Early morning in Koyasan we attended the Buddhist prayers at 6:00. Still freezing cold. There is no way we could manage the ascetic life of a monk.

We bought a sanbucan, a citrus from this region, previously reserved only for samurai and feudal lords. It did make us feel a bit feudal.

A peak at the huge pagoda nearby followed, and then a stroll through Japan’s largest cemetery, Okunoin, ending up at the Hall of Lanterns.

Back in Osaka I was granted my wish to visit a rescue cat cafe, where Terry was besieged by a determined lap cat who hissed and growled if he moved.

After sunset, the Umeda sky building was our next stop. This building is actually two, connected by a “sky garden”. The glass elevators and escalators on the way up to 140 meters above ground allow for a preview of the great view waiting at the top.