What I love most about Tsukiji Outer Market is its lively atmosphere filled with the aroma of seafood! The market has lots of fresh fish and seafood, and as you walk around, you can see all kinds of ingredients. Everything looks so fresh.
Besides being able to buy fresh seafood, quite a few shops also serve freshly grilled seafood. It’s really hard to resist buying some when you smell it as you walk through the market!
ecute Ueno
Located inside the ticket gates at JR Ueno Station, ecute Ueno is a convenient shopping facility with more than 60 permanent shops ranging from food to fashion and miscellaneous goods. Because Ueno Station is a terminal station served by many lines, it is also ideal when you need to adjust your sightseeing plans on a rainy day or want to stop by in between journeys.
ecute Ueno, located inside Ueno Station, is a great place to browse before or after catching a train. There are plenty of sweets, souvenirs, restaurants, and household goods, with a wide variety of shops. Just walking around, you'll find quite a few things you'll want to buy.
This time, I stopped in for a look while passing through Ueno Station. The wide selection of Japanese sweets and souvenirs kept catching my eye. It's conveniently located, and since all the shops are together inside the station, even if you're in a hurry, you can quickly shop before catching your train.
Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple
Located near the Tokyo Tsukiji Market, Tsukiji Hongwanji is a temple of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji Sect, whose head temple is Nishi Hongwanji in Kyoto.
Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple in Tokyo caught my eye at first sight. Its exterior is very different from what you usually imagine a Japanese temple to look like, with a strong exotic style. The enormous main hall looks very impressive, and it makes a striking backdrop for photos.
Once inside the temple, the space is also quite spacious, and the decorative details are worth taking your time to appreciate. Afterward, you can stop by the nearby Tsukiji Outer Market for some food. Visiting both together works out perfectly.
Ine Town Tourism Exchange Facility Funaya Biyori
Located in Ine Town on the Tango Peninsula in northern Kyoto Prefecture, Funaya Biyori is a tourism and exchange facility where visitors can enjoy local food and culture while gazing out at the famous “funaya” boat houses along Ine Bay. Since opening in 2017, it has become a lively base for exploring the area, with a seaside café (INE CAFE), a dining spot (Wadatsumi), seasonal pop-up shops, and even a boathouse for festival ships.
What attracted me most to Funaya Biyori in Ine Town, Kyoto Prefecture, was the unique scenery of the funaya boathouses. Walking along Ine Bay, you can see rows of traditional boathouses lining the coast, with the first floors directly connected to the water. The view is really distinctive.
Strolling around Funaya Biyori, you can get an up-close look at the views of Ine Bay and the streets lined with boathouses. When the weather is nice, the water looks very clear, and the whole town has a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. Compared with the bustling tourist attractions in central Kyoto, this place feels more suited to slow travel.
