Aikoku Station & Kofuku Station
Aikoku Station and Kofuku Station in Tokachi, Hokkaido. Buying a ticket that reads “From Aikoku to Kofuku” made them a buzz for “love coming true” and “good luck,” sparking a major boom in the 1970s. The line is now discontinued, so they’re no longer used as stations, but they remain popular tourist spots-especially with couples.
The station is small, but it has a lot of sentimental value. It’s perfect for buying a ticket as a souvenir.
Ozeki Supermarket Asakusa Kaminarimon Store
Nothing but local roots at this supermarket popping up across Tokyo.The Asakusa Kaminarimon branch is located just about 100 meters from the iconic Asakusa Temple Kaminarimon Gate. Check the storefront and just inside for wall-to-wall daily necessities like seasonal vegetables, fruits, fresh groceries and snacks, to seasonings, alcohol, daily necessities, and more! You can always expect an easy energy and bustling vibe from here during open hours.
OZEKI isn’t very big, but the variety is great.
They have vegetables, prepared foods, snacks, plus seasonal fruits and wagashi to choose from.
It’s close to Kaminarimon, so it’s perfect to stop by while you’re in the area.
AEON MALL Morioka
One of the largest shopping complexes in Iwate Prefecture, this large commercial facility opened in 2003. A wide range of shops fill its spacious site of Approx. 97,000 square meters, making it a major mall where you can enjoy shopping and dining all day. The facility consists of a specialty store zone and AEON, which offers groceries and daily necessities, with plenty of convenient shops for everyday use.
The mall is pretty big, so you can easily spend quite a while browsing here. The variety of stores is fairly good too, so it doesn’t get boring.
BEB5 Karuizawa by Hoshino Resorts
Opened in 2019 in the Hoshino area of Karuizawa, this hotel embraces the concept of “more than an izakaya, less than a trip-where everyone can relax together.” The highlight is the TAMARIBA lounge, a 24-hour public space arranged around a central courtyard. Guests are encouraged to bring in their own food and drinks, making it easy to stock up on deli items and spend time freely in the lounge-a style of stay that has become especially popular.
The overall vibe is super chill—definitely feels like a vacation spot for young people. The Lobby Lounge is just like a café, and you can totally lounge around and do nothing all day.
Echigo-Yuzawa Onsen District
A hot spring area in Echigo-Yuzawa, popular not only as a winter ski resort but also as a place to enjoy outdoor activities like trekking and camping in summer. Lodgings, restaurants, and souvenir shops line the prefectural road stretching out in front of JR Echigo-Yuzawa Station, forming an onsen town. The springs are said to date back to the late Heian period, and the area is also famous as the model for Yasunari Kawabata’s classic novel Snow Country.
The snacks around town are really tasty too—especially things like rice crackers and sweet dumpling desserts. They feel super local.
Bentenjima Seaside Park
Facing Lake Hamana, this park stretches about 500 meters from east to west, lined with palm trees that create a distinctly tropical atmosphere. The park’s iconic landmark is an 18-meter-tall red torii gate floating on the lake’s surface-known as the symbol tower of Bentenjima. The months from November to January bring an especially magical time where the sunset sinks between the pillars of the gate, one of the many views you can catch among the ebbing seasons, weather and tides. The warmer months from April to August bring the chance to hop on a ferry to “Ikari Shoal,” where the iconic site stands.
If you love photography, you’ll never want to stop shooting here. The torii gate, the distant bridge, and the sunset together make for an incredibly poetic scene.
Hinode Park Lavender Garden
The park is renowned for its lavender fields, which span approximately 4.2 hectares. From late June to late July, the entire hilly area is covered with lavender, offering visitors a chance to enjoy the vibrant purple flowers swaying in the wind and their refreshing scent. A late-blooming variety called "Okamurasaki" is mainly planted, making it possible to appreciate the lavender even if you visit towards the end of the season. In addition to lavender, the park is also adorned with a variety of seasonal flowers such as catmint and marigold.
The lavender fields here are huge and absolutely stunning. The endless sea of purple flowers is so relaxing and refreshing.
Zuiganji Temple
This temple is said to have been opened as a Tendai Sect in the 9th century. The official name including the name of the mountain is Shoto Seiryuzan Zuiganenpukuzenji.
The temple's garden is also a highlight of Zuiganji. Each season brings a different kind of beauty. Walking through the garden, you can really feel the peaceful and harmonious atmosphere of Zen.
Osaka aqua-Bus Aqua-Liner
A standard sightseeing boat in the aquatic city of Osaka that takes you to Osaka Castle and Nakanoshima! A 40-minute cruise along the Okawa River, which runs through the center of Osaka. The area along the Okawa River is lush with greenery and lined with retro architecture, providing a tasteful view of the city.
The boat has big windows that give you a wide view. You can see Osaka Castle, the City Hall, Nakanoshima Park, and other famous spots along the way.
Nishi-Ogikubo
Nishi-Ogikubo is 12 minutes from Shinjuku Station on the JR Chuo Line. Around the station, in the drinking district of Yokocho at the south exit, and the shopping district along the old road, there are many general stores, antiquarian bookstores, and antique stores, each with their unique taste and personality. And you will find a fantastic store in an unexpected area. Strolling around the town, you may find yourself saying, "There is such a store in such a place?!”
It's not as famous as Kichijoji, and it's a smaller residential area. But everything you need for daily life is super convenient here. There aren't any big shopping malls, but you'll find lots of unique old restaurants and izakayas.