楊雅雯's Reviews Page 4/17

Okinawa Fruits Land is a great theme park to include as a stop when visiting Nago City! The park combines places to play, eat, and stay, and is filled with a tropical atmosphere. You can learn about fruits and plants unique to Okinawa, and there are plenty of fun interactive experiences along the way that kids will probably enjoy.

The park isn't very large, so you can spend about half a day leisurely exploring and taking photos. Of course, I was most excited about the various Okinawan fruits and souvenirs. Eating while playing really makes it feel like a vacation. If you're visiting Nago, you can stop by and have a look〜

This time I visited the permanent exhibition, where I learned about Okinawa's geography, history, and culture all at once. The exhibition is very extensive, and the museum has a large collection, making it a great place to slow down and take everything in. Besides the exhibits, I also really liked the building itself. The gray concrete exterior brings to mind the limestone along Okinawa's coast and the outer walls of traditional homes, while also conveying a sense of solemn history. The museum uses a distinctive perforated design to let in natural light, so even though it's a concrete space, the rest areas are still bright and comfortable. The entire building seems to incorporate Okinawa's nature, culture, and memories of peace. It's solemn yet beautiful and well worth a visit.

The museum isn't very large, but it has a charm all its own. The indoor galleries and outdoor spaces are beautifully designed, and the contemporary artwork is complemented by the surrounding greenery and natural light. Walking through it feels like moving through a series of three-dimensional paintings. There are some contemporary art group exhibitions and galleries here. The works are interesting and make you want to take your time looking at and experiencing them.

When I visited on a weekday, there were surprisingly few visitors. It almost felt like I had the whole museum to myself! Without crowds rushing around, I could leisurely appreciate each work. This kind of quiet time with art was really relaxing.

It's also a great place for photos. Every corner and every play of light feels thoughtfully designed. The café next door is another plus. After seeing the exhibitions, you can sit down for something to eat and a cup of coffee, enjoying the food and the artistic atmosphere. You could easily spend an entire afternoon relaxing here.

If you like art or photography, or just want a quiet place with a nice atmosphere, I think Nanjo Art Museum is well worth a visit.

This street was redeveloped from ruins after the war. Because it quickly regained its prosperity, it became known as the “Miracle Mile.” Today, around 600 shops line the street, offering everything from souvenirs and cosmetics to duty-free stores, restaurants, and izakayas. It's basically a shopping paradise for tourists.

This time, my hotel was right on Kokusai-dori Shopping Street, which was incredibly convenient! Whenever I got tired from shopping, I could go straight back to the hotel to drop off my purchases, then head out and keep shopping.

The public market is also in the area, where you can buy fresh produce and prepared foods and sample local Okinawan cuisine. At night, you can also enjoy traditional music and dance, so there's never a dull moment walking around.

However, prices on Kokusai-dori are definitely geared toward tourists, and the same items can sometimes be cheaper elsewhere. Still, the selection is extremely concentrated, making it really efficient if you want to buy all your souvenirs at once.

I stayed for 3 full nights this time, shopping from day to night and eating from day to night too.

Arashiyama Observation Deck in Nago is a relatively lesser-known attraction that feels almost forgotten. The observation deck itself looks a little old and nearly abandoned, but once you go up, the view completely changes your impression!

When the weather is good, you can see the calm Haneji Inland Sea, Yagaji Island, and even Kouri Island in the distance. The blue sky against the deep blue sea looks beautiful no matter how you photograph it.

What surprised me most was that the restroom was cleaner than expected. If you're already planning to visit Kouri Island or northern Nago, this is a good place to stop by along the way. There are few people, the scenery is beautiful, and it's very relaxing to quietly enjoy the ocean views of Okinawa!

After traveling all the way to the northernmost part of Okinawa, we finally arrived at Cape Hedo! Looking out from the cliffs, the deep blue sea and magnificent rocky coastline were so beautiful that I couldn't stop taking photos.

