陳豐収's Reviews

Otaru City Nishin Goten (Herring Mansion)

Perched on a cape with sweeping views of Ishikari Bay near Otaru Aquarium, the Otaru City Nishin Goten is a former “banya” (a fishermen’s lodging and work hut) from the herring-fishing boom of the Meiji to Taisho eras. Originally built in Tomari Village, Furuu District in Nishi-Shakotan, it was relocated and restored here in 1958. Preserving the original form of a valuable Meiji-era wooden structure built over seven years using 540 tons of timber, it is designated a Tangible Cultural Property of Hokkaido.

Otaru and Niseko
Museums

25 Jan 2026 See More

The wooden building is really impressive, but it doesn’t feel intimidating or too formal. You can totally picture how booming the herring industry must’ve been back then.

Inside is huge, and as you walk around you really feel how different life was in those days. The ocean view out the windows is a big plus too. It’s kind of a reflective place.

A quieter, more “museum-like” spot in Otaru, but with a lot of character.

Osaka Prefectural Sayamaike Museum

Sayamaike, Japan’s oldest dam-style reservoir, was built 1,400 years ago. Over the centuries, a range of historical figures took part in its repairs, including Gyoki in the Nara period, Chogen in the Kamakura period, and Katagiri Katsumoto in the Edo period. The Osaka Prefectural Sayamaike Museum preserves and displays materials related to civil engineering techniques used in these repairs and flood control.

Tondabayashi, Kawachinagano
Museums

27 Nov 2025 See More

This place really surprised me in a good way. The Tadao Ando-designed building has so much style, and it feels cool and super photogenic the moment you walk in.

The exhibits are mainly about the history of Sayamaike and waterworks engineering, but they’re presented in a way that never feels boring. There’s also a huge water wall display that looks really impressive.

The whole space feels open and relaxing, so it’s easy to explore without feeling crowded. If you like architecture or just want a quiet spot with an artsy vibe, this place is definitely worth checking out.

Himi Seaside Botanical Garden Seaside Park

Located on Matsudae no Nagahama, a scenic stretch of white sand and green pine trees celebrated in the Manyoshu, this botanical garden showcases a wide variety of plants. Explore areas featuring coastal plants from across Japan, a greenhouse with rare foreign cycads and bottle palms, and a glass tube displaying climbing plants and potted plants.

Toyama
Zoos & Aquariums

11 Nov 2025 See More

There are lots of tropical and subtropical plants inside, and the greenhouse is bright and super photogenic. It feels like stepping into a little jungle.
It’s right by the sea, so the views are gorgeous on a nice day, and you can even see the coastline. There’s also a café inside where you can sit and take a break, which makes it a great place to wander around slowly and relax.
Overall, the environment is clean and laid-back, and it’s a really nice spot for both a walk and photos〜

Atsuta Jingu (Atsuta Shrine)

About 1900 years ago, one of the Three Sacred Treasures (in Japanese mythology, the goddess, Amaterasu-Omikami, conferred on them. They were handed down as the proof of imperial succession), Kusanagi-no-tsurugi (sacred sword) , was dedicated here, which is said to be the beginning of this shrine.

Nagoya
Shrines & Temples

24 Jun 2022 See More

The forest coverage here is impressive. This is the place where one of Japan's Three Sacred Treasures, the Kusanagi Sword, is enshrined. The shrine holds a highly respected status, second only to Ise Jingu.

Inuyama Castle

The Inuyama Castle keep is one of five deemed national treasures in Japan. It’s especially famous for remaining today as the oldest watchtower-style keep in Japan. It’s said it was built in 1537 by Oda Nobuyasu, the father of Oda Nobunaga.

Aichi
Tourist Attractions

24 Jun 2022 See More

This national treasure sits on top of a hill with beautiful views. From the castle keep, you can see all of Inuyama City.

Showa Kinen Park

Grassy fields and water fountains, sports courts, gardens of seasonal flowers and trees to enjoy and pond shore vegetation to be appreciated are dotted throughout this park, roughly the size of 40 Tokyo Domes.

Tachikawa, Hachioji, Machida
Parks & Gardens

24 Jun 2022 See More

This is a really large park. The ginkgo trees, which are the symbolic trees of Tokyo, are lined up neatly and look very impressive.

Rikugien Gardens

Starting in 1695, Rikugien was constructed over 7 years as a Japanese garden of undulating scenery. Designed in the Kaiyushiki style, it features strolling paths around ponds and hills. It is designated by the Japanese government as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty.

Ueno, Nippori
Parks & Gardens

24 Jun 2022 See More

This is one of the rare places in Tokyo where you can see autumn leaves at night. It's truly precious, having been preserved since the Edo period.