Richard Chen's Reviews

Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Founded in 778, Kiyomizu-dera Temple was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. Its 130,000-square-meter (about 1.4-million-square-foot) grounds extend across the slopes of Mt. Otowa and contain more than 30 temple buildings and monuments, including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. The temple is also worth seeing throughout the seasons, framed by cherry blossoms in spring, lush greenery in summer, colorful leaves in autumn, and snow in winter.

Gion, Higashiyama, Yamashina
Shrines & Temples

2 Jan 2022 See More

The scenery here is beautiful all year round. It's a great spot to take photos and check in!

Park Hyatt Tokyo

Park Hyatt Tokyo, located between the 39th and 52nd floor of the skyscraper “Shinjuku Park Tower” with an iconic triangular roof top, is fairly close to the Shinjuku Station and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

Shinjuku, Okubo, Yoyogi, Yotsuya
Hotels

2 Jan 2022 See More

I was really happy with the bathroom. There are lots of mirrors, which makes the space feel bigger. The shower and bath are separated, so the floor doesn't get all wet. There's even a small TV inside, so you won't get bored while soaking in the tub. The amenities are from an Australian fragrance brand that's all about being natural and eco-friendly. You can actually buy them at department stores, and they're not cheap.

Tottori Sand Dunes The Sand Museum

The world’s first museum, curating sand creations. It is produced by Katsuhiko Chaen, who was selected as “100 Most Respected Japanese People.” He invites sand sculptors from all over the world to display sand sculpture at the global top level.

Tottori
Museums

2 Jan 2022 See More

The artists put so much detail into these sand sculptures—they're absolutely beautiful. You really have to see them in person.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Shinjuku Gyoen once stood as an estate of the Naito family, the hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa family in the Edo period before being established as an imperial garden in 1906.

Shinjuku, Okubo, Yoyogi, Yotsuya
Parks & Gardens

2 Jan 2022 See More

Even though there's an entrance fee, the flowers inside are blooming beautifully. Totally worth it!

Fukuchizan Shuzenji Temple

This temple is located in the Shuzenji Onsen Town, where the scenery is beautiful from season to season. The temple is called Fukuchizan Shuzenji, short for "Fukuchizan Shuzen Bannan Zenji." The temple is also known as the setting of "Shuzenji Monogatari" written by Okamoto Kido, a writer active in the Meiji era.

Shizuoka
Shrines & Temples

2 Jan 2022 See More

Such a lovely little town. It's really nice to take a walk or relax on a bike ride here. If there aren't many people around, it's even more peaceful.

West Lake (Sai-ko)

Located in the middle of the Fuji Five Lakes, this mystical lake is surrounded by mountains and the Aokigahara Sea of Trees. In recent years, the Kunimasu Trout, which was thought to be extinct, was discovered for the first time in about 70 years, making a big splash in the news.

Yamanashi
Nature Spots

2 Jan 2022 See More

You can go camping and do some birdwatching here—it's a lot of fun! Bring your camera and capture all the unique scenery.