I’m taking off a star because there are way too many stairs, and they’re so long.
So tiring lol.
But this was the first shrine I ever went to by myself.
If I saw these stairs in Taiwan, I’d definitely be like, “Wait... do I really want to go up there?”
But in Japan, I had unlimited motivation. Even with unlimited motivation, though, it was still kind of exhausting.
That said, a lot of the scenery and landscaping was actually pretty cool.
The second time I went, I bought an omamori.
It was really pretty, maybe wisteria-themed?
And it was pouring rain the second time too, which was wild.
I was so scared I’d slip, and I was also feeling a little dizzy.
I was honestly afraid I might tumble all the way down. There weren’t many people around either, so it was pretty scary.
I really like solo travel, but this honestly felt a bit dangerous, since not every section has a handrail.
Achi Shrine | Review by 雨妤魚
Other Reviews by 雨妤魚
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Kabukicho
Kabukicho is the entertainment district that sits just steps from the east exit of Shinjuku Station. It’s a major hub for izakaya pubs, amusement centers and nightlife spots to enjoy after hours. With neon signs lit up through the entire night, it’s earned the nickname of “the city that never sleeps”.
My mom told me this is kind of a red-light district and said I shouldn’t go, but I was on my way to Mt. Fuji, and if I went straight back at night I would’ve been starving, so I came anyway.
Hahaha, it was great.
And honestly, even if she said that, I still would’ve gone~
I’ve never really been the obedient type.
But I didn’t think it felt that dangerous. -
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The 3D Cat at Shinjuku East Exit
Located above the East Exit plaza of Shinjuku Station, one of the busiest train stations in the world, the giant 3D calico cat peers down at passersby in a dynamic video display. Since its debut in July 2021, the lifelike, seemingly popping-out 3D cat has captured widespread attention and has been featured in both domestic and international media.
The kitty is super cute!
It’s one of Shinjuku’s major landmarks, and there were seriously so many people taking photos. I filmed a video instead, and this is a screenshot from it~
I was too hungry at the time, though, so right after filming I went to find something to eat haha -
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First Avenue Tokyo Station
"First Avenue Tokyo Station (Tokyo Station Ichibangai) " is directly connected to "Tokyo Station", the gateway to Japan.A wide variety of stores are gathered here, including ramen, local gourmet foods from all over Japan, Japanese and Western confectioneries from famous and long-established stores, and popular character goods.
It’s HUGE. I was fully ready to shop like crazy.
Then I realized you have to pay by section. The first time I went, I was running around with a basket, and a staff member told me, “No no no.” My mom laughed at me, and I was so embarrassed.
The second time, what made me super, super sad was that I missed getting Calbee’s freshly made chips/fries by just three minutes.
If you’re as directionally challenged as me, you can follow my landmarks to get there!
You’ll arrive at First Avenue right away, because I got lost.
Tokyo Station really is unbelievably huge.
Oh well, third time’s the charm, right?
Next time I’m definitely going to get to eat them. Please 😭 -
