金己田's Reviews Page 4/15

Ginza-Dori street

Ginza-Dori street is one of Japan's most prestigious shopping districts with a sense of history and elegance. It is lined with department stores and high-end brand stores, rivaling New York's Fifth Avenue and London's Oxford Street.

• Ginza, Yurakucho
• Famous Places

Ginza is a symbol of Tokyo’s prosperity, and just about every major brand has a flagship store here. I remember seeing online a while ago that Ginza is the ultimate destination for shopping in Tokyo, and that really feels true.

During the day, the streets have a grand and elegant atmosphere. But at night, standing at the Ginza 4-chome intersection, you feel not only its history, but also a kind of glamour that belongs uniquely to Tokyo.

Ueno Park

Ueno Park, officially known as "Ueno Onshi Park," is located in Taito Ward, Tokyo. Managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Construction Bureau, the park spans an impressive area of 530,000 square meters and has a rich history.

• Ueno, Nippori
• Parks & Gardens

Ueno Park is one of Tokyo’s best-known cherry blossom spots, but I didn’t realize until I got there just how lively the hanami atmosphere would be.
Under the fully blooming cherry trees, people were everywhere—sitting on the ground, drinking, and hanging out. Around us were the sounds of food stalls and stage performances, and it honestly felt like a festival. It really showed me how passionate Japanese people are about cherry blossom viewing.
If you’re coming to Tokyo for cherry blossoms with a group of friends and want to drink, celebrate, and experience the energetic hanami culture, this would definitely be my top pick.

Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, Akabeko

JR Ban-etsusai Line, JR Tadami Line and Aizu Railway all converge at Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, a center in Aizu Region. Its building looks like a castle and is selected as one of the Top 100 stations of the Tohoku District. At the east entrance of the station, a big Akabeko greets everyone who visits Aizu, which is a popular photo spot.

• Fukushima
• Tourist Attractions

I’d always known that Fukushima’s mascot is the red cow, but I didn’t expect to walk out of Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and actually be greeted by one right away!
All I can say is that this city feels completely taken over by red cows. You see them everywhere. Even the sightseeing loop bus had a red cow design. I got so influenced by it that when I saw a capsule toy machine in Nanukamachi, I couldn’t resist getting a red cow one as a souvenir.

Yakimono Sanpo-michi

Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture has long been known as an area where the ceramics industry has flourished. Yakimono Sanpo-michi is a popular walking area where visitors can experience the history and culture of Tokoname ware, which has long been counted among Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns. Centered around a ceramics district that thrived most in the early Showa period, the area offers scenery distinctive to a pottery town, including brick chimneys, a climbing kiln, workshops with black walls, and retaining walls made with clay pipes and shochu bottles.

• Aichi
• Tourist Attractions

Tokoname is a craft town where you can encounter maneki-neko lucky cats. As a former cat owner, it had been on my must-visit list for a while. This time, I stopped by in the afternoon before taking a late flight home.

After arriving, I recommend first picking up a map at the tourist information center. My first stop was the giant lucky cat. As I continued exploring, I found the area even quieter than I expected. There were none of the crowded tourist scenes you get in big cities—just old chimneys, historic kilns, and workshops along the way. The pace felt incredibly relaxing.

If you’re looking for somewhere peaceful and distinctive to wander around before heading home, Tokoname is absolutely a perfect choice.

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower was born in 1958. When it was built, Tokyo Tower proudly stood out as the tallest steel tower in the world. At a height of 33 meters, it was taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is located in Minato Ward in the center of Tokyo. Take in sweeping views of the city from the observation deck. Currently under renovation, it is always changing.

• Shimbashi, Toranomon, Tokyo Tower, Hamamatsucho
• Observatories

It’s not my first time in Tokyo, but every time I see Tokyo Tower, my heart still skips a beat.
Someone once asked me why I like Tokyo Tower so much. Maybe it’s the way it stands, or maybe it’s its glow. To me, this orange-red tower is more than just a tourist spot—it’s the symbol of Tokyo.

