Travel is not about escaping life, but about avoiding life having only one form.
Number of reviews 19/ Number of likes 29
Yamashita Park
Yamashita Park is located by the sea, just a short walk from Yokohama Chinatown. It was opened in March of 1930, reclaiming the waterfront using rubble caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake.
Yamashita Park is really relaxing, and the ocean view is beautiful. It's also close to the Red Brick Warehouse, Chinatown, and the Hikawa Maru, so it's very convenient to visit them all in one trip.
Neo Park Okinawa
This zoological and botanical garden is located about 10 minutes by car from downtown Nago. The vast site, nearly five times the size of the Tokyo Dome, features an area that reproduces the environment of a tropical region.
My favorite part was being able to feed the animals in the park. Lots of birds would fly right up next to us, so it felt very interactive. Both kids and adults had a great time.
Mikuni Port Echizen Crab & Seafood Specialty Restaurant Mikuni Inkyojo
A specialty crab restaurant in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, a gourmet town that won the Gastronomy City Award 2025, serving Mikuni Port Echizen crab cuisine. This seaside auberge shares the Sea of Japan and the lifestyle of the port town through food. Accommodations are limited to one group per day for a fully private stay, while lunch and dinner at the restaurant are also available for day visitors. Outside crab season, it serves 'Echizen Kitamae Cuisine,' carrying on the food culture brought by Kitamaebune trade into the present day. The restaurant also participates in a project certified by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, offering dishes inspired by historical background and seasonal local ingredients.
The seafood was really fresh. You could really taste the natural sweetness of the sweet shrimp, scallops, and salmon roe, and the quality of the ingredients was excellent. The place was also clean and comfortable, with a simple Japanese-style interior. The dining space was quiet and had a nice, refined feel.
Yanaka Matsunoya
Yanaka Matsunoya specializes in aramono-simple, durable household goods designed to enhance daily life. Founded originally as a bag manufacturer and wholesaler in Tokyo’s Bakurocho district in 1945, Matsunoya expanded its business to become a wholesaler of everyday household goods. In 2010, they opened a retail shop for the public atop Yanaka’s famous Yuyake Dandan stairs.
If you like household goods and little knickknacks, you’ll probably love Matsunoya. The shop has lots of practical items with character, and this woven tote bag was one of my finds this time.
Ameyoko Shopping Street
The Ameyoko Shopping Street, affectionately known as "Ameyoko," stretches approximately 500m between JR Ueno Station and JR Okachimachi Station, with around 400 shops lining the street. It features a variety of businesses, including food and confectionery, clothing, general goods, and jewelry stores.
If you love shopping, you definitely have to come to this area. Ameyoko has that lively market atmosphere, and you can do some serious shopping at Takeya. A whole afternoon goes by in no time.