From Hirakata-city, Osaka-prefecture, Japan

From 28 April to 30, we are visiting to shikoku and cyu-goku area. Day one(28 April) we left home about 5:45 AM and through awaji island, passing through matsuyama city and arrived at uwajima city and had lunch at hodumi-tei(below). After lunch, we walked around uwajima city. Uwajima city is located about 100km south from matsuyama city. For me, uwajima city is my first visiting and it is very good atmosphire, sea is near here and town is tiny, not so crowded like matuyama and I liked there very much. This is uwajima castle, one of 12 castle "tensyu-kaku(castle)" is reserved. I visited akashi castle last month and there is no tensyu-kaku. Then we went directly to dogo onsen(hotspring) at matsuyama city. This is dogo-onsen. When I first visited here about 15 years ago, it was not decorated like this. I imagined that it was first day of golden-week(in Japan, this consecutive 9 days nation

I had a event at akashi-city,hyogo-prefecture. And after finishing this event, I walked around akashi-castle park. This day, meteorological agency announced declaration of cherry blossom and this is a good chance to check my new camera. Akashi castle holds two turrets and one turret is opened for visitors for free.  Akashi castle had been orderd constructing in 1618 by the order of 2nd general hidetada, finished in 1620. It had no castle tower, maybe because this was peaceful era.   Going back to my home, I walked around Osaka city. This is Osaka station.

On April 2, we went to takeda castle . Takeda castle is known as Japanese Machu Pikchu because it is located at the top of the mountain and sometimes coverd with cloud. We first went to Osaka station and changed to highway bus to wadayama. This is hankyu bus highway station. The bus to wadayama started at 8:10 am, costs 3050 yen per an adult. I was amazed because we can use wifi in this bus for free! Arrived at wadayama station and changed to train. This train's door is manually opened. Arrived at takeda station around 11 am. We can see takeda castle above this mountain. We can climb the mountain but it is said very hard so we took bus. Taking off the bus and walked. About 15-20 min. walk, we finnaly arrived at the castle. This castle is recently maintained so it is well reserved. I liked it very much.