The biggest highlight of Kinkaku-ji, officially known as Rokuon-ji, is the Shariden, whose second- and third-floor exterior walls are completely covered in pure gold leaf. It sparkles in the sunlight, and with its reflection on the water, it looks almost unreal〜 It’s also very convenient to get there by Kyoto city bus!
Kinkaku-ji | Review by Lucas L.
Other Reviews by Lucas L.
-
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.
Located in “Kyoto by the Sea,” the Ine Funaya are one of Japan’s most unique traditional fishing village landscapes. Viewed from the water, the distinctive wooden boathouses look like a dreamy little town floating on the sea. It’s very beautiful for photos when the weather is nice〜 Driving there is more convenient, and there are plenty of parking lots, but I don’t recommend going during Japanese holiday weekends because this is also a popular attraction among Japanese people, and the traffic can be terrifying⋯
-
-
The Orion Hotel Motobu Resort & Spa
Look to Okinawa’s northern Motobu area to find The Orion Hotel Motobu Resort & Spa, a luxe retreat set staunchly with oceanfront rooms. Select from 238 guest rooms across 12 floors, each with a spacious 50㎡ to boot and private balconies. Slip into a relaxed pace and sip the glittering air of views blessed by Emerald Beach and Ie Island. The hotel also offers extensive amenities including natural hot spring baths, an infinity pool, and a variety of restaurants and bars.
The room was very spacious and comfortable, and you could see the beach directly from the balcony. The welcome drink was draft beer with the same name as the hotel〜 It’s very close to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, so staying here is very convenient if you’re planning a visit to the aquarium!
-
-
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
“Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium” is a popular tourist spot, located in Okinawa’s Kaiyohaku Park. If you take the building’s escalator down from the 4th floor to the 3rd, you’ll find yourself at the entrance to the aquarium. The aquarium is designed as a “deep dive” into the ocean as you go down to the 2nd and 1st floors, so as you descend, a magnificent world filled with mysterious Okinawan ocean creatures unfolds before you!
The most famous thing here is undoubtedly the huge aquarium tank shown in the picture. I watched the enormous whale sharks and giant manta rays swimming gracefully for a full 20 minutes～It was really soothing～The downside is that there are just too many visitors! Also, the aquarium and surrounding park cover a large area, and it’s quite a walk from the parking lot to the aquarium entrance, so I recommend wearing comfortable shoes.
-
