It's a retro old street full of nostalgic charm, lined with all kinds of cute and distinctive shops that make you want to explore them one by one for hidden treasures. The pace here isn't too rushed, making it comfortable and relaxing. Every time I visit Karuizawa, I stop by Boulangerie Asanoya. It's very popular, and in addition to selling bread, it also has a dining area where you can enjoy a full meal. It's a great place to rest and recharge while shopping.
Old Karuizawa Ginza Street | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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Saka no Ue no Kumo Museum
Saka no Ue no Kumo, or “Clouds Over the Slope”, is a best-selling historical novel by the prominent novelist Ryotaro Shiba. The novel is focused on three main characters from Matsuyama City; Yoshifuru Akiyama, his brother Saneyuki Akiyama, and their poet friend, Shiki Masaoka. The museum was built around the theme of this novel.
Compared with popular attractions like Dogo Onsen and Matsuyama Castle, the Saka no Ue no Kumo Museum is much more understated, but once inside, I was surprised by how much it had to offer. The museum is themed around Ryotaro Shiba's novel Clouds Over the Slope and introduces three figures from Matsuyama—Shiki Masaoka, Yoshifuru Akiyama, and Saneyuki Akiyama—as well as the Meiji era in which they lived. Through valuable historical materials, photographs, videos, and timelines, the museum shows how Japan transitioned from tradition to modernity during the Meiji era. It's worth taking some time to explore!
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Towel Museum
A unique museum in Imabari, Japan’s leading towel-producing city, that shares towel lifestyles and towel culture. Visitors can see the towel-making process up close and enjoy exhibits that blend towels with art. In addition to permanent exhibitions such as Moomin and Hawaiian quilts, the museum hosts a variety of special exhibitions showcasing towel art.
Imabari is a well-known towel-producing region in Japan, and the quality is excellent. Besides learning about towel production and culture, there are shops selling all kinds of Imabari towels, as well as restaurants and cafés, making it a good place to spend half a day. There’s a huge variety of products to choose from, ranging from practical towels and household items to cute character collaboration merchandise〜
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GAUFRES AU GOUTER
"Gaufres" are sweets that sandwich cream between thin layers of baked dough, made using Western confectionery ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, and butter, utilizing the technique of baking Japanese senbei (rice crackers).
A snack the whole family loves. It's thin and crispy, with a light texture that doesn't feel heavy, making it easy to eat one after another and hard to stop. Besides the usual packaging, there are also cute small tin versions. The designs on the tins are all adorable, and seasonal limited editions are released too, making me want to collect them every time I see one. After finishing the cookies, the small tins can also be used to store little items, making them both practical and memorable〜
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