Dogo Shotengai (Dogo Haikara Dori)
Nicknamed “Dogo Haikara Dori”, the Dogo Shotengai is a shopping arcade connected to Dogo Onsen Honkan. At 250-meters in length, this L-shaped shopping arcade connects the stretch from the main building of Dogo Onsen to Dogo Onsen Station, the final stop on the Iyotetsu train lines.
A lot of people walk around the shopping street in yukata, which really gives off that classic hot spring town vibe.
Matsuyama Castle
Matsuyama Castle is an iconic symbol of Matsuyama City, and it is also famous as being an impregnable castle.
The whole castle area is really well maintained and preserved. The main keep, called the tenshu, is especially impressive since it dates back to the Edo period.
Oboke and Koboke
“Oboke Koboke” is an about 8km-long canyon, created over 200 million years by the rapids of the Yoshino River that passes through the Shikoku Mountains, and the area has beautiful sculpturesque landscapes.
The unique landscape was formed by the river carving through the rocks over many years. It's definitely one of the most famous spots in Tokushima.
Shimanto River
Shimanto River is the longest river in the Shikoku region, flowing through the western part of Kochi Prefecture and boasting a total length of 196km. The river begins at Mt. Irazu in the town of Tsuno.
It's one of Japan's top 100 famous waters and also one of the top 100 hidden spots. People even call it the last clear stream in Japan.
Nagoya City Office Main Building
The current Nagoya City Office’s main building is the 3rd one, built as a project to commemorate the Showa Emperor’s coronation and completed in 1933. The design concept was “a modern style based on Japanese essence” with a modern building topped with the Japanese-style tile roof, which was chosen in a public contest.
Built in 1938, this six-story building with a basement was constructed using reinforced concrete. Back then, it was considered a very modern and impressive piece of architecture.
Kusatsu Onsen (Kusatsu Hotspring)
Kusatsu Onsen is popular and well known as one of Japan's three major hotsprings. 32300 liters per minute naturally gushes, which is admitted as the highest amount of discharge in Japan, the source water with high acid is known to have an excellent antibacterial effect.
It's great how the traditional hot spring culture has been preserved and turned into a tourist attraction. There's a lot to learn from this place.
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.
The scenery is totally different during the day and at night. The nighttime atmosphere is really nice to see.
Mt. Yoshino
Mt. Yoshino is acclaimed as the best spot to see cherry blossoms in all of Japan. In the spring, the entire mountain is washed with flowering trees as they bloom from the Shimosenbon (the lower 1,000 trees) at the foothills up to the Okusembon (the inner 1,000 trees).
The best way to explore Mt. Yoshino is to take a bus to the top and then walk down slowly. Along the way, you can see cherry blossoms blooming at different stages.
TOKYO SKYTREE(R) TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN(R)
Boasting a height of 634 meters, TOKYO SKYTREE is the world’s tallest free-standing tower which stands in the center of TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN surrounded by tourist facilities. The tower has two observation decks, Tembo Deck at a height of 350 meters and Tembo Galleria at 450 meters.
After visiting Sensoji Temple, I strolled over to Tokyo Skytree. It's such a prominent landmark, you really can't miss it or get lost on the way.
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.
I took the glass-roofed boat for a 55-minute cruise around Osaka. It's a great way to see the city! If you have the Osaka Amazing Pass, you can even ride for free.