Still adjusting to the 15-hour forward leap in time, we woke up with plenty of time to catch a morning flight to Osaka, the county’s second largest city. Dubbed “Japan’s Kitchen,” it is celebrated for its culinary prowess and experimentation. It is also said to be the Manchester of Japan, given its industrial history in textiles. For us, though, it was an eye-opener to the vastness of Japan’s urban centers. Every square foot of land is utilized in what feels like endless industry and neighborhoods when observing from local trains between the Kansai Airport (on its own island) and the city center. Highlights of the day included the Osaka Castle, the neon-lit commercial hub of Dotonbori, and udon bowls large enough to sit in.
Bridger & Doug's Foreign Biking Adventures 