We woke up at 7:00am and headed to Osaka Castle on the Osaka loop line. We stopped at a bakery for breakfast once we arrived at JR Osaka Jokoen Station. There wasn’t space for the three of us to sit and eat breakfast together, but the nice ladies next to me moved so that we could sit together. People in Japan are so friendly!

We then walked into the Osaka Castle Park, and towards the castle. Along the way, people were selling beautiful plants at booths.

The cherry blossoms were out in full bloom, and people were setting up Hanami (cherry blossom viewing party) parties on their blue tarps under the blossoms. One group had brought a TV and Nintendo 64, which they set up at a kotatsu (heated table) under the blossoms.

Food booths were selling all the typical festival foods, takoyaki, okinomiyaki, taiyaki…. It was a Sunday afternoon during the height of the cherry blossoms full bloom, so I think we arrived on exactly the perfect day! The blossoms typically last about a week at full bloom, depending on the weather.

We took some pictures, but had to hurry back to our airbnb to check out and head to Nagoya.