Gina C's Reviews Page 19/23

Looking down from the observation deck, the lights of central Sapporo stretch far into the distance, with streets and buildings sparkling in the background. The night view is very beautiful, so it's no wonder Mt. Moiwa is considered one of the “Three Great Night Views of Hokkaido.”

I specifically planned to come at night to see the view. With the cool mountain breeze and the countless lights spread out before me, the atmosphere was very romantic.

Sapporo TV Tower is next to Odori Park and is one of Sapporo's most iconic landmarks. You can see its tall red structure from far away, and when you get close, it really feels like, “I've arrived in Sapporo!”

This time, I stopped by Sapporo TV Tower and admired it while taking a walk through Odori Park. The surrounding scenery was very pleasant. The tower looks different from every angle, and it's also a great place to take photos as keepsakes.

Hokkaido Shrine isn't just a place to worship; it's also a distinctive stop on a trip to Hokkaido. The shrine grounds have a solemn yet pleasant atmosphere, and walking along the approach, you can really feel the traditional Japanese ambiance.

What impressed me most this time was the little squirrel fortune at the shrine. It was just so cute! The tiny squirrel design was adorable, and I couldn't stop taking photos of it while holding it. It's completely different from an ordinary fortune slip, and I thought it made a perfect little keepsake from this trip to Hokkaido.

Otaru Triangle Market is packed with seafood stalls. All kinds of fresh fish, crab, scallops, sea urchin, and more look very tempting. The stalls are lined up one after another, giving the market a lively, traditional atmosphere.

The biggest draw is the wide variety of seafood rice bowls. The ingredients look fresh and plentiful, and as you walk around, you can't help but keep looking and wanting to try everything. Besides shopping and seeing the canal in Otaru, I also highly recommend visiting Triangle Market to experience the local seafood culture!

At Niseko Takahashi Dairy Farm, you definitely can't miss the farm's popular soft-serve ice cream! As soon as I got it, I noticed its rich aroma. It had a very strong milky flavor and was smooth and creamy, with every bite full of rich dairy goodness.

At Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe, what I looked forward to most was watching the marine animal shows! There were adorable sea lions and dolphins, and the atmosphere was very lively. They captured everyone's attention as soon as they appeared.

The sea lion show was very entertaining. They were agile and smart, following commands to perform all kinds of tricks, and I couldn't stop taking pictures. The dolphins that came next were even more exciting. Their jumps, spins, and other moves were all very sharp, and the crowd cheered nonstop every time they leaped out of the water!

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) was already packed with people as soon as it opened. Almost everyone headed toward the popular Mario area in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and the Harry Potter area, and the park was really lively!

Although almost every popular attraction had a wait of at least 2 hours, and just thinking about the wait was a little exhausting, it still felt well worth it after actually going on the rides. From waiting in line to finally getting on the attraction, the whole experience was filled with anticipation, and afterward, I felt it was worth the wait.

At Hozenji in Osaka, I came specifically to try the famous “Meoto Zenzai.” Two bowls of piping-hot sweet red bean soup with rice dumplings were brought to the table, and just looking at them felt so comforting. The soup was sweet, and the red beans were very soft!

After finishing the hot red bean soup with rice dumplings, I felt warm all over. When visiting Hozenji, I highly recommend stopping by for some Meoto Zenzai and experiencing this traditional dessert with a story behind it!

At Jiyuken in Namba, Osaka, it was my first time seeing a raw egg placed directly on top of curry rice. At first, I was actually a little hesitant to eat it and wondered, “Does raw egg really taste good with curry?”

But since I was already there, I worked up the courage to try a small bite! After mixing the raw egg into the curry rice, the texture became smoother, and the egg flavor mellowed out the curry quite a bit. It was surprisingly easy to eat.

We took a walk around Osaka Castle Park and had really been looking forward to seeing the cherry blossoms. Unfortunately, they hadn't bloomed yet when we visited, but we unexpectedly came across plum blossoms in full bloom, which was a different kind of pleasant surprise!

The plum blossoms dotted the branches, and they looked especially beautiful against the backdrop of Osaka Castle. Without the excitement of the cherry blossoms, it felt more peaceful and secluded instead. As we walked and admired the plum blossoms, we could occasionally look up and see Osaka Castle's main tower, a truly iconic Osaka view.

It was a little disappointing that we didn't get to see the cherry blossoms this time, but seeing the plum blossoms was also well worth it.