Kehi Jingu Shrine | Review by 王小鈞

If you can't go to Greece, come experience Hotel Limani instead! This resort hotel on the Seto Inland Sea coast is filled with Greek charm. With its white buildings and deep blue water, the view really makes you wonder, “Wait, am I in the Mediterranean?” (laughs).

The most captivating thing about the hotel is the endless expanse of the Seto Inland Sea. The blue sky, white buildings, and deep blue water come together in a scene as beautiful as a postcard. Especially on a clear day, sitting by the pool with the sea breeze and watching the water sparkle in the distance naturally makes you slow down. At sunset, it becomes incredibly romantic as the setting sun gradually colors the sky and sea red. Combined with the hotel's laid-back, relaxing atmosphere, it's perfect for doing nothing and simply enjoying the beautiful view in front of you.

Calling it Greek-style might be a bit of an exaggeration? Haha. But after seeing this scenery in person, you really feel—this trip isn't about staying at a hotel, but about enjoying a vacation on the Seto Inland Sea.

When visiting Okayama, don’t miss the mysteriously captivating Saijo Inari. Saijo Inari-san Myokyoji Temple in western Japan is known as a place to pray for ending bad relationships and forming good ones. The most striking feature is the enormous torii gate, which can be seen from far away. Standing beneath it, you can’t help but be overwhelmed by its majestic presence!

Saijo Inari has a unique atmosphere unlike that of a typical Shinto shrine. Behind the main hall, there is also a special place to pray for good relationships and marriage, as well as for ending bad relationships. If you feel that some of the “connections” in your life need to be reorganized, this seems like a fitting place to take a walk and make a new wish for yourself.

There are also relationship amulets inspired by the 5 JPY coin, called “go-en.” In Japanese, “go-en” sounds the same as the word for “connection,” symbolizing positive relationships. Whether you’re praying for love, friendship, professional connections, or hoping to say goodbye to a relationship that isn’t right for you, you can visit Saijo Inari and make a heartfelt wish for yourself.

Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, located in Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture, is a mountain castle that truly feels “difficult to capture.” It is also one of Japan’s remaining original castle keeps and is listed among Japan’s 100 Famous Castles. In fall and winter, a sea of clouds often forms, creating a dreamlike “castle in the sky” view.

This time, I took on the challenge of walking from Bitchu-Takahashi Station all the way to the castle ruins. Starting at the trailhead, most of the route after that was an unpaved mountain trail covered with dirt and rocks. It really wasn’t as easy as I had imagined. I kept climbing and panting while watching my step, and when I finally reached the top, I truly felt a sense of accomplishment:

“I finally made it up here!” Looking down from the castle ruins, the mountainside really is quite steep. Just imagining people in the past trying to attack this place makes you realize how impressive the castle’s defenses must have been.

Of course, if you don’t want to take on the full hiking challenge, you can take a bus from the station and then walk a shorter distance up the mountain, skipping the difficult sections and making the trip much easier! The climb was a little tiring, but when I saw the castle keep and the layers of mountains in front of me, I still felt—this difficult journey was worth it.