Linda Liao 's page

Shinjuku truly is a shopper’s paradise. There are so many department stores just around the station that you couldn’t visit them all even if you spent the whole day shopping! This time, I made a special trip to the Keio Department Store Shinjuku to look for women’s shoes~ The Japanese women’s shoe brand HIMIKO focuses on footwear that is both stylish and practical, offering everything from elegant heels and everyday loafers to casual shoes. The styles have a distinctly Japanese look, and the designs are easy to coordinate with different outfits. If you’re passing by, head upstairs and take a look. You might find a style that suits you~

Yatsuhashi is a classic Kyoto sweet. Besides the soft, chewy nama yatsuhashi filled with sweet bean paste, I also really like these thin, crispy, koto-shaped baked yatsuhashi! Izutsu Yatsuhashi Honpo was founded in 1805 and is known for its traditional koto-shaped yatsuhashi. Honke Nishio Yatsuhashi is another long-established Kyoto shop that also sells classic baked yatsuhashi. The thin pieces are crisp, with a light cinnamon aroma, and become more flavorful the more you chew. They also keep longer than nama yatsuhashi, making them a good souvenir. Brewing a pot of hot tea in the afternoon and enjoying it with a few pieces of yatsuhashi is a simple little pleasure full of Kyoto charm. Each shop has its own distinctive qualities, so it just depends on which flavor you prefer!

Before the trip, I already knew that Shizuoka oden was quite famous, so this time I made a point of adding the highly rated UMIBOUZU to my itinerary. I finally got to try it for myself! Whenever I eat oden, my must-order combination always includes daikon and boiled eggs. They're especially satisfying after soaking up all the broth. In Shizuoka, you also can't miss the local specialty, black hanpen (黒はんぺん). Made from sardines and other fish, it has a rich fish-paste flavor that gets better the more you chew, and it's very different from the more common white hanpen. If you like seaweed, you can sprinkle on some aonori and fish powder for more layers of flavor. So delicious!

After soaking in Dogo Onsen, nothing feels better than finding a laid-back pub where you can enjoy good food and a slight buzz! Dogo Beer Hall offers four distinctive Dogo beers, each with its own flavor and character, so you can choose based on your preference. Add a few snacks to go with your beer, like crispy, juicy fried chicken, light and silky chilled tofu, and fried fish cake slices with a unique texture. Every dish keeps you reaching for more! Sipping local beer while enjoying the relaxed dining atmosphere adds a little tipsy fun to your hot spring trip.

When visiting Osaka Castle, I highly recommend taking the Osaka-jo Gozabune boat to admire the magnificent castle from a different perspective! The approximately 20-minute ride glides slowly along the moat, offering close-up views of the towering stone walls and castle keep. It feels like entering the flow of history and brings to mind the ambitions of Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Sengoku period. In 1583, he ordered the construction of Osaka Castle as an important base for displaying his power. After the fall of the Toyotomi clan, it endured war and reconstruction, witnessing the rise and fall of the times. A visit during cherry blossom season is especially beautiful, when the soft pink flowers contrast with the stately castle, adding a touch of romance and poetry and immersing you in an atmosphere where history and scenery intertwine.