Tennoji Zoo is right in the city center and easy to get to. You can see all kinds of cute animals there, including lions, giraffes, elephants, and hippos. It’s quite relaxing to stroll around and simply enjoy looking at the animals. It’s a good backup plan for a rainy day and also great for families with children.
Tennoji Zoo | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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Yokohama Kiyoken (SHUMAI Bar) Tokyo Station
SHUMAI Bar is a dining concept pairing shiumai (steamed dumplings) with drinks, created by Kiyoken, the long-established company founded in 1908. At Yokohama Kiyoken (SHUMAI Bar) Tokyo Station on Nippon Gourmet Road, you can dine in or take your food away. Its shiumai owe their flavor to a combination of pork and dried scallops.
I was planning to take the Shinkansen to Shizuoka, so I made a point of stopping by the kiosk to pick out an “ekiben.” Somehow, riding the Shinkansen with a railway bento feels like the perfect travel ritual! This time, I tried a bento from Kiyoken. It came with their signature shiumai, and with a little soy sauce, the savory, salty flavor was just right. The seasoning overall was pretty good. I imagine it would taste even better heated up, with the shiumai served piping hot.
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MIRAIZA OSAKA-JO
A complex of historical buildings located in the plaza in front of the Tower of Osaka Castle. Built in 1931, the former army office building has an eye-catching, stately exterior reminiscent of an old medieval castle in Europe. Inside, the upper walls are decorated with vivid ornaments, and the corner towers on the front and four corners still retain the atmosphere of the past.
MIRAIZA OSAKA-JO, located within Osaka Castle, is more than just a commercial facility—it is also a historic building worth noticing. Built in 1931 to commemorate Emperor Showa’s enthronement, it originally served as the headquarters of the Fourth Division. Its exterior was deliberately designed in the style of a medieval European castle, with distinctive corner towers and massive walls. After the war, it was used by the police and later became the Osaka City Museum. Today, it houses restaurants, shops, and exhibition spaces, and the rooftop offers a close-up view of Osaka Castle’s main tower.
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Gion Tsujiri "Tsujiri no Sato"
Founded in 1860 as a manufacturer and seller of Uji tea, Gion Tsujiri is the spot for plumes of rich aroma and the taste of tea in Kyoto, a historic tea-producing region, for over 160 years. Recent years at the tea house have seen an all new kind of buzz thanks to the launch of a widened range of matcha sweets. For sweet and tasty souvenirs, look no further than this go-to brand.
When visiting Gion Tsujiri in Kyoto, in addition to the matcha desserts, I highly recommend picking up a box of “Tsujiri no Sato”! Crispy thin wafers are rolled into small cylinders and filled with rich matcha cream. When you bite into one, you first get the crisp texture of the wafer, followed by a delicate tea aroma. The slight bitterness of the matcha perfectly balances the sweetness, making it very easy to enjoy. Pair it with the tea bags sold at the shop for an afternoon tea that really tastes like Kyoto.
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