We spent an afternoon wandering through the Dotonbori area of Osaka Japan. It is a vibrant area with food and restaurant shops and it actually felt like we were stepping into a living postcard. The shops and stores all had unique signs and vibrant colours.
Shelley and I set out without much of a plan, we just wandered the narrow streets of the district. The streets were vibrant with bright creative signs overhead, lots of locals and tourist weaving past one another.
The vendors shouting and calling out trying to entice you to buy their food. We took our time, letting ourselves get pleasantly lost among the narrow side streets and bustling main paths. Of course, it wasn’t long before we decided to sample one of the local foods called Takoyaki.
They make different types of Takoyaki which is a popular Japanese street food. It is generally made of small, round balls of batter filled with diced pieces of octopus or other fish. We bought the traditional Takoyaki with octopus to try.
We continued exploring and looking at all the different signs and advertising. Some of the signs were three-dimensional and very creative. There were everything from dragons, octopus and crabs to other unique signs. 
At one point, needing a bit of a break, we found a small outside bar tucked away along the Tonbori River.
It was the perfect spot for us, we could relax but still watch all the people and excitement of the area.
We grabbed a couple of drinks and sat for a while, watching the tour boats go by on the water.
Each tour boat was unique and everyone would wave to all the people on the banks of the river. After resting up we slowly made our way back towards our hotel. The Dotonbori district was more than we expected and we had a great afternoon exploring the culture and foods.
私たちの人生のあらゆる瞬間は、無視するのではなく、楽しむべき奇跡なのです。
We were given a presentation by a dynamic and interesting Drummer who explained how they are made. The drums we learned about are known as “taiko,” and they are deeply rooted in Japanese culture and craftsmanship. 
We explored several of the structures which had specific purposes of the temple.
The structures were very detailed and quite interesting to see. We came across the Buda and other statues of the temple.
There was a traditional marriage ceremony happening while we were there. It was quite interesting to watch as the bride and groom where pulled through the temple walkway in the carriage wearing the traditional clothing.
Our guide explained to us how the white headpiece of the bride is called a tsunokakushi, which literally means “horn-hiding.” According to tradition and folklore, this head covering is meant to conceal the bride’s metaphorical “horns,” representing feelings like jealousy or ego. Which may come out later in the marriage.
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