OK, t'was an awesome trip!! Got F outbound for the longer leg, and Biz back home. I have to recommend an awesome hotel in Osaka, NAMBA ORIENTAL HOTEL | OSAKA | English page

The only bad thing I have to say is....no wireless! There's wired internet though. It's really hidden though. If you decide to use it, take the Rapi:t to Namba station, exit thru the NORTH exit. Cross the street to Starbucks and continue down that alley into the mall area. Take the second main alleyway to the left, hotel is maybe half a block up on the right.

The area is awesome too, right in a street shopping mall. I made a journey to Kyoto, saw Nijo Castle and Kyoto Imperial Palace. Note, if you go to Imperial Palace, be sure you have your passport. You must make a reservation at the office, show your passport and fill out a form. No charge though. The guided tour you get is well worth the time, takes about an hour. You can't go inside the Palace proper, but it takes you all around and shows you into some rooms from the outside. Nijo Castle, you can go inside but no pics, sketching, etc. allowed.