If you're visiting Yufuin in Kyushu, I highly recommend stopping by Yufuin Floral Village after exploring Lake Kinrin. The moment you enter this little village, you really feel as if you've suddenly been transported to the European countryside.
Both sides of the streets are lined with low stone and wooden buildings with moss-covered roofs, housing lots of fun gift shops and character merchandise. If you happen to visit in the fall, the walkways are decorated overhead with Halloween pumpkins and ghosts, creating a wonderfully festive atmosphere. Although the whole area isn't very large, it has lush green mountains as a backdrop, making every photo look like a scene from a picture book. It's a very relaxing and photogenic place where you can grab a snack while strolling around or find a favorite corner to take some nice photos.
Yufuin Floral Village | Review by Eddie
Other Reviews by Eddie
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Tokyo Station: Marunouchi Station Building
The construction of Japan’s front gate, Tokyo Station, began in March, 1908 and it was opened in December, 1914. Kingo Tatsuno, the pioneer of modern architecture in Japan, designed it. The steel-framed, brick Marunouchi Station building was burned on the roof and interior in the 1945 air raid.
Strolling through the city streets, the Marunouchi Station Building at Tokyo Station is definitely a classic landmark not to be missed for travel photography. This century-old building of red brick and white stone, topped with its iconic elegant domes, forms a striking contrast between old and new with the modern glass-curtain skyscrapers soaring behind it. In the spacious plaza in front of the station, a gentle breeze flutters the Japanese flags hanging on the building, while the bustling travelers and pedestrians add a vivid urban pulse to the scene. Picking up a camera to capture this cityscape, rich in history and modern vitality, is the purest and most authentic street record of a trip to Tokyo.
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Yokohama Landmark Tower 69th Floor Observation Deck "Sky Garden"
The Yokohama Landmark Tower, a symbol of Yokohama, is a 70-floor skyscraper standing 296m high. This complex is home to a shopping mall, restaurants, clinics, and more. Positioned on its 69th floor is the "Sky Garden," an observation deck offering 360-degree panoramic views.
If you only want to pick one place in Yokohama to hang out and clear your mind, head straight to the observation deck on the 69th floor of Landmark Tower.
A lot of people wait until after dark to buy a ticket and come up for the night view, but I honestly recommend getting here around 4 p.m. to claim a spot.
Afternoon 16:00
When I first came up, it was still very bright, and the entire Yokohama Port was in full view. The sail-shaped hotel below, the giant Ferris wheel at Cosmo World, and the bridge over the sea in the distance looked like delicate little model toys lined up along the waterfront. The view was incredibly clear and relaxing.
Evening 17:15
This was what I thought was the most worthwhile half hour of the whole trip. As the sun began to set, all the steel and glass across the city were bathed in orange-gold light. Then the sky turned a deep blue with a slight purple tint—the Blue Hour—as the streetlights and lights along the canals came on one by one. That transition was even more beautiful than after it became completely dark.
Night 18:30
Once the sky was completely dark, the view below turned into a jewelry box. The Ferris wheel started its light show, with colorful lights reflected on the water. Together with the harbor bridge and the flow of city traffic in the distance, the view really made me want to keep staring out the window. -
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Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER
The tower is Nagoya’s symbol, built as Nagoya TV Tower for tourism and TV broadcast and completed in 1954. In 2011, TV signals were switched from analog to digital and its function as a consolidated radio tower was ended.
When you come to downtown Nagoya, you have to check out this super cool landmark, Oasis 21! From a distance, it looks like a huge transparent white spaceship parked in the city center, with the super tall and spectacular Nagoya TV Tower standing beside it.
You can take great photos here from just about any angle. Here are a few highlights I have to share:
Spaceship-Aqua on the rooftop: Take the elevator to the top level, where the floor is actually one big transparent shallow pool! A gentle breeze creates ripples across the water, and if you find the right angle, you can see the entire TV tower reflected in it. It looks incredibly dreamy.
Super cute photo spot: Back on the ground-level plaza, there is a large “@NAGOYA” letter installation on the lawn. You can get both the spaceship and the TV tower in the background, making it the perfect tourist photo.
Great underground shopping area: Right underneath the huge spaceship is actually a sunken shopping mall with air conditioning, lots of anime merchandise stores, capsule toy machines, and dessert shops. It’s super convenient to grab something to eat and rest downstairs when you get tired of walking around. -
