founded in the 3rd century these buildings display a unique style of shrine architecture, called Sumiyoshi-zukuri, that is free of influence from the Asian mainland. These buildings house the Shinto gods.
Some of the many lanterns and flags that are found around the grounds.
Inside the shop.
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