wendy's Reviews Page 16/19

If you come to Hakone, you have to explore this atmospheric hot spring street! Stroll along the street and you'll find one hot spring inn, restaurant, and souvenir shop after another. You can eat, browse, and shop as you go, so there's never a dull moment. The hot springs are said to date back to the Nara period, and the area became even more prosperous during the Edo period thanks to the Tokaido Road. When I visited on a weekday, there were fewer tourists than I expected, which made it especially pleasant to explore. It's easy to get there by taking the Odakyu Romancecar to Hakone-Yumoto Station. After exploring, soaking in a hot spring is such a treat!

When I visited Perry Road in Shimoda, Shizuoka, there were hardly any tourists on this weekday. The entire stone-paved path was so quiet that I couldn't help but slow down. This is the historic street where Commodore Perry once walked, lined with rustic Izu stone buildings and willow trees, and filled with a nostalgic Japanese atmosphere.

This is my favorite kind of travel—no rushing from place to place, no noisy crowds, just the breeze, flowing water, and old-town charm. As I walked along, I suddenly felt like I was filming a Japanese period drama.

When I came to Shimoda in Izu, I unexpectedly found a park where it’s easy to keep walking until you don’t want to leave.

Shimoda Park is a well-known spot for viewing hydrangeas. Unfortunately, I didn’t visit during hydrangea season, so I missed the colorful flowers covering the hillsides in June. But that was okay—the park was still very pleasant to stroll through!

As soon as you enter the park, towering trees create a canopy of greenery, and the air is fresh. As you slowly walk along the paths, you’ll come across art sculptures scattered here and there, like a treasure hunt in the forest.

After climbing a little to the observation deck, you’re greeted by a wide-open view of the Shimoda coastline. With the sea breeze blowing and the blue sky and ocean before me, I felt myself slow down completely.

This is one of my favorite parks. You don’t always have to rush around chasing popular attractions. Sometimes, quiet places like this where you can wander at your own pace are the most relaxing.

I recommend visiting in June and adding the Hydrangea Festival to your itinerary. Next time, I’m going to come back during hydrangea season too!

If you come to Shodoshima, the Kankakei Ropeway is definitely worth riding! As the cable car slowly rises, the blue sky, sea, gorge, and forest gradually unfold before you. The view is incredibly expansive, so it’s no wonder this is considered one of Shodoshima’s most iconic sights.

The shop by the ropeway is also fun to browse, with all kinds of souvenirs and hot food. There are seats nearby where you can sit down and take your time eating. The most relaxing part was meeting an adorable cat leisurely sunbathing, like the little master of the mountain.

At the ticket counter, I also found a stamp booklet for the “Slowpoke’s Kagawa Journey.” I couldn’t resist picking one up and collecting the special stamps. It suddenly gave me a little mission during the trip, which was surprisingly fun.

But my favorite place was the Takanashi Observatory at the summit! Even during the changing of the seasons, the Seto Inland Sea was so vast that it instantly lifted my spirits. Feeling the mountain breeze while looking out at the ocean really made me think, “I’m so glad I came.”

As the name suggests, this is a hill surrounded by olive trees. Following the winding path, the biggest eye-catcher is the windmill—a real-life setting from Kiki's Delivery Service!

Almost every visitor rents a broom, holds it between their legs, bends their knees, and jumps, trying to capture that “flying witch” look. The whole place is basically one giant flying photo studio.

Luckily, the weather was excellent that day, and we took postcard-like photos. There is also an exquisite statue of Athena in the park, while small yellow flowers and dandelion-like blooms cover the ground beneath the olive trees. In the sunlight, the scenery has a beautiful Mediterranean feel.

Since it was a three-day weekend in Japan, most visitors were Japanese, followed by Taiwanese, with a few Korean tourists as well. When no one was talking, it was honestly hard to tell which country anyone was from.

We took a high-speed ferry all the way to Shodoshima for the dreamy “Angel Road” and even planned an overnight stay. It definitely didn't disappoint!

The most unique thing about this place is that **you can only walk across the sandbar to the island in the middle at low tide**. At high tide, you can only admire it from afar. We happened to arrive at high tide, so although we couldn't walk on Angel Road, we were unexpectedly treated to a gorgeous sunset. The orange-red sky reflected on the water, and it was incredibly romantic.

Staying at the Shodoshima International Hotel is an added bonus. You can enjoy the sunrise and sunset over Angel Road right from your room without having to deal with the crowds.

Sometimes that's just how traveling goes. Although the tide wasn't ideal, we got to see the most beautiful sunset.

**We didn't get to walk Angel Road, but an angel gave us a sunset instead.

When visiting the remote mountains of Tokushima, Shikoku, don't miss the rustic Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi Bridge! The vine bridges suspended over the gorge sway slightly as you walk, with a mountain stream directly below your feet. It's quite a thrill, so you'll definitely need some courage.

This time, we visited both Iya no Kazurabashi and Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi. The scenery and experience were actually very similar. However, the former is easier to access and much more crowded. You often have to wait in line, and people have to walk shoulder to shoulder across the bridge, making it really hard to take good photos.

In contrast, Oku-Iya Niju Kazurabashi is in a more remote location, so there are far fewer visitors. You can take your time walking and taking photos, and you also get to experience both the Male Bridge and Female Bridge!

If you can work out the transportation, I'd recommend this place instead. It feels much more secluded, and you can enjoy the experience more fully!

Oboke and Koboke—the names sound like a warning: “Taking big steps is dangerous, and taking small steps is dangerous too!” But once I got there, I realized the real danger was that the scenery was so unfairly beautiful that I couldn’t stop taking photos! The Yoshino River cuts through the Shikoku Mountains, carving out spectacular rock formations, sheer cliffs, and Senjojiki. The clear water rushes through the canyon and sparkles beautifully in the sunlight. The weather was perfect that day. Besides enjoying the canyon scenery, you can also take a sightseeing boat to experience the rapids up close. This secluded part of Shikoku truly lives up to its reputation!

Take the Awagin Bizan Ropeway for an easy ride up to the mountaintop park, with a leisurely view of Tokushima along the way. There weren't many people in the afternoon, and the weather was cool. Sitting on the mountain, enjoying the breeze and looking out over the city was unexpectedly relaxing〜

Unfortunately, the weather wasn't cooperating that day, and there were quite a few clouds and some fog, so the Naruto Bridge I'd been hoping to see will have to wait until next time. But looking at it another way, fewer crowds and a more laid-back atmosphere gave this ropeway trip a little extra romance.

If you're in downtown Tokushima, consider taking a walk around Mount Bizan. Spending a little time for a change of scenery is definitely worth it!

Tokushima Family Land may not be flashy, but it was surprisingly fun! Admission is free, and there’s just the right variety of rides. You can choose what you want to ride, and kids who enjoy thrills can get an unlimited ride pass, which is a great deal.

There’s also a food court with a strong Showa-era vibe, offering affordable and convenient dining options. It’s not very crowded even on weekends, so you won’t have to wait in endless lines. The park isn’t very big and is easy to walk around, making it a great place for kids to burn off some energy. It may not be extravagant, but the value is really good!