Holly's Reviews Page 7/11

JR Kanazawa Station is a major transportation hub for traveling throughout the Hokuriku region, as well as the main transfer point for sightseeing around Kanazawa. The side with the Tsuzumimon Gate is the East Exit/Kenrokuen Exit. Most buses to city attractions such as Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, and the Higashi Chaya District depart from this side.
The other side is the West Exit/Kanazawa Port Exit, which does not have the Tsuzumimon Gate. Many highway buses to Shirakawa-go, Takayama, Nagoya, and other destinations depart from this side, so be sure to check whether you are at the East or West Exit before boarding. Although the two exits are connected by a straight passage, it is quite long and takes a fair amount of time to walk.
The Kanazawa Station Tourist Information Center inside the station is also very useful. It is near the Shinkansen ticket gates, and you can pick up sightseeing information for Kanazawa and other parts of Ishikawa Prefecture, as well as purchase a one-day bus pass for Kanazawa. The center also offers services such as luggage delivery to your accommodations and free rentals of umbrellas, rain boots, and wheelchairs.
There are also station-exclusive capsule toys, and a mailbox at the West Exit has a very local-looking doll on top. At first glance, I thought it looked a little creepy, but the longer I looked at it, the more oddly distinctive it seemed.

Omicho Market is well worth adding to your Kanazawa itinerary. The first floor is the liveliest part of the market, with fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, prepared foods, and various local Kanazawa products all concentrated there. The Omicho Ichibakan building also has a basement level and a second-floor dining area where you can buy daily necessities, eat, or take a short break.
If your main goal is to explore the market, I recommend coming in the morning. Although this isn't a traditional morning market that only operates early in the day, many fresh fish shops start packing up in the afternoon, so there will be far fewer options if you arrive too late. Some shops also have shorter hours on Sundays and national holidays, so if you want to see the entire market, it's best not to come too late.
The first floor isn't just seafood; there are also many fruit shops. It's great for travelers who can't conveniently buy a whole box of fruit, since you can choose a portion to eat on the spot. The seafood shops still retain much of the feel of a traditional market. Most products are intended to be taken home and cooked, but some large fish shops also offer freshly grilled seafood that you can eat in the seating areas they provide.
If you're traveling with seniors, children, or a larger group, I would recommend going straight to the second floor to find a restaurant. Seating at some of the popular seafood rice bowl places on the first floor can be cramped, while restaurants in the second-floor dining area usually have more space and make it easier to find seating for groups. They also offer a wider variety of dishes. For example, the restaurant where I ate on the second floor had a kids' meal, making it a more child-friendly option.
Overall, Omicho Market clearly retains the feeling of being “Kanazawa's kitchen.” Although it's also a famous local tourist destination, it still feels very local and not overly touristy. The fruit and vegetable shops, fresh fish shops, food shops, household goods, and other non-seafood products actually give the first-floor market even more character.

If you're coming with luggage, I'd recommend storing it before exploring. There are several coin lockers around Atami Station, as well as staffed luggage storage services. I left mine at ATAMIX before walking around the shopping streets. Otherwise, with the crowds and stopping to browse the shops, dragging luggage around would be really tiring.
The shopping streets in front of the station, Heiwa Street and the neighboring Nakamise Shopping Street, are packed with stores, but their biggest feature is the huge amount of food. In addition to Atami's signature onsen manju and dried fish, as well as Atami Pudding, which has practically become synonymous with the city, there are also dessert shops that have become popular in recent years. Still, Atami Pudding remains the most popular dessert.
I originally wanted to try Atami Pudding too, but gave up as soon as I saw the line. I had more plans afterward and didn't want to spend too much time waiting. As I walked around, I noticed that it wasn't just the pudding—many famous shops can have long lines during peak hours, so I canceled my plan to eat here.
Overall, Atami Heiwa Street Shopping District has the lively atmosphere of a hot spring tourist destination, with long-established shops, souvenirs, and modern desserts all mixed together. It's quite a good place to buy souvenirs, so I'd recommend stopping here for some final shopping before leaving Atami.

