We happened to come across a statue of Usopp from ONE PIECE on the lawn in front of Aso Station, and we were all so excited when we saw it! Of course we had to strike the same pose as Usopp for a keepsake. There are other ONE PIECE characters around Kumamoto waiting for everyone to collect them!
Monkey D. Luffy Statue | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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Asakusa Nakamise Shopping Street (Main Approach to Asakusa Temple)
Located on the approach to Asakusa Temple, this shopping street consists of food and souvenir shops lining the approximately 250m stone-paved path from Asakusa Temple's main gate, the Kaminarimon Gate, to the "Treasure House Gate". Known as "Nakamise", about 90 stores are built across the approach, bustling daily with visitors to Asakusa Temple and tourists from both Japan and abroad.
After walking through Kaminarimon Gate, you’re greeted by a lively street full of Japanese charm. The street is bustling with people, with all kinds of shops lining both sides. What caught my attention most was the wide variety of Japanese snacks, such as grilled rice crackers, soy sauce-glazed dango, and fried manju. Everything looked so tempting that I often couldn’t resist stopping to try something as I walked along.
Besides the food, the shopping street also has many stores selling Japanese souvenirs and specialty goods, ranging from traditional-style trinkets to Asakusa-themed items, making it a great place for visitors to pick out gifts.
However, be sure to check the stores’ business hours. Many begin closing after 5:00 p.m., so I recommend visiting during the day to fully enjoy shopping there.
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Asakusa Kokonoe
Founded in 1962, this Age-Manju (deep-fried-manju) store can be found along Nakamise-dori, an avenue leading from Kaminari-mon Gate to Sensoji Temple. The hot, freshly fried, and wide variety of flavors of Age-Manju makes it ideal for eating around. This store is always displaying and selling its products, and there is always a long line of customers waiting to purchase.
Before reaching Sensoji Temple, I always have to get an age-manju from Asakusa Kokonoe. Hot and freshly fried, it's such a comforting treat, with a crispy exterior and sweet filling. They also have savory flavors, making it the perfect snack while strolling around! And the prices have always been very affordable. When I came more than 10 years ago, one was only JPY 50! (shocked
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Rokkatei Marusei Butter Sandwich
Since its establishment in 1933, the long-established confectionery maker Rokkatei has been dedicated to creating snack sweets that can be enjoyed every day with pocket money. A long-seller since its launch in 1977, their products have been a staple Hokkaido souvenir, cherished for their never-tiring taste.
A true classic and one of the very best rum raisin sandwich cookies! The crumbly cookies are filled with rich, smooth buttercream and rum raisins. With every bite, the rich aroma of rum slowly comes through as you chew. It’s very fragrant without being overly sweet or heavy, and it gets more addictive the more you eat. The texture is rich and layered, and it pairs well with either tea or coffee. One thing to note is that the cookies themselves are fairly fragile, so handle them carefully when carrying them around, as they can easily break with even a slight bump. If you’re giving them as a gift, I recommend buying the boxed version. It’s easier to carry and also looks more presentable.
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