Linda Liao's Reviews Page 61/75

Hiroshima Orizuru Tower is near the Atomic Bomb Dome and is a tourist attraction themed around peace and paper cranes. The paper crane tradition comes from the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Hiroshima girl who developed leukemia after the atomic bombing and kept folding paper cranes in hopes of recovering. Paper cranes later became an important symbol of prayers for peace in Hiroshima. Inside the tower, you can fold a paper crane as a prayer and drop it into the Orizuru Wall from an upper floor, watching it flutter all the way down. It feels especially meaningful and ceremonial.

However, admission is about JPY 2,200, which isn't cheap. If you're not particularly interested in the views from above or the other activities inside, you may want to consider whether it's worth going up. The gift shop on the first floor, on the other hand, is well worth browsing. It sells lots of stylish stationery, household items, and snacks with a distinctly Hiroshima feel. Many of the products are high quality and quite unique. If you're looking for souvenirs to give someone, this is a good option.

Visiting Hiroshima Castle made me feel the strength of a city continually rebuilding itself through the tides of history. Hiroshima Castle was originally built by Mori Terumoto in 1589 and marked an important starting point in Hiroshima's historical development. The original castle structures remained intact until the final days of World War II, but were destroyed by the powerful blast and fires caused by the atomic bombing in 1945. The Hiroshima Castle we see today was reconstructed after the war to resemble the original, which makes it feel even more precious.

In addition to the reconstructed castle tower, you can find old stone walls, ruins, and traces of history throughout the park. The trees that survived the atomic bombing are still growing strong, offering a powerful sense of life's resilience. Walking through the grounds, you can almost see the process of Hiroshima gradually recovering from the devastation of war and getting back on its feet. The castle displays many historical artifacts and documents, and the explanations are quite engaging. I recommend allowing 1 to 2 hours for your visit so you can take your time experiencing the history and memories held by Hiroshima Castle.

The museum houses many valuable historical materials and artifacts, and for anyone interested in military history, it is worth taking the time to explore carefully. The most famous exhibit is the realistic 1/10-scale model of the battleship Yamato. Its massive hull and intricate structure give you a sense of the scale of Japan's shipbuilding technology and military power at the time. The exhibits also explain the background of the Yamato's construction and the reasons it ultimately sank. During my last visit, the museum happened to be undergoing maintenance, and some artifacts had been moved to a nearby exhibition hall, so I wasn't able to see everything. After learning that the museum reopened in April 2026, I hope to find time to visit again and make up for what I missed last time.

Taking the SEA SPICA Setouchi Shimatabi Cruise, you can enjoy views of the Seto Inland Sea and islands of all different sizes along the way. Compared with regular transportation, traveling by boat really lets you experience the fun of an island trip〜

The Fukuoka City Science Museum is located at Ropponmatsu Station. Even before entering the museum, you'll find lots of interesting and cute science facts displayed on the station platform, full of surprises. These details show how much care went into the overall design and planning, making you look forward to visiting the museum even more.

Canal City Hakata is a great mixed-use shopping complex to explore. It has not only all kinds of stores but also plenty of food options, making it easy to spend an entire afternoon there. During my last visit, an in-person fan event for a girl group happened to be taking place by the fountain on the first floor. The girls sang and danced onstage with lots of energy, while the fans below enthusiastically cheered them on with glow sticks. I don't usually follow celebrities and had only been passing by, but I couldn't help stopping to watch for quite a while. Seeing how immersed the fans were also gave me a glimpse of an interesting side of Japanese fan culture.

Ohori Park is a well-known green space in central Fukuoka, similar to Daan Forest Park in Taipei. Many people come here for activities on both weekdays and weekends. There is a lake in the center of the park, and its surface sparkles in the sunlight. Many people walk, jog, and walk their dogs, and you can also see families with children spending time together. The overall atmosphere is very relaxing. When I visited in late spring or early summer, it wasn't too hot, and the gentle breeze on my face felt comfortable and even made me a little sleepy. If you get tired from walking, you can also sit down at a nearby small cafe, order a light meal, watch people come and go outside the window, and feel time quietly passing by.

What impressed me most was the rich broth and the springy texture of the beef offal. At first, I thought the flavor was a bit strong, but when I ate it with the bean sprouts and chives, it actually became very easy to enjoy. The beef offal soaked up the broth and became very flavorful, tasting better with every bite. At the end, I added noodles to the broth, and they soaked up all the flavor too, adding another way to enjoy the hot pot.

Fukuoka Airport is one of the few airports in Japan located so close to the city center. By subway, you can reach Hakata Station in under 10 minutes, which is very convenient for travelers and significantly reduces travel time to and from the airport. The airport's overall layout is easy to navigate, and the renovated facilities are newer and more comfortable. What makes it special is that the design doesn't just aim for a modern look—it also incorporates Fukuoka's local traditional culture and motifs, so travelers can immediately get a strong sense of the area's character when they arrive.

I came to the Marunouchi Building specifically to look for some unique, less mainstream souvenirs. There are many distinctive shops on the B1 floor, and I especially recommend the tea from PRIMATE and the rice crackers from OKOSHIYA TOKYO, which has a 60-year history. OKOSHIYA's rice crackers are a little like Taiwanese puffed rice snacks, but they come in a wider variety of flavors and taste refreshingly different. My personal favorite is the black pepper flavor. They're also beautifully packaged for gifts〜