At first, I actually only came to Kanazawa FORUS to buy shoes. The sole of my shoe suddenly came unglued during my trip, and if I didn't replace them, I probably wouldn't be able to keep walking for the rest of my itinerary. I asked some experienced travelers where they recommended buying shoes, and they mainly suggested this place because it had lots of styles at reasonable prices. That's why I came here. I never expected that what was supposed to be just an emergency stop would turn out to be such a surprisingly great place to shop.
First, I definitely have to praise the staff at ABC-MART. I have fairly large feet, so women's sizes aren't easy to find. A staff member told me that certain symbols on the labels of women's shoes indicate styles that come in larger sizes, so I could focus on those first. I ended up finding a pair that fit me really well. I relied on them for the rest of the trip, and they didn't rub my feet at all. They saved my itinerary.
After buying the shoes, I originally just wanted to find something to eat, but when I looked at the floor guide, I discovered that A Happy Pancake, which was very popular and always hard to book at the time, also had a location here. I could even be seated right away without a reservation, so I really felt lucky. Unfortunately, it's closed now, so there's one less place where you can easily enjoy A Happy Pancake.
The truly dangerous part was realizing after buying my shoes that you can't just casually browse this building. Besides the Pokémon Center on the 5th floor, there's also a large capsule toy and Ichiban Kuji area nearby, along with stores like MUJI, LOFT, JINS, and Sanrio. On other floors, you'll also come across familiar brands such as UNIQLO, KIDDY LAND, and L'OCCITANE.
I almost couldn't tear myself away from the capsule toy area next to the Pokémon Center. Then I went downstairs and saw LUSH, so of course I had to go in and restock my favorite shampoo bar. LUSH also offers tax-free shopping. Finally, there was a Starbucks on the first floor, but they didn't have the limited-edition Frappuccino I wanted at the time, so I managed to protect the last bit of money in my wallet.
Kanazawa FORUS is right next to Kanazawa Station, so it's very convenient to get to, and it has a fairly complete selection of brands. I only wanted to buy a pair of shoes in an emergency, but I ended up going from shoes and pancakes to Pokémon, capsule toys, and LUSH. This place nearly drained my wallet dry. It's kind of dangerous.

AEON MALL Okayama is really huge. If there are specific brands you want to visit, I recommend checking the floor and location before going in, or you can easily wear yourself out walking around inside. But its size also has advantages: the selection of brands is very comprehensive. You can shop at brands familiar to Taiwanese travelers, such as DAISO, 3COINS, JINS, and MUJI, all in one place. I especially thought the MUJI here was very large.
Compared with running around different areas of Osaka or Tokyo for different brands, here you can get almost all your household goods, clothing, glasses, drugstore items, and souvenirs in one place. It’s a great stop for getting all your shopping done at once. Another especially traveler-friendly feature is that many specialty stores offer tax-free shopping, and the official website lists which stores provide it. There’s no need to check each brand’s website, which saves a lot of trouble. Definitely a plus.
For the best shopping order, I also recommend visiting the individual stores first and then shopping at the supermarket on the first floor last. The supermarket stays open until 23:00, much later than the other stores in the mall, which close at 21:00. Besides the timing, if you buy a lot of food at the supermarket first, carrying it all around while shopping can be pretty tiring.
Discounts on prepared foods starting in the evening are also very popular. When I went close to 8:00 p.m., there was still food available, but many popular items were already gone. Since the supermarket itself is large enough, it usually won’t be completely cleaned out, but if there’s something in particular you want to eat, don’t wait too late.
Also, after arriving in Okayama on Tigerair Taiwan and getting into the city, many tourist attractions are already about to close, so AEON MALL is actually a great option at that time. You can also use it as a one-stop shopping destination on your last day. For me, AEON MALL Okayama’s biggest advantage is being able to buy everything in one place, with a comprehensive selection of brands and a supermarket that stays open later. The shopping convenience is even better than in many major cities.

When I visited Kyoto before the pandemic, I happened to wander near the SOU・SOU Kyoto store. It wasn't open yet, but the brightly colored, distinctive patterns in the window made my friend and me stop and look for a long time. I later learned that SOU・SOU is one of Kyoto's most iconic design brands.
This time, I mainly came to restock on their “tabi socks,” or split-toe socks. I especially recommend them for women with larger feet—not because the women's socks come in especially large sizes, but because their men's socks are just as colorful as the women's, with lots of patterns to choose from. So even if you need men's sizes, you aren't limited to black, gray, and blue. They're also made in Japan, aren't as expensive as you might expect, and have a split-toe design. After buying a pair myself, I became a loyal customer.
Another unique thing about SOU・SOU is that different stores carry different items. When I visited the Tokyo location before, I searched the men's section for a long time but couldn't find any women's clothing. I thought it had sold out, but when I finally asked a staff member, I learned that the women's store was across the street, not where I was. Kyoto has a similar setup. The stores are concentrated in the same area, but clothing, tabi, and different collections are sold separately. So if you can't find what you want, the quickest thing to do is ask a staff member. It may not actually be out of stock—you may just be in the wrong store.
There was also a funny little incident this time. When I was passing through the area the next day, some international travelers suddenly stopped me to ask for directions. I was wondering what to do because my English isn't very good, but it turned out they were looking for SOU・SOU. I immediately realized, I know this one! I could open the map without a translation app and take them to an easy-to-recognize intersection so they could walk there. It was a sweet little travel moment.

