Eddie's Reviews Page 2/6

Tucked away in the old streets, Starbucks Coffee Kawagoe Bell Street Store completely overturns the usual modern image of a chain coffee shop. The entire building blends perfectly with the Edo-period kurazukuri townhouse style, with dark wooden roof tiles and naturally draped white Japanese noren curtains. Even the sign has been specially weathered, understated yet full of character.
With coffee in hand, I walked through the corridor and found a lush little Japanese garden hidden in the back. The calm of the traditional old house mingles with the aroma of coffee. During an afternoon stroll through the historic streets, sitting here makes it especially easy to enjoy the comfort of time slowing down.

If you're visiting Yufuin in Kyushu, I highly recommend stopping by Yufuin Floral Village after exploring Lake Kinrin. The moment you enter this little village, you really feel as if you've suddenly been transported to the European countryside.
Both sides of the streets are lined with low stone and wooden buildings with moss-covered roofs, housing lots of fun gift shops and character merchandise. If you happen to visit in the fall, the walkways are decorated overhead with Halloween pumpkins and ghosts, creating a wonderfully festive atmosphere. Although the whole area isn't very large, it has lush green mountains as a backdrop, making every photo look like a scene from a picture book. It's a very relaxing and photogenic place where you can grab a snack while strolling around or find a favorite corner to take some nice photos.

Strolling through the city streets, the Marunouchi Station Building at Tokyo Station is definitely a classic landmark not to be missed for travel photography. This century-old building of red brick and white stone, topped with its iconic elegant domes, forms a striking contrast between old and new with the modern glass-curtain skyscrapers soaring behind it. In the spacious plaza in front of the station, a gentle breeze flutters the Japanese flags hanging on the building, while the bustling travelers and pedestrians add a vivid urban pulse to the scene. Picking up a camera to capture this cityscape, rich in history and modern vitality, is the purest and most authentic street record of a trip to Tokyo.

If you only want to pick one place in Yokohama to hang out and clear your mind, head straight to the observation deck on the 69th floor of Landmark Tower.
A lot of people wait until after dark to buy a ticket and come up for the night view, but I honestly recommend getting here around 4 p.m. to claim a spot.
Afternoon 16:00
When I first came up, it was still very bright, and the entire Yokohama Port was in full view. The sail-shaped hotel below, the giant Ferris wheel at Cosmo World, and the bridge over the sea in the distance looked like delicate little model toys lined up along the waterfront. The view was incredibly clear and relaxing.
Evening 17:15
This was what I thought was the most worthwhile half hour of the whole trip. As the sun began to set, all the steel and glass across the city were bathed in orange-gold light. Then the sky turned a deep blue with a slight purple tint—the Blue Hour—as the streetlights and lights along the canals came on one by one. That transition was even more beautiful than after it became completely dark.
Night 18:30
Once the sky was completely dark, the view below turned into a jewelry box. The Ferris wheel started its light show, with colorful lights reflected on the water. Together with the harbor bridge and the flow of city traffic in the distance, the view really made me want to keep staring out the window.

When you come to downtown Nagoya, you have to check out this super cool landmark, Oasis 21! From a distance, it looks like a huge transparent white spaceship parked in the city center, with the super tall and spectacular Nagoya TV Tower standing beside it.
You can take great photos here from just about any angle. Here are a few highlights I have to share:
Spaceship-Aqua on the rooftop: Take the elevator to the top level, where the floor is actually one big transparent shallow pool! A gentle breeze creates ripples across the water, and if you find the right angle, you can see the entire TV tower reflected in it. It looks incredibly dreamy.
Super cute photo spot: Back on the ground-level plaza, there is a large “@NAGOYA” letter installation on the lawn. You can get both the spaceship and the TV tower in the background, making it the perfect tourist photo.
Great underground shopping area: Right underneath the huge spaceship is actually a sunken shopping mall with air conditioning, lots of anime merchandise stores, capsule toy machines, and dessert shops. It’s super convenient to grab something to eat and rest downstairs when you get tired of walking around.

