Star's Reviews Page 1/6

BAY Hakodate also has another must-try cheesecake shop, Petite Merveille. Its signature bite-sized cheesecake is dense and melts in your mouth, though personally, I didn't think the cheese flavor was that rich. Many people online also recommend their pumpkin pudding, but unfortunately I didn't get to try it this time. I'll definitely try it next time I have the chance.

Toward the back of BAY Hakodate, they also sell all kinds of Hakodate-exclusive souvenirs. There's also a highly recommended souvenir shop called Aoi Mori inside Kanemori Youbutsukan, with many items exclusive to the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse that make great gifts.

Also, if I remember correctly, there's a fairly large souvenir shop next to Starbucks. Aoi Mori was the only one I didn't browse this time. The prices at the other two shops were about the same, and both offered tax-free shopping.

So if you want to buy all your Hakodate souvenirs in one place, I think the area around the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is really convenient. You can browse all kinds of Hakodate-exclusive products at once, and I highly recommend setting aside some time to take your time choosing souvenirs!

This store is packed with cute items, featuring all the popular IPs, from Snoopy and Chiikawa to Hello Kitty. The prices are average and not particularly cheap, but the selection is extensive.

This place is very relaxing, with a large garden where you can enjoy the scenery. You can soak in the indoor hot springs on the fifth floor, soak your feet in the garden, or just sit and zone out. There is also a restaurant where you can grab something to eat, as well as some small entertainment facilities. It's a really great place.

I bought this at the Hankyu Department Store in Umeda. I heard this cake shop is a must-try when visiting Osaka. The cake was good overall, but personally, I still prefer Yannick's cake rolls.

Before coming here, I saw a lot of news reports saying that Kuromon Market overcharges foreign tourists and sells things at very high prices, so I was a little worried. But when I actually visited, I didn't think it was that outrageous, and I had some super delicious sea urchin and Shine Muscat grapes here!!

This is another location I came to specifically to visit a spot featured in Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram. The interior looks exactly like the scene in the movie, which is genuinely moving for Conan fans.

This time, I again ordered the restaurant's signature Chinese Chicken Burger. Maybe it was because I hadn't eaten all day, but this one somehow tasted especially good. (Additional note: The Chinese Chicken Burger is the restaurant's best-selling item. It has crispy fried chicken with a distinctive sauce. Some people describe it as sweet-and-sour, but I personally think it tastes better than regular sweet-and-sour sauce.) The balance of sweet and tangy flavors in the sauce is especially good, and the portion is just right. Even though I don't usually like sweet-and-sour sauce, I really like the flavor of this burger.

Also, this location is larger than the other one. In addition to burgers, it sells merchandise, so you can browse around after eating.

The restaurant's official slogan is "函館に恋して 海がよんでいる," which roughly means "Fall in love with Hakodate, captivated by the sea." Enjoying the romantic atmosphere while eating a burger and looking out at the ocean view in Hakodate—if you're planning to visit the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, I'd recommend this location over the other one.

This is the cheesecake I had while shopping at the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse in Hakodate. If you eat it there, it comes with a cup of black coffee, and you can stand and enjoy it at your leisure in the space behind the counter.

I originally didn't know where the shop was and couldn't find it after wandering around. Then I suddenly heard a tour guide say they were taking everyone to buy the famous cheesecake, so I immediately followed them and found it (it's inside Kanemori Youbutsukan). I have to say, this pairing is really good. Especially after walking around in circles, getting lost, and feeling a little tired, having a cheesecake that's creamy inside and melts in your mouth instantly makes all the fatigue disappear.

Also, the black coffee isn't too bitter, and even I, who normally don't drink much black coffee, found it acceptable. (One more thing: the logo tag stuck into the cake seems like it can be used as a spoon.) Their cheesecakes come in many flavors. If I get the chance to go again, I'd like to try the chocolate flavor.

Also, with your purchase, you receive a JPY 50 coupon for souvenirs. If you don't need it, you can put it in their collection box, and they'll donate JPY 20 for you.

Ryukakusan is one of the medicines I always buy when I visit a drugstore in Japan. I usually get the mint or peach flavor. When my throat feels a little dry and itchy, I take one packet with water. It makes my throat feel cool, and after a while, it doesn't feel as uncomfortable. But this is still medicine, so anyone considering buying it should make sure it's suitable for them and avoid taking too much.

This is one of the places I recommend visiting at least once in your lifetime!

At first, I had only seen photos online and wasn't that interested in Zao's juhyo, but after seeing them in person, I was completely amazed by nature's incredible handiwork.

While doing research before the trip, I read online that juhyo form when winter snow and ice freeze onto trees and continue to accumulate, eventually transforming conifer forests high in the mountains into a fantastical landscape resembling snow monsters. Such a spectacular sight requires very unique climatic and natural conditions, so there are actually very few places in the world where juhyo can be seen. Luckily, Japan, which is very close to Taiwan, happens to have one. Before I left, everyone who had been there told me, “Make sure to dress warmly! Otherwise, your fingers and toes might just fall off along the way.”

(In the end, my fingers and toes didn't fall off, but one of my eyeglass lenses did. Fortunately, a kind woman helped me find it. I'm not sure if it was because of the cold, but it was very difficult to get the lens back into the frame. Once we got down the mountain, though, it wasn't a problem. If you wear glasses, I suggest switching to contacts to reduce fogging and the risk of losing your glasses.)

We went in February, right when the juhyo are at their most spectacular (though if you're unlucky enough to encounter a blizzard, visibility will be much lower). Fortunately, the blizzard we encountered wasn't too severe. Although it was unbelievably cold, we could still clearly see the snow monsters before us.

You really need to dress warmly! A waterproof jacket and snow boots are essential, and I also strongly recommend waterproof gloves. I even put foot warmers under my feet.)

Before leaving, we booked the ropeway and the nighttime snowcat tour, “Juhyo Fantasy Corridor.” I highly, highly recommend this tour! The snowcat was a little crowded, and the ride was quite bumpy, but the scenery along the way was so fantastical that it's hard to describe. Every snow monster had a completely different shape. As I looked at them, I thought—the snow monsters are just like us: every person is a one-of-a-kind presence in this world.

The snowcat takes everyone to a designated spot (I'm not sure if it's where the lighting looks best, but I thought it was the most beautiful), and then you get off and have about ten minutes of free time (maybe they don't let you stay out long because they're afraid everyone will freeze to death), allowing you to truly immerse yourself in the dreamlike snowy scenery. If you're not afraid of the cold, you can also try rolling around in the snow. The snow is icy cold and feels soft and fluffy, and because the temperature is so low, it doesn't melt easily. Even after rolling around in it, your clothes are still dry when you get up!

This trip to see the Zao juhyo completely changed my original impression that they “looked just okay in photos.” Some scenery really has to be seen with your own eyes before you can understand just how incredible nature can be.

Sapporo Agricultural College has shops at both Fukuoka Airport and New Chitose Airport. These cookies have a rich milky flavor and are crisp without being too sweet. People who like handmade cookies will probably really enjoy these.