Gina C's Reviews Page 4/19

Toyama Castle Ruins Park has a quiet beauty in winter that is different from cherry blossom season. The cold weather means fewer crowds, making the park more leisurely and peaceful. Strolling along the moat while admiring Toyama Castle and the surrounding scenery has a charm of its own.
Although the trees are bare in winter, they make the castle's elegant appearance stand out even more. Even casual photos capture the winter atmosphere. The park isn't far from central Toyama and is easy to get to, making it a great place for a relaxing walk, taking photos, and experiencing Toyama's calm and comfortable winter charm.

The DEITOS souvenir shopping area next to Hakata Station is truly a souvenir paradise!
There's no need to visit several places, since you can find almost all of Fukuoka's popular specialties in one trip, including Kayanoya products, mentaiko, Hakata Torimon, Chikushi Mochi, various Western-style sweets, shrimp crackers, and limited-edition snacks. The shopping layout is convenient, and plenty of shops offer samples so you can taste before deciding. It's easy to end up with a whole bag full before you know it. This is the most convenient place to shop before catching a train or flight.
If you want to finish your entire souvenir shopping list in one place, I highly recommend DEITOS!

Kitakaro's "Hokkaido Pioneer Okaki" won me over with its crispy texture. Each small rice cracker is fragrant, with a subtle rice aroma and savory flavor that makes it hard to stop eating. Although it looks simple, it has a rustic flavor that never gets old.
After trying it, I found that it wasn't too oily or overly salty. It tasted light and was easy to eat.

Shichimi is a classic Japanese seasoning, usually made from a blend of chili pepper, sansho pepper, sesame seeds, and other spices, giving it a complex aroma. Shichimiya Honpo's shichimi smells especially fragrant. You can smell the rich aroma of the spices even before adding it to your food. Sprinkling it on udon, soba, miso soup, or grilled dishes adds flavor and gives otherwise simple food a distinctly Japanese aroma.

Taking a stroll around Umikaji Terrace on Senaga Island! This is a unique seaside attraction in Okinawa, with Mediterranean-style white buildings throughout the island. As you walk along the steps and narrow lanes, you'll find distinctive cafés, restaurants, and little shops. Everywhere you take a photo has a vacation feel.

My favorite part was the expansive ocean view! From near the terrace, you can gaze out at the endless sea. The ocean breeze feels especially pleasant and makes you feel much more relaxed. Besides enjoying the view, you can also see planes flying in the distance. Watching them take off or land against the blue sky, white clouds, and deep blue sea is truly soothing!

BLUE SEAL is one of Okinawa’s most iconic ice cream brands, with a huge variety of flavors. In addition to classics like vanilla and chocolate, there are plenty of distinctly Okinawan options, such as beni-imo purple sweet potato and salted chinsuko cookies, which make you want to try every flavor! The ice cream is rich, creamy, and smooth, and it’s especially refreshing on a hot day.

The Kokusai Street location is also very convenient, so you can easily stop by while shopping. Whether you want to take a break after buying souvenirs or have something sweet during an evening stroll, it’s easy to fit into your itinerary. Okinawan food isn’t just Okinawa soba, taco rice, and rice balls—even the ice cream has plenty of local character!

If you’re traveling to Okinawa, be sure to make time to explore Naha’s Kokusai-dori Shopping Street! It’s one of Naha’s liveliest shopping streets, lined with all kinds of souvenir shops, drugstores, restaurants, and unique little stores. There are also plenty of Okinawa-exclusive products to browse for at your own pace. The street is quite lively during the day and early evening, making it a great place to stroll, shop, and look for souvenirs.

However, we stayed out fairly late this time and thought we could keep shopping at a leisurely pace, but many stores had already closed! Walking down the street and seeing one storefront after another with its shutters down, we realized that not every store in Okinawa stays open late. Luckily, Don Quijote was still open, so we could keep shopping. It has snacks, cosmetics and drugstore items, household goods, and all kinds of Japanese products, making it the perfect place to stock up at the end of a trip!

If, like me, you enjoy shopping and buying souvenirs at night, I recommend coming to Kokusai-dori a little earlier so you don’t miss the stores you want to visit. If you stay out until late at night, there are far fewer places where you can continue shopping! Don Quijote, though, lets you shop until the very last minute, and you still can’t help wanting to buy a few more things. Sure enough, when traveling in Japan, the shopping itinerary never truly ends!

Potama is a famous onigiri specialty shop in Okinawa, known for combining luncheon meat with tamagoyaki, white rice, and a seaweed wrap. It’s a simple combination, but it has a distinctive Okinawan character! The onigiri looks plump and substantial and feels quite hefty in your hand. The savory luncheon meat pairs with the soft and tender tamagoyaki and piping-hot white rice, creating a mix of salty and sweet flavors that’s simple yet satisfying.

The Makishi Market branch is near Kokusai Street in Naha, making it a convenient stop while shopping. It’s great for breakfast or lunch, or just when you want a quick bite during your trip! However, there may be a line during busy hours, so it’s a good idea to allow some extra time.

When visiting Okinawa, besides eating sea grapes and Okinawa soba, don’t forget to try this local-style onigiri! The ingredients may seem ordinary, but together they create a memorable flavor. The next time I visit Okinawa, I’d like to try some of Potama’s other varieties!

Izutsu Yatsuhashi Honpo is a long-established traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Kyoto, known for the Kyoto specialty yatsuhashi. Yatsuhashi is one of Kyoto's most iconic traditional sweets, with a subtle cinnamon aroma and a distinctly Japanese feel.

There are different types of yatsuhashi, including baked, crispy “senbei yatsuhashi” and soft, chewy nama yatsuhashi filled with red bean paste or other flavors, each with its own unique taste and texture. If you like Japanese sweets, you can try a variety of flavors. They also make great souvenirs to take back to Taiwan.

Keio Department Store, Shinjuku is located near Shinjuku Station, making it very convenient to get to and easy to include in a shopping trip around Shinjuku. The department store carries all kinds of products. If you're a Sanrio fan, be sure to check the relevant merchandise sections to see if they have items featuring your favorite characters.

Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, Kuromi, and My Melody each have their own unique charm, and it's really hard to resist buying the cute merchandise when you see it! From everyday goods to small character-themed items, they're great for your own collection or as Japanese souvenirs for friends.