Step into the Edo period! A day trip to Hida Takayama Old Town in Japan
This time I visited Hida Takayama Old Town in Gifu Prefecture, and I was seriously blown away as soon as I walked in! The entire street is lined with dark wooden old houses, and clear water flows through the small roadside canals. It feels just like stepping into a cartoon or movie set in ancient Japan.
Besides the unique houses, the best part of the old town is all the great places to eat and shop:
Food to enjoy while walking around: There are soy sauce dango grilled until fragrant and slightly charred, with a soft and chewy texture. There are also the famous Hida beef skewers and beef nigiri. The meat is very tender, and the delicious smell fills the street.
Unique souvenirs: The stores have lots of cute “Sarubobo” dolls. I heard they are lucky charms for safety. Their round red appearance is very charming, and they make great gifts for friends.
Traditional long-established stores: There are lots of sake breweries and miso shops that look like they’ve been around for hundreds of years. Large cedar balls hang outside, creating a strong atmosphere of old Japan.
Taking your time strolling around and eating snacks here is very relaxing. You can take a great photo just by standing in front of any wooden window. It’s a fun place with a real sense of history!

The weather today was super nice. The sky was so blue it looked like it had been colored in with markers, with fluffy white clouds floating across it. It was perfect weather for an outing! Today’s destination was Tamamo Park in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, the site of the once-famous Takamatsu Castle.
As soon as I entered the park, the first thing that caught my attention was the vast green moat. Whenever I read about castle defenses in books, I always assumed moats were filled with ordinary fresh water. But after reading the information nearby, I found out that seawater is drawn directly from the Seto Inland Sea into this one, which is very unusual! The water was clean and calm, sparkling in the sunlight, and clearly reflected the lush pine trees and old stone walls along the shore. Looking at the reflections and feeling the cool breeze was so relaxing.
As I slowly followed the path, I came across the coolest-looking structure in the park—the Ushitora Yagura turret. When I stood directly below it and looked up, it was truly impressive! The white walls and layered, upturned roofs stood on a stone base made from enormous blocks fitted together one by one. It looked incredibly solid, and the craftsmanship back then was really remarkable. I immediately took out my phone, crouched down, and snapped a photo looking upward. The sky happened to have a faint orange glow from the setting sun, giving the photo the grand feel of a period drama!
After walking around the park, I found the whole place very quiet and laid-back. I used to feel that history was so distant, but seeing these centuries-old structures and the seawater moat with my own eyes made me realize how cool it is to actually walk through a historic setting. I took so many photos I was happy with today. It was such a fun and rewarding day!

Osaka Castle is really a great place for a walk in spring, especially around the moat. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the entire view becomes so beautiful.

As you slowly walk along the South Outer Moat, you can see a whole row of cherry trees alongside the tall stone walls and the moat. It's very different from the usual city scenery. The pink cherry blossoms against the old castle walls look beautiful from any angle, so it's no wonder the cherry blossom season attracts so many people every year.

Walking by the moat, you can sometimes see petals drifting in the wind and landing on the water, making you want to stop and watch for a little longer. Although there are quite a few people during cherry blossom season, you can still find an angle you like as you slowly walk along the moat.

If you have the chance to visit Osaka in spring, it's really worth making time for a walk around Osaka Castle. You don't necessarily have to rush from one attraction to another. Just strolling under the cherry trees and taking photos already gives you that feeling of being on a trip.

When traveling to Okayama, besides shopping and enjoying the scenery of the old streets, you can also make time to visit a shrine. Kibitsu-jinja Shrine has a very peaceful atmosphere. Compared with bustling tourist attractions, it feels more relaxed here, and once you enter the shrine, you can slow down the pace of your trip for a while.

Japanese shrines always have a special charm. From the torii gates and approach to the traditional architecture, every part has its own distinctive character. Even if you aren't particularly interested in shrine culture, you can still enjoy an atmosphere unlike ordinary streets simply by taking a walk and admiring the architecture.

Not every place on a trip has to be lively. Sometimes walking around a shrine and looking at the surrounding scenery can leave you with a different kind of memory. If you have a chance to visit Okayama, you can also add a shrine to your itinerary and experience the charm of traditional Japanese culture.

When visiting Okayama, the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is well worth walking around. It's different from the usual bustling shopping streets. As you stroll along the Kurashiki River, you can see traditional white buildings, black roof tiles, and willow trees along the riverbank. The entire streetscape has a lot of character.

I really like places like this that preserve the atmosphere of an old town. You don't need to plan anything special. Just walking slowly along the river and taking photos is enough to enjoy the leisurely pace of traveling. There are also many distinctive little shops, cafes, and souvenir stores nearby, where you can browse and discover some interesting little things.

If you have enough time, you can also watch the small boats on the river and admire the old streets from a different perspective. Compared with constantly rushing through an itinerary and visiting many attractions, I think places like this, where you can slow down, actually make it easier to enjoy traveling.

The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter isn't just a photogenic attraction. It also gives you a chance to see what traditional Japanese streets look like. If you're planning a trip to Okayama, I highly recommend setting aside some time to walk around here and slowly appreciate the charm of this town.