Weather Shrine
In Japan, there is only one shrine dedicated to praying for the weather. The annual festival (Weather Festival) is held in line with "Meteorological Memorial Day" on June 1st, marking the day Japan's first meteorological station was established.
It’s all about praying for good weather, and the whole theme is really fun. Hoping we get great weather for this trip too 🙏
Asagaya Tanabata Festival
Counted among the Three Great Tanabata Festivals in Japan, this major event comes alive with the help of the entire shopping district in the Asagaya area, centered around the Asagaya Pearl Center shopping arcade leading from the south exit of the station to Ome Kaido.
We happened to be there during Tanabata season, and it felt lively the moment we arrived. The whole shopping street was covered in decorations, and it instantly put me in an even better travel mood!
Atami Heiwa Street Shopping District
Atami City, one of Japan's premier hot spring destinations, is renowned for its abundant natural hot spring water. Located right outside JR Atami Station, this shopping district serves as the city’s welcoming gateway.
When you come to Atami, pretty much everyone buys one to eat.
If you pass through Atami and don’t try it, it seriously feels like you’re missing something.
Kinomiya Shrine
This shrine has long been worshipped in Atami as the God of fortune and luck resides. The shrine grounds are home to Okusu, a sacred camphor tree, which is designated as a Natural monument. This is also popular as one of the best places with spiritual energy in Japan.
That giant camphor tree is seriously impressive.
Standing next to it, you can feel this powerful energy hitting you.
A lot of people come here to pray for good health and a long life.
Kishimojin-do
Kishimojin-do is a temple that worships “Shiboshin,” a god for safe childbirth and also child rearing. The line of zelkova trees along the path that leads to the temple from the Kishibojinmae stop is designated as one of Tokyo’s natural monuments. A must-see within the temple’s grounds is a huge gingko tree approximately 700 years old.
Tucked away in a residential neighborhood—if you’re not paying attention, you could totally walk right past it. It’s not noisy like a typical tourist spot, so it feels really relaxing.
Shibamata Taishakuten Sando
Katsushika Shibamata has been chosen by the country itself as one of Japan’s iconic scenic spots. It’s also no exaggeration to say that Shibamata Taishakuten and its approach are iconic parts of Tokyo’s shitamachi (old town) areas that possess striking atmosphere and appearance.
The moment you step onto the approach, it really has that old Tokyo vibe. Time feels like it slows down, and it’s perfect to pair with a visit to the temple to pray.
Namba Yasaka Shrine
”Namba Yasaka Shrine”, located in the Namba area of Minami in Osaka, is a historic shrine said to have been founded during the reign of Emperor Nintoku (313-399).
That lion hall is seriously unreal. The first time you see it, you kind of freeze for a second.
The mouth is HUGE—perfect for photos and check-ins.
Ogimachi Castle Ruins Observatory
The viewpoint is a popular spot to overlook the village of Ogimachi in Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture, known by the name "Shirakawa-go," from an elevated position. Ogimachi Castle was a small mountain castle built atop a 60-meter hill with dimensions of approximately 60 meters east-west and 50 meters north-south; now, only remnants like earthworks remain.
The view of Shirakawa-go from the observatory is seriously amazing. You can see the whole village at once—totally worth coming up here.
Otaru Canal
Otaru Port, which developed as a gateway for Hokkaido's settlement, saw an increasing volume of cargo over the years. To streamline its transportation, the "Otaru Canal" was completed in 1923 (Taisho 12). The canal, created by reclaiming the offshore coast, is characterized by its gentle curves rather than a straight line.
When the weather’s nice, the reflections on the water are really beautiful.
If you’re taking photos, try a few different angles.
Mt. Hakodate Observatory
The Mt. Hakodate Observatory is the final stop of Mt. Hakodate Ropeway. The first floor features an inside lounge, the Ryoubi Park popular among locals as a less-crowded area to enjoy the night sceneries. The second floor features a summit shop, and restaurant selling Mt. Hakodate original goods. The third floor features a tea lounge, and the fourth floor features an observatory lounge.
The night view from Mt. Hakodate is seriously insane.
Seeing it in person is like 10x more impressive than photos—no wonder people call it a world-class night view.