Osaka, which means large hill, has a population of 2.7 million ( was up to 3.1 million in 1965 ) and is the largest component of the Keihanshin ( or Greater Osaka ) Metropolitan Area, the second largest in Japan, and tenth biggest urban area in the world, with 19 million inhabitants.   From the early beginning of the country, Osaka was traditionally considered to be Japan's economic hub, having a major port in the 7th and 8th centuries, and continuing to flourish during the Edo Period (1603-1867), becoming the center for Japanese culture, with Kyoto and Nara in this region.  Our two final stops on this Japan trip are to these two cities. Kyoto was the capital of Japan for more than a millennium, from 794 through 1868. All changed that year when the capital was moved to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo. Osaka was hit hard by U.S. bombing during World War II, particularly just before the end. Reconstruction stimulated population growth. Osaka hosted the World Expo in 1970, and will again

The Diamond Princess arrived in Busan at 7:30AM, and it was raining, so I took this photo from inside my cabin. The rain later stopped. We docked next to the Regent 7 Seas Explorer,  the ship we were on a year ago from Dubai to Singapore .  I said: We boarded the Regent Seven Seas Explorer, and if there is a Heaven, this certainly is one possible scenario.  Check-in was flawless, and in consideration of all the visa and vaccination protocols, quick. Started with a champagne greeting With a welcome champagne, this was our skyline view of Dubai.  Note the Burj Khalifa, the tallest in the world.   But work has begun again for Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Tower, to be called  Kingdom Tower , and at 3281 feet, will be 564 feet taller. So, anyway, this is the same Regent 7 Seas Explorer next to us. First, a Japanese breakfast, to which I added an egg-over-easy and ham. Not long thereafter, lunch.  Again, wonderful, but filling. Dessert. I looked down to the dock area, and it looked like compoun