When I was little, I watched the Ikkyu-san cartoon and was especially impressed by the shogun's residence. It wasn't until I visited Kyoto as an adult that I realized it was the famous Kinkaku-ji! Its official name is Rokuon-ji, and the Golden Pavilion is actually the temple's reliquary hall. A phoenix symbolizing good fortune stands atop the roof, and the entire building, covered in glittering gold leaf, looks especially dazzling reflected on the surface of the pond. If you're lucky enough to visit on a snowy day in winter, you'll see another picturesque scene.
Kinkaku-ji | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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Kobe Kitano Ijinkan (Former Foreign Residences)
When the port of Kobe opened in 1868, the "Kobe Kitano Ijin-gai (foreign city)" developed as a land of foreign settlement. Located on a hill overlooking the ocean, the town has a unique mix of Western and Japanese style buildings. About 30 Western-style buildings have been preserved in their original state, and 16 are open to the public.
北野異人館是首訪神戶的熱門景點。神戶開港後，許多外國人來到此地居住，北野一帶因此留下不少具有西洋風格的住宅與建築，成為今天著名的異人館街。走在坡道與街巷間，可以看到不同時代、不同風格的建築，每一棟都有自己的故事與特色。不過館舍數量不少，若想一次全部參觀，至少要預留半天，甚至一天才比較充裕。如果時間有限，可以考慮購買套票，依照自己的興趣挑選幾間喜歡的異人館參觀，行程會輕鬆許多。
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Fujiyama Cookie
Fujiyama Cookie carefully bakes their cookies one by one at the main store at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Due to the auspicious shape of Mt. Fuji, it is also used as a gift for weddings, celebrations and private celebrations.
I happened to come across Fujiyama Cookie by Lake Kawaguchi and fell in love at first sight! The classic Mt. Fuji shape is delicate and cute, with chocolate on top representing snow. They look almost too good to eat. The store offers a variety of tempting flavors, including vanilla, chocolate, and matcha, so it’s no wonder it’s always packed with tourists choosing souvenirs. I picked up a few to try, and they’re quite suitable as souvenirs to share with family and friends.
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JR Central Towers
A building directly connected to the terminal station, consisting of two towers with a height of over 200m. Department stores JR Nagoya Takashimaya, Nagoya Marriott Associa Hotel, restaurants, offices, etc. are combined.
JR Central Towers is connected to JR Nagoya Takashimaya, making it very convenient to get to. After arriving by Shinkansen or train, you can enter the shopping center directly without taking a detour. On this visit to Nagoya, of course I immediately stopped by the Ogura Sanso counter to stock up! The basement food floor has many popular Japanese souvenirs, and after shopping there, you can continue browsing clothing, household goods, and restaurants, which saves travelers a lot of time. It’s especially convenient to get all your snack and souvenir shopping done here before boarding the Shinkansen.
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