The weather was excellent on the day we visited. The sky was deep blue, the sun was bright, and the ocean sparkled in the sunlight. The scenery didn't disappoint at all. Standing at the northernmost point with the sea breeze blowing and the endless ocean before me, I really felt a sense of accomplishment, like, “I've made it all the way to the northernmost part of Okinawa!”

If you like nature, ocean views, and road trips, Cape Hedo is well worth adding to your itinerary. When the weather is good, the scenery here is incredibly beautiful, and you won't want to leave.

I really recommend visiting Okinawa World (Gyokusendo Cave) when you come to Okinawa! It's not just a limestone cave. The entire park brings together Okinawa's natural scenery, traditional culture, and distinctive performances, making it a great place to spend half a day exploring at a leisurely pace.

Gyokusendo Cave impressed me the most. As you walk deeper into the underground cave and see all the unusual and magnificent stalactites, you can't help but keep taking photos. It's also very cool inside, so you don't have to worry about getting too hot in the summer!

I also highly recommend seeing the taiko drum show. It features dragon and lion dances along with exciting traditional performances. It's about 30 minutes long, but the pace is fast, and the whole show is very entertaining.

The park also has a reptile house, restaurants, snacks, and souvenir shops. There's plenty to see, eat, and buy, and 3–4 hours is just right.

The ground inside Gyokusendo Cave can be quite wet and slippery, so remember to wear non-slip shoes for safety. If you haven't been here yet while visiting Okinawa, it's definitely worth adding to your itinerary!

When traveling to Okinawa, the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is definitely one of my must-visit spots! The entire park is unbelievably huge, so I recommend setting aside at least half a day to walk around and take your time without rushing through your itinerary.

As soon as you enter the aquarium, the enormous tank is the most breathtaking sight! Huge whale sharks and manta rays glide leisurely right in front of you, and you can't help but stop in your tracks. You could spend ages just standing in front of the glass watching them swim. Photos really can't capture the awe of being surrounded by such enormous sea creatures.

The aquarium also has a wide variety of exhibits. It's like stepping into a mysterious blue world, with every tank serving as a little stage and the fish as the stars.

There are also sea turtles and dolphin shows outside. The dolphins are so cute when they jump and spin, and the atmosphere is very lively! When the weather is nice, feeling the ocean breeze and looking at the blue sky and sea is incredibly relaxing.

Finally, at the gift shop, every item was calling out to me: “Buy me! Buy me! You'll regret it if you don't!”

Even though I knew it was a trap, I still pulled out my wallet without putting up any resistance... In the end, Japanese souvenirs always get me.

The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium isn't just about looking at fish. It feels more like a journey where you encounter the ocean. If you're visiting Okinawa, it's truly worth setting aside a day to fully experience this blue world!

When you're in Shimizu, Shizuoka, how could you miss Maruko's hometown!

For a 1,200 JPY admission fee, you can step into Chibi Maruko-chan Land and feel like you've instantly traveled back to childhood. The students of Class 3-4 are all lined up—Maruko, Tama-chan, Hanawa, Maruo... Every character feels as familiar as an old classmate.

The museum also has original manga artwork, anime scripts, and an introduction to Momoko Sakura's life. Looking at the pencil drafts and revision marks, I realized that those seemingly ordinary childhood moments were all precious memories from the creator's life.

The funniest part is the Sakura family—Grandpa Tomozou, Maruko's mom and dad. Every one of them makes you think, "This is exactly like my family!"

There are no thrilling rides here, but it's filled with childhood memories. My biggest takeaway after walking around was—turns out we were all Maruko once!

When visiting Shizuoka, you can't miss Sumpu Castle Park! This is where Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo shogunate, lived in his later years. Although the castle no longer stands and the former Sumpu Castle was destroyed by fire long ago, what remains is a lush public park.

The park has a bronze statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu and a mandarin orange tree said to have been planted by Ieyasu himself. Walking along the tree-lined paths, it's hard to imagine that this was once the center of power.

The weather was also great that day, and everything looked good in photos with the sunlight. Although we didn't get to see the most spectacular flower season, we unexpectedly enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the old castle grounds.