I actually came this time entirely for Gyokusendo Cave. I originally thought I could leave after seeing the limestone cave and checking out some traditional Okinawan buildings, but once I went in, I realized the layout of Okinawa World is incredibly well designed. There's basically no way to pick and choose only what you want to see.
The route through the park starts with Gyokusendo Cave. After exiting the cave, it naturally leads to the tropical fruit garden, traditional craft experiences, the Ryukyu Kingdom Castle Town, shops, performance areas, and other facilities, one after another. You basically follow the route through the entire park. I thought three hours would be enough, but everything flowed so smoothly that I ended up staying for the performance too. I arrived a little after 1 p.m., and by the time I left, it was almost closing time.
That said, Gyokusendo Cave itself is definitely worth making a special trip for. The cave is about 5 kilometers long, with around 890 meters currently open to visitors, and it contains over one million stalactites. Walking through it is truly spectacular. Along the way, you can see the many different forms created by the stalactites, and even small stalagmites slowly forming where water has been dripping near the walkway for years.
I really liked the lighting inside. It illuminates the cave clearly without giving it that cheap tourist-attraction feel from excessive lighting. Instead, it beautifully brings out the layers and shapes of the different stalactites. There are a few things to keep in mind when visiting, though. The cave has plenty of ups and downs, and the ground can get wet. Some stalactites hang so low over the walkway that protective padding has been installed. Taller visitors really need to watch their heads, because if you hit one, people might be more worried about the stalactite than your head.
Also, Gyokusendo Cave is not wheelchair accessible, and the public route is nearly 900 meters long. If you're traveling with seniors or children, or if you have difficulty with stairs and wet, slippery surfaces, it's best to consider your stamina beforehand.
Overall, the admission isn't exactly cheap, but the scale and scenery of Gyokusendo Cave are impressive. Along with the traditional Ryukyu buildings, craft experiences, tropical plants, and live performances afterward, I still recommend setting aside half a day if it's your first time in Okinawa. The overall atmosphere really doesn't feel like Japan.

When I travel on my own, I usually stop by tourist information centers to pick up materials. They’re useful for my current trip, and I often find inspiration for my next one too. The Okinawa Tourist Information Center at Asahibashi is in a great location, right above the Naha Bus Terminal. It’s easy to get to from either Asahibashi Station or the bus terminal. I went by scooter, though, so it was a bit of a walk from the parking lot. Hoshino Coffee is right next door, so you can grab something to eat if you’re hungry.
I was honestly surprised when I arrived. This is one of the largest tourist information centers I’ve visited in Japan, and it has a very comprehensive selection of materials covering not only Naha City but also attractions, transportation, and events throughout Okinawa’s main island. The counter offers multilingual assistance. While I was resting inside, I happened to hear the staff helping travelers directly in Chinese and Japanese.
In addition to travel information, you can purchase some transportation tickets and sightseeing products. Luggage storage is also available, currently for JPY 500 per item per day, with same-day pickup required. They also offer luggage delivery, which is really thoughtful. There are also some Okinawan cultural exhibits inside. The space is roomy and comfortably air-conditioned, making it a good place to rest and look through materials while waiting for a bus or during a break in your itinerary.

This time, a classmate dragged me along to browse Kayanoya. Their family had asked them to stock up all at once on enough dashi packets and seasonings for chawanmushi to last the next six months. Since I usually don’t have much opportunity to cook, I could only look at most of the products and put them back. Then I happened to spot the “だしふりかけ” at the end. It didn’t require cooking and wasn’t too expensive, so I bought the bonito and plum bonito flavors to try back in Taiwan.
After actually trying them, they changed the way I think about furikake. This kind is moister, and the flavor is more deeply absorbed. Comparing the two, the bonito flavor is milder, with the savory taste of dashi and dried bonito as the main notes. The plum bonito has the added tart aroma of plum and red shiso, making it more refreshing and appetizing. I especially like the plum bonito. When it’s hot in the summer and I don’t feel like eating much, something slightly tart really can make me eat another bowl of rice.
I originally thought Kayanoya was mainly suited to people who cook regularly, but even someone like me who rarely cooks can find suitable products there. It’s really nice.

One of the most famous items offered at Samuhara Shrine is the ring-shaped “Goshinkan Mamori.” Before the pandemic, you had to try your luck at the shrine office and could only get one if it was in stock, so they often ran out quickly. After the pandemic, they switched to an application system, with an offering of at least JPY 10,000, and a domestic Japanese address is required. Since they are made to order, there is also a wait before completion. Even so, they remain extremely popular, so as of August 2026, new production applications are temporarily suspended.
I had visited Samuhara Shrine before the pandemic, and the amulet I received then was also the one I kept with me the longest. During the pandemic, many people around me tested positive one after another. I even worked closely with someone who tested positive for two or three days, and everyone took turns taking long periods off, but I stayed safe the whole time. There was a period when I was coughing badly, but all my rapid tests were negative. There were also several moments when it looked like a serious traffic accident was about to happen, but I somehow managed to avoid them each time. I never knew my reaction speed could rival an athlete’s. Looking back now, it still feels incredible.
Of course, these things may not really have been directly related to divine protection, and there may have been some psychological effect, but for me, they definitely left me with the feeling that I had somehow been protected all along.
So when I came to Osaka again after the pandemic, I made a special trip back to give thanks, return the old amulet that had been with me for years, and receive a new one, hoping to continue living safely and smoothly, free from illness and misfortune.