Oishi Park

Located on the shore of Lake Kawaguchi in the Oishi district of Yamanashi Prefecture, this scenic spot offers panoramic views of Mount Fuji across the lake. The park, with its photogenic landscapes, attracts many tourists.

• Yamanashi
• Parks & Gardens

Oishi Park is pretty much one of the places everyone visits when they come to Lake Kawaguchi. I went in winter, so I didn’t get to see the famous flower fields with Mount Fuji in the same view. There were also a lot of tour groups there, which made the whole park feel a bit crowded and mixed.

But if you walk a little farther to the playground area, it gets much quieter. Sitting there, eating some bread, and looking at Mount Fuji in front of me still felt worthwhile.

If you come during flower season, this place is definitely worth a visit. But if you come at the wrong time, you might want to think twice.

Ishiyamadera Temple

This is the head temple of the Shingon school on the bank of the Seta River, which flows from Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. There are strange rocks erected all over the precincts, including the large rock towering in front of the Hondo (main shrine).

• Shiga
• Shrines & Temples

I visited Ishiyamadera Temple on a cloudy day after the rain. There were no cherry blossoms or fall colors at the time, and not many worshippers either, which made walking along the approach especially atmospheric.

The temple is built along the mountainside, and the view of the main hall set among the massive rocks feels both harmonious and almost sculpted by nature. Writing in a setting like this would surely inspire even more creativity!

Tsuetate Onsen

Tsuetate Onsen, nestled along the Tsuetate River in Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture, is known as Kyushu's inner parlor. Its history dates back 1,800 years, with legends tracing its origin to being the first bath for the child who would become Emperor Ojin. The waters here are a mix of weak alkaline simple springs and chloride springs. They are also rich in metasilicic acid, which enhances the therapeutic effects of the hot springs, leaving the skin smooth and moisturized after bathing.

• Kumamoto
• Hot Springs & Hot Spring Resorts

If I hadn’t received a stay voucher from Hizenya, I probably still wouldn’t know about Tsuetate Onsen. Tucked away in a valley on the border of Kumamoto and Oita, it feels like a hidden world of its own compared with nearby, better-known Kurokawa Onsen.

While exploring the hot spring town, I was warmly greeted by locals, which really gave me a sense of the heartfelt charm you only find in rural Japan. There wasn’t even a hint of commercialism on the streets. Spending a night here felt like pure peace and tranquility. If you’re looking for a slow-paced hot spring getaway, Tsuetate Onsen is definitely the right choice!

Nakatanido

The lively shout of "Haiyo!" kicks off the action, followed by the rhythmic "pachi, pachi!" of pounding mochi echoing through the air. As the pace intensifies dramatically, the crowd erupts into cheers. Famous for its lightning-fast mochi pounding performances, Nakatanido is not just putting on a show-it's showcasing a traditional technique from the owner's hometown of Kamikitayama Village in Nara Prefecture, which produces exceptionally soft and chewy mochi.

• Nara
• Sweets Shop & Desserts Shop

Even in the rain, there were still quite a few tourists gathered outside the shop to watch Nakatanido’s high-speed mochi pounding. I was drawn in by the lively shouts too and went over to take a look.

The whole process was really fun and felt almost like being at a festival. In the end, I bought one to try. It was still warm and freshly made, and the soybean flour aroma spread the moment I took a bite. The soft, pillowy texture was absolutely memorable.

A&W Naha Kanagusuku Store

The first Okinawa restaurant was opened in 1963, before Okinawa was returned to Japan, and today there are more than 20 fast food restaurants in Okinawa Prefecture, all originating from the United States.

• Naha, Shuri, Itoman, Nanjo
• Light Meals

It had been a while since I last came to Okinawa, so my first meal was A&W. It’s an Okinawa-only fast food chain, and their root beer is a must-order! It tastes completely different from Taiwan’s sarsaparilla, and if you dine in, you can get free refills. It’s almost magical—I kept drinking cup after cup. This is the taste of Okinawa I’ve been missing.