Ivy Lee's Reviews

Sumida Heritage Museum

Sumida Ward, a key hub in the Sumida River basin since ancient times and a flourishing center of commoner culture during the Edo period, is now known for the TOKYO SKYTREE. The Sumida Heritage Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting materials related to the history, traditions, and local culture of Sumida Ward.

• Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree
• Museums

Niu Kanshobu Shrine (Niukanshobu Jinja)

A historic shrine whose three main sanctuary buildings are registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It began in 816, when Kobo Daishi, Kukai, enshrined two deities: Niutsuhime (Niutsuhime) and Takanomiko (Takanomiko). Since then, it has protected the surrounding area as the gateway to pilgrimages to Mount Koya, weaving a long history. It is the 11th pilgrimage temple in Wakayama on the Shinto and Buddhist Sacred Sites Pilgrimage, and is a classic spot for locals to visit for Hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the New Year).

• Wakayama
• Shrines & Temples

Former Muroran Station Building

Built in 1912, this station building is the oldest wooden station structure in Hokkaido. It stands as a symbol of Muroran’s history as a former hub for coal transport. The building served as the third Muroran Station building until 1997, and was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 1999. Its architectural style features a hipped roof sloping on all four sides, with a roofline and white exterior walls that retain the look of Western-style architecture from the Meiji era.

• Lake Toya and Noboribetsu
• Stations & Roadside Stations & Tourist Information Centers

Sandan-kyo

Designated as a national Special Place of Scenic Beauty, Sandan-kyo is known as a remarkable secluded site in Western Japan. The entire ravine measures about 16 kilometers.

• Hiroshima
• Nature Spots

Oirase Stream

Oirase Stream, a renowned tourist attraction awarded two stars in the Michelin Green Guide, stretches approximately 14 kilometers from the shores of Lake Towada at Nenokuchi to Yakeyama. It's a national Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument, celebrated for its waterfalls, clear streams, giant rocks, and steep cliffs.

• Aomori
• Nature Spots

Flower Land Kamifurano

This tourist farm, spread across 247 acres of rolling hills, allows visitors to enjoy a variety of colorful seasonal flowers. The flower fields on the slope showcase a range of flowers, starting with cherry blossoms in spring.

• Furano and Biei
• Tourist Attractions

Shikisai-no-Oka

Shikisai-no-Oka is a cherished flower park destination seated in the scenic hills of Biei, Hokkaido. From spring to autumn, dozens of flower varieties blossom vividly, blanketing the hillsides with a brocade of hues. Peak season between June and September brings a natural stripe of colors, with blooming lavender, salvia, marigold, and cockscomb lined up as if almost painted in by a brush.

• Furano and Biei
• Nature Spots

British Hills

Located 1,000 meters above sea level in the Hatoriko Highlands, British Hills is a sprawling complex that faithfully recreates the atmosphere of a medieval English town. Spread across 73,000 tsubo (about 240,000 m²), the grounds feature a grand manor house-modeled after the estates of medieval lords-alongside structures such as a recreated medieval castle block and guesthouses designed in the style of English cottages. From the buildings to the signboards and even the road signs, every detail has been crafted to replicate an authentic British townscape, offering visitors a deeply immersive experience of British culture.

• Fukushima
• Tourist Attractions

Aeon Lake Town

Just about an hour by train from Tokyo, this massive shopping center is located right in front of Koshigaya Lake Town Station.

• Saitama
• Commercial Buildings