We woke up early for the morning prayers at 6.30 and sat in the 2nd row. The 2 monks there chanted but we just sat and had the option of going up to burn some incense which all of the Japanese did but none of the Westerners. After that it was breakfast which was a bit unusual, again we had rice and tofu with some other things which were not stable enough for Frances so I ate some of her food. We got ready and left our bags downstairs then went out to see the temple complex. It was before 8 but the area was open and we could walk around without any entry fee. Quite a lot of people were queuing at a temple and we later found out the 3 days holidays allowed people to do a special Buddhist ceremony here so they may have been queuing for that. There was a big orange Pagoda which was nice and we could go into and a less colourful pagoda and some other buildings. We went around and were finished by about 9 and decided to leave so we went back and got our bags and as the bus was not very regular we walked further along and took the bus for 280 to the cable car where the path down wasn't very good so I joined them on the funicular. We took the train into Osaka and then walked 20 minutes to the hotel along some busy streets. The hotel couldn't check us in yet so we left our bags and walked to a nearby train station which wasn't on the JR line so we paid 150 and then interchanged onto the JR loop. We weren't using the JR pass much at all and probably only saving £4 each but it went to Osaka station as we planned and we got off and looked for a restaurant. We saw a beer festival and had a look as it was outside in the sun. Clive wanted to go so Clive and I got a beer and Clive got some chicken and we sat outside for a bit. We left and Clive and Frances found somewhere that did meat balls and I went to a supermarket and got several items including tofu and noodles for ¥500. I got a text from Clive saying they had moved restaurant and I made it back at the time I said and they were still eating and sharing a ramen and a fried rice dish for ¥850 which is pretty good. We walked to the nearby skytower and had to queue to go up in the lift and then we walked around the floor a bit where there were some views for free but not the main view which cost. Clive and Frances paid and headed up the escalator to the top and I went down and across to the other tower where there was an Art gallery but it turned out to cost ¥500 so I didn't go in and headed to the island we had planned to go to and meet at. I took an underpass and then went across the bridge to the science museum which was open until 6. In the skytower I had checked wikitravel and an attraction listed which interested me was the Osaka peace museum but it was supposed to close at 5 so I couldn't make it but if the Science museum was open late today then maybe the peace museum was as well and I could still make it. I asked the reception but they couldn't help and I went to the art gallery which was open until 8pm but they checked and I found out that the peace museum did close at 5 that day unfortunately. I went back outside and sat watching a magic/entertainment show for a while until it finished. Then I walked around the block the wrong way nothing to see what there was and it wasn't much. I got a text message from Clive who was ahead of me as they'd left and were on the island so I walked across the park to get there and met up with them We then headed to Osaka castle and walked along the river with a good view of a fountain they had on the island that sprayed a strong jet of water. We visited the castle from the same place I'd entered as it gave good views although Frances was not very impressed when we walked in. We took some group photos in front of the main building but it was dark. Then we left and got the train back to our hostel although Clive and Frances took the tube closer while I walked to the supermarket called Harves. I got some apricot liquor for them and some sake for me as well ad some discounted food and some of my usuals like tofu and noodles. I ate at the hostel which had a microwave and a foot massage chair. Out beds were on the 2nd floor and we had 4 bunk spaces between us with a key but only 1 card for the room so we got another with a deposit. We left at 8.45pm and I was drinking sake while Clive had had half the wine bottle at the hostel. The comedy was 25 minutes away and we arrived on time but this time it was an open mic night and there were more people and it cost less, just ¥500. We got some beers and sat down and they had new acts and a gay compere in the first half. Then we had a break for more beers and the regular acts came on in the 2nd half some with repeated jokes. We had more drinks and then joined the comedy guys and went to a chicken place. It all finished sometime after that and we walked back quite late and went to sleep.
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