Kyoto (京都) is a short distance from Osaka and offers such a variety of gardens, walks and temples that in order to see most of it one has to stay there for about six-seven days. I've arrived there in early morning on the most maginificent Sunday, during the peak of the cherry blossoms season. Needless to say, a local bus from the JR station was already quite full at 6:30 in the morning. At about 1 pm the line to get on the bus at the train station was so long that I started wondering why people even bother... The walk between the temples and in sakura gardens in the morning was very pleasant - but when the crowds have arrived the situation has changed and a walk became 'push and shove' - more like a train station in the rush hour. I know that I have not seen all I wanted but one has to have some air to breathe... continued to Tokyo from there. But I think I've "overdozed" on temples on this particular day and, from there on, became mostly interested in natural attractions (including some gardens). One can only see that many shrines and temples...
A visit to Tokyo (東京) on this day was a bit different. As I have just seen way too many temples in Kyoto, I've opted for the visit to Yoyogi Park (代々木公園), to see where the music concerts are held (in the nearby Sports Center) and have a look on park and the people (read that it may be interesting in the 'Lonely Planet' guide book). Apart from huge crowds near the train station - the visit was very entertaining. The most fascinating things were to look at the people dancing in the park, including the famous 'Tokyo Rockabilly Club' guys and at the people simply spending a nice Sunday afternoon (either having a picnic, or a party, of a disco) in the park. Some of the street musicians were also very good, both there and at Akihabara station, where I've stopped on the way back to Osaka. The only drawback was the huge amount of kitch items associated with Hamasaki Ayumi (浜崎あゆみ) that was available for sale at many stalls there. I do like her music and have most of the albums and videos, but I simply cannot understand how anyone who is older than 12 can actually buy these things... The 'dress-ups' (called 'cosplay' if I'm not mistaken) on the bridge near the train station I also find interesting but also a bit disturbing...