Number of reviews 10/ Number of likes 87
Jumbo Ferry
The ferry route “Jumbo Ferry” connects Kobe, Shodoshima, and Takamatsu. Shodoshima is a popular area with many scenic and photo-worthy attractions, including Olive Park, Angel Road, and Kankakei Gorge. The two operating vessels, “Ritsurin 2” and “Aoi,” both offer facilities that combine comfort and functionality.
When taking the Aoi, I recommend paying a little extra to upgrade to Premium.
It feels so much more luxurious!
Handmade Hamburg Steak Workshop Toshi
A hamburg steak specialty restaurant in a prime location in central Sapporo, just Approx. 1 minute on foot from Odori Subway Station. Easy to stop by between sightseeing and shopping, it attracts many visitors from both inside and outside Hokkaido. Its flavors are highly praised, having won the Gold Prize at the National Hamburg Grand Prix and been selected as one of Tabelog’s Top 100 Restaurants.
This place is so popular that there's a wait even in the early afternoon on weekdays, but the food is well worth the wait.
Otsuka Museum of Art
The museum houses more than 1000 works, ranging from antiquity to the 20th century and collected from over 190 museums in 26 countries. The full-size faithful replicas were created using a special technology on ceramic plates. The paintings are reproduced onto ceramic plates which, the museum claims, will preserve their colors and shapes for as long as 2000 years. The museum particularly wishes, with its unique methods, to contribute to the recording and perseveration of the world’s valuable cultural heritage.
It’s no exaggeration to call this museum a theme park for adults.
Like the Louvre in Paris, it’s the kind of museum where you can spend the entire day without getting tired of it—something that’s hard to find elsewhere.
Even though the works are replicas, it’s wonderful to experience them at full scale, and here you can get up close to examine the fine details.
If I had the time, I’d want to visit again and again.
Akita Nagaya Sakaba
Just a 3-minute walk from JR Akita Station, Akita Nagaya Sakaba is an izakaya where you can enjoy Akita's local cuisine and regional sake all at once. Its exterior, decorated with giant red and blue Namahage masks, makes it easy to spot. Locals also love it as a place to experience Akita's traditional Namahage culture.
This place was satisfying enough in both the food and entertainment that it made me think, “I’m really glad this was my first dinner in Akita.”
I recommend coming after 7:00 PM so you can catch the 8:00 PM Namahage performance.
It’s also best to make a reservation.
MOL Sunflower (Kansai–Beppu Route)
The new Sunflower ferries Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki, which began service in 2023, connect Osaka and Beppu with overnight journeys departing in the evening and arriving the following morning. The trip itself becomes a highlight of your journey, offering a luxurious and relaxing experience.
It felt like riding in a moving hotel lounge.
The lobby goes from the 6th to 8th floors, so the space feels really open and you can relax and take your time.
The sleeping area is like a capsule hotel, so you still have privacy and can get a good night’s sleep.
There is a bit of rocking while the ship is sailing at night, so if you’re sensitive to movement, it might be a little hard to sleep.
Onboard Wi‑Fi has a limit on how many times you can connect, so if you want to watch videos or listen to music on the ship, I recommend downloading everything in advance.
