LaLaport Tokyo-Bay, located in Funabashi, Chiba, is a very large shopping mall about a 5-minute walk from JR Minami-Funabashi Station. It has clothing stores, household goods, electronics, anime merchandise, a variety of restaurants, the Pokémon Center Tokyo Bay, and more, all worth browsing. This time I came with my family to walk around. Although it wasn’t sale season yet and we didn’t have anything in particular we wanted to buy, we still spent quite a bit of time just browsing. At noon, we went to the food court on the third floor of the North Building and ordered tendon from the popular restaurant Kaneko Hannosuke. The crispy tempura was served with a sweet and savory sauce, and the portion was quite satisfying.
Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Tokyo-Bay | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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Baby Star Ramen
Here’s one ramen snack that’s tantalized tastebuds time and time again since hitting stores in 1959. Its origin story dates back to the days when employees would snack on instant noodles like a treat, but its undeniable fandom led to its launch as a commercial product, loved today as a beloved snack by kids and big kids-a-heart ever since.
之前在橫濱紅磚倉庫逛街時，意外發現模範生點心麵的櫃位，熟悉的包裝立刻勾起童年回憶！不曉得這裡是期間限定快閃店，還是常駐販售呢？優雅食的模範生點心麵，可說是許多人從小吃到大的經典零食。打開包裝濃郁鹹香立刻撲鼻而來，細細脆脆的麵體入口涮嘴，讓人一口接一口停不下來。無論是旅行途中搭車、午後嘴饞，或肚子有點餓時，隨手來上一包都很滿足。簡單又熟悉的好滋味~
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Poppies in the Sky
About 12 million poppies bloom in the sky on a 4 hectare plateau at an altitude of 500 meters. The ideal time to see them is from late May to early June. The contrast between the blue of the sky and the red of the poppies is spectacular.
Travelers who love nature and flower viewing definitely shouldn’t miss Saitama’s “Poppies in the Sky”! Every year from May to June, vast fields of vibrant poppies bloom across the hillside, stretching far into the distance. With the expansive blue sky and mountains as a backdrop, it feels like stepping into a beautiful landscape painting. When the breeze blows, the flowers sway in the wind, making it hard to resist pulling out your camera to capture the romantic scenery. It’s not yet midsummer at this time of year, so the weather is pleasant and strolling through the flower fields is especially relaxing. However, public transportation here isn’t very convenient, so I recommend driving so you can take your time enjoying this refreshing sea of flowers!
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Kohfukuji Temple
This temple was first built as a private residence of Fujiwara no Kamatari in Yamashina-suehara of Yamashiro-no-kuni (current Kyoto prefecture) and named Yamashina-dera, and later, Fujiwara no Fuhito decided to relocate to the current place at the time of the establishment of the Heijo Ⅽapital in 710, and the temple was renamed Kohfukuji.
This time, I specifically chose to visit during peak cherry blossom season and brought my family to Nara. After leaving the station, we headed toward Todaiji Temple, and the first thing that came into view was the historic Kohfukuji Temple. Kohfukuji is an important cultural heritage site in Nara, and its five-story pagoda is one of the city's most iconic landmarks. The traditional temple buildings exuded a calm and solemn atmosphere, and paired with the soft pink cherry blossoms of spring, they made us stop and admire the scenery. The National Treasure Museum within the temple grounds also caught my eye with its striking red beams and columns and modern exterior, creating an interesting contrast with the surrounding ancient temple buildings. Simply strolling around was full of surprises.
We then continued toward Todaiji Temple, where the magnificent Great Buddha Hall and solemn Great Buddha of Nara were breathtaking. I still remember excitedly waiting in line during my first visit to crawl through the hole in the wooden pillar behind the Great Buddha, praying for good health and protection from misfortune. Seeing that hole again this time, I felt a little nervous instead and could only laugh as I remembered how brave I had been back then. After that, we walked into Kasuga Taisha Shrine, where the ancient trees and stone lanterns lining the approach created a mysterious atmosphere. We also came across sika deer roaming freely, as if we had entered a forest protected by the gods.
After enjoying the cherry blossoms, ancient temples, and herds of deer along the way, don't forget to finish with a satisfying meal at Shizuka Kamameshi. The piping-hot kamameshi was wonderfully fragrant, with the rice soaking up the flavors of the seafood and broth. The lightly scorched rice crust at the bottom was especially unforgettable!
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