Nabekanmuriyama Park
This park sits atop Mt. Nabekanmuri in Nagasaki’s Minamiyamate district. Located about a 10-minute walk from Glover Garden’s second gate, the area has long been affectionately known as “Nabekaburi-yama,” or “inverted pot mountain,” for its rounded, pot-like shape, embraced by lush greenery.
I actually prefer this place over Mt. Inasa. It's less crowded and the view feels much more relaxing.
Kamogawa Sea World
Located in Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture, Kamogawa Sea World is a marine-themed park that provides an encounter with the world of the sea. It houses about 11,000 marine animals and fish of approximately 800 species. The park offers an opportunity to learn about the warmth of life and the importance of the environment that surrounds life, through ecological exhibitions that reproduce the natural environment and performances.
The dolphin show was super soothing, and once the music started, the whole vibe just took off.
Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel
With its curving design inspired by white waves, this striking hotel stands out in Kobe’s bay area. Located on Kobe Port’s Naka Pier, it is surrounded by the sea on three sides, offering four distinct views to the east, west, south, and north.
The breakfast buffet has tons of options and everything tastes great. After eating, you can take a walk by the port to digest. It's also close to the Umie mall and Chinatown, so shopping is super convenient!
SAN-A Urasoe West Coast PARCO CITY
Jointly operated by PARCO, which runs fashion buildings across Japan, and SAN-A, a supermarket chain in Okinawa, SAN-A Urasoe West Coast PARCO CITY is housed in a six-story building, with its 1st to 3rd floors serving as a commercial area. Boasting 78,000 square meters of retail space, it stands as one of the largest shopping facilities in the Okinawa region.
Perfect spot for the whole family! You can shop, eat, and enjoy the views all in one place. They have everything for kids, too, so you can easily spend a whole day here.
Aoshima Shrine
Aoshima is a small island of 1.5km in circumference, which is connected with a 150m-long bridge to the main island. The whole island is Aoshima Shrine’s ground. As a holy island, no one was allowed to visit here. The whole premises are covered with areca trees and other sub-tropical plants in a very Miyazaki-like tropical scenery.
The scenery around the shrine, with its emerald-green sea and towering rocks, creates a beautiful contrast with the shrine's simple elegance. It feels peaceful and sacred.
Noboribetsu Onsen
A famous hot spring located in the "Iburi" region in south-west Hokkaido. It has been known since the Edo period as an extremely rare place with many different types of springs in one hot spring. Many of the springs gush from all over the place, many of them from Jigokudani, which was created by volcanic activity some 10,000 years ago, and boast an abundance of 10,000 tonnes of hot water per day, which can be enjoyed in a variety of bathtubs and tubs elaborately designed by ryokans and hotels.
There are lots of hot spring hotels in Noboribetsu Onsen, and you can also shop for souvenirs and enjoy local food along the hot spring street. There are several scenic spots nearby, like Jigokudani and Oyunuma, all connected by walking paths. It's a great place to stroll around and explore!
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
This red brick warehouse was a world-renowned state-of-the-art Japanese warehouse from the Meiji era into the Taisho era. Presently, its appearance has been maintained, and the 2-building warehouse contains shops, restaurants, and a multipurpose hall, making it a culture and shopping spot.
I absolutely love places with a view of the ocean! I'm not really into souvenirs, but there are plenty of restaurants and cafes here where you can grab a bite or just relax. I recommend coming in the afternoon and staying until evening—you'll get to enjoy both the daytime and nighttime vibes!
Fuchu City’s Kyodo-no-Mori Museum
The main section of this museum focuses on the history, folklore, and nature of Fuchu City, located to the west of Tokyo, and also features a planetarium. The museum’s premises spans about 140,000㎡, and it holds not only the main museum, but also old farmhouses and townhouses, as well as historic buildings.
I really like places like this that have hands-on exhibits and lots of plum trees, almost like a park. After touring the museum, you can walk around outside and take photos. I suggest planning to spend half an afternoon here!
Atomic Bomb Dome (Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park)
The Atomic Bomb Dome, in its original design, was completed as the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotional Hall, by Czech architect Jan Letzel on April 5th, 1915. However, as it stood just 160 meters from the epicenter of the atomic bomb, it suffered severe damage from the blast. With a gutted steel frame and damaged exterior, its known colloquially as the Atomic Bomb Dome, a building that stands in testament to the tragic history unfolded here.
I visited here with my family and found it very meaningful from a historical perspective. Seeing these atomic bomb buildings in person really brings history—usually just read about in books—to life. War is truly heartbreaking. I sincerely hope the world never experiences war again.
The National Art Center, Tokyo
This museum has no art collection of its own, instead it hosts various exhibitions featuring art from both within Japan and from abroad.
If you love art and culture, I highly recommend visiting. Since they don't have their own collection, you get to see a wide variety of exhibitions. If you get tired from walking around, you can relax with a cup of coffee and enjoy